Best Madetothrive Podcasts (2024)

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#166 Necessary endings 25:35

1y ago25:35

25:35

"Necessary Endings" is a self-help book written by Dr. Henry Cloud. It explores the concept of embracing and initiating endings in various aspects of life, such as relationships, careers, and personal growth, in order to create a positive and fulfilling future. The book emphasises that endings are a natural part of life and are necessary for person…

1
#165 The top five reasons people regret selling their business 30:27

1y ago30:27

30:27

There is an entire industry and philosophy surrounding why you should sell your business, but it doesn’t need to be that way. There are many reasons why people choose to sell their businesses and really the reasons can be broken down into two different things. 1. Long Term Goal To Exit: A strategic decision because their plan all along was to sell …

1
#164 Using the sandbox to stop dumb decisions in the leadership team 24:58

1y ago24:58

24:58

Without effective discipline around decision making we can end up making decisions we later might call dumb. To avoid this one of the tools we use is the sandbox. Where we play. Our sandbox is where we have proven that we can win and earn the right to be a viable option for our customers. And the principle helps us to keep sand in the box. What we …

1
#163 Executive burnout: Building your resilience (2/2) 25:45

1+ y ago25:45

25:45

Executives are often more driven than the average person. We run hard all the time, and it usually works. And then, it doesn't work. We persist and push harder than the average person, and that's why we win. But it's also why we can crash harder and sometimes even put everything at risk. This week we talk about executive burnout in the second of tw…

1
#162 Executive Burnout: How do you know when you need to get some help? (1/2) 31:28

1+ y ago31:28

31:28

Executives are often more driven than the average person. We run hard all the time, and it usually works. And then, it doesn't work. We persist and push harder than the average person, and that's why we win. But it's also why we can crash harder and sometimes even put everything at risk. This week we talk about executive burnout. What it means, wha…

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#161 Rating your firm on Jim Collins 7 Good to Great principles (2/2) 27:17

1+ y ago27:17

27:17

Jim Collins book Good to Great is one of the all-time business classics due to the size and quality of the research that underpins the principles that he identified in the research about companies that endured and achieved great performance, relative to their peer companies who only achieved good performance. In Good to Great, Jim Collins identifie…

1
#160 Rating your firm on Jim Collins 7 Good to Great principles (1/2) 32:36

1+ y ago32:36

32:36

Jim Collins book Good to Great is one of the all-time business classics due to the size and quality of the research that underpins the principles that he identified in the research about companies that endured and achieved great performance, relative to their peer companies who only achieved good performance. In Good to Great, Jim Collins identifie…

1
#159 The most important number that CEOs rarely measure 24:05

1+ y ago24:05

24:05

What if the most important number and predictor of long-term success was also a number that you didn't measure or even manage decisions based on it? Unfortunately, it's a situation that is quite common today. The accumulation of many seemingly small (and large) investment decisions that leaders make leads to the primary measure of a CEO - return on…

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#158 Living and working in your Sustainable Sweet Spot as a leader 28:15

1+ y ago28:15

28:15

Some parts of your role give you energy, and some parts drain your energy. Often, the parts that drain your energy can be unsustainable. When you were younger, you probably had jobs that drained your energy, and you quit those jobs, getting better jobs over time. But that's often not possible if you're a business owner, CEO or executive. Over time …

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#157 Jim Collins: 6 characteristics of right people in the right seats 27:26

1+ y ago27:26

27:26

How do you know if you have the right people in the right seats? We’ve all heard of the phrase ‘get the right people in the right seats on the bus’. It talks about ensuring that team members are aligned and committed to success. However, Jim Collins has a very specific definition of the ‘right people’, and when you’re considering if you have the ri…

1
#156 Five expensive hiring mistakes to avoid 27:27

1+ y ago27:27

27:27

Hiring can be expensive. It's expensive in terms of time for leaders to commit to an effective hiring process, it's expensive in terms of recruitment fees or costs, and it's expensive in terms of productivity. And that's when you get it right! Sometimes we can make mistakes when hiring, and this can be even more expensive. Perhaps busy executives a…

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#155 The 9 books every CEO must read 22:12

1+ y ago22:12

22:12

Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers. - Harry S. Truman. As leaders, we are avid learners and readers. And some of the best insights come from getting different perspectives whether it be from biographies of great leaders from the past or present or research that relates to our industries or completely divergent learning that en…

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#154 The 7 mistakes leaders make at annual strategy meetings 29:04

1+ y ago29:04

29:04

Annual strategy meetings are a necessary part of every organisation. And they can be very expensive, with decisions made affecting the organisation for a year or more. Ensuring you maximise the value from these meetings and avoid mistakes to set the company up to win next year and into the future. This week we share seven mistakes we’ve found leade…

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#153 Liz Wiseman’s Multipliers - how the best leaders make everyone smarter 25:52

1+ y ago25:52

25:52

Liz Wiseman is an ex oracle executive who wrote an amazing book about how we all have moments as leaders where we accidentally diminish team members and 'shut down' their smarts, making our people less capable. What makes it worse, is that our intent is usually to be helpful and supportive, and yet it has the opposite impact. She breaks out the dif…

1
#152 I’m worried that I’m micromanaging my team - what should I do? 25:23

1+ y ago25:23

25:23

It's been said that people join companies and leave managers. Almost everyone can't stand a boss who is a micromanager. But what if you might be a micromanager? You know you are a micromanager if the weight of responsibility along with the thinking and planning related to it, ultimately sits with you. You will know this is true if the problems, thi…

1
#151 I’m thinking about appointing my first COO or President – what should I do? 22:35

1+ y ago22:35

22:35

For many leaders hiring their first COO or President can be a big change. Perhaps they've been running the business for a long time with 6 or 7 direct reports, and need to move to the next level, or begin transitioning toward succession. No matter how or why hiring your first COO or hiring your first president can be a big change, and comes with a …

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#150 I have a key executive that I think is ineffective – what should I do? 26:05

1+ y ago26:05

26:05

It can be quite common for leaders to be not satisfied with an executive or key employee. However, it's important not to allow that frustration to remain, but to understand why you are feeling this way. This means becoming clear on the gaps between your expectations, and actual performance, and then having a conversation with them so they are aware…

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#149 My Gross Margin is dropping – what should I do? 25:47

1+ y ago25:47

25:47

Gross margin is one of the most important numbers in your business. Gross Margin (percentage) is a good indicator that your business is healthy: Both on the selling/strategy end indicating your customer is willing to pay you well for what you offer, and on the operations end demonstrating that you can efficiently produce what the customer wants. Th…

1
#148 We need to increase pricing but the sales team is resisting. What should I do? 20:13

1+ y ago20:13

20:13

Price increases are a bit of a dirty word in business - and they have become a critical success factor for companies in 2023 with incredibly high price inflation affecting input costs; Enduring companies that have been around for many decades have mastered this discipline, whereas newer companies have not necessarily had to learn this lesson yet, a…

1
#147 Jim Collins Three Rules of Engagement for Healthy Teams 26:41

1+ y ago26:41

26:41

In team meetings, leaders often need a simple code of conduct through which to operate. If you have the 'right people on the bus', they will be self-motivated and don’t require constant coercing toward a compelling vision. In order to effectively delegate responsibility and accountability and create a high-performing team, leaders should follow Jim…

1
#146 Why the greatest leaders obsess over their goals 20:45

1+ y ago20:45

20:45

Are you looking to become a more effective leader? In this episode of the "Growth Whisperers" podcast, we explore the importance of goal obsession in successful leadership. Discover why the greatest leaders are driven by a deep sense of purpose and relentless determination to achieve their goals, no matter the challenges that come their way. Learn …

1
#145 Stephen Covey’s Time management matrix 28:19

1+ y ago28:19

28:19

Are you struggling to prioritize tasks and maximize your productivity? The Time Management Matrix, created by Stephen Covey, could be the solution you've been looking for. In this podcast, we'll teach you how to effectively use the matrix to set goals and achieve success in both your personal and professional life. Through real-life examples, you'l…

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#144 Planning to win in 2023 - Cash - (5 of 5) 30:55

1+ y ago30:55

30:55

What cash decisions do you need to make to win in 2023? 2023 looks to have major challenges that are slowly developing. And this is especially so when considering your cash and how it might be impacted by the changing environment. One of the most important questions to answer to best prepare for 2023 is how can I maintain consistent financial perfo…

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#143 Planning to win in 2023 - Execution - (4 of 5) 26:05

1+ y ago26:05

26:05

What execution decisions do you need to make to win in 2023? 2023 looks to have major challenges that are slowly developing. And this is especially so when considering your strategy and how it might be impacted by the changing environment. One of the most important questions to answer to best prepare for 2023 is how can I maintain consistent financ…

1
#142 Planning to win in 2023 - Strategy - (3 of 5) 31:16

1+ y ago31:16

31:16

What strategy decisions do you need to make to win in 2023? 2023 looks to have major challenges that are slowly developing. And this is especially so when considering your strategy and how it might be impacted by the changing environment. One of the most important questions to answer to best prepare for 2023 is how can I maintain consistent financi…

1
#141 Planning to win in 2023 - People - (2 of 5) 30:25

1+ y ago30:25

30:25

What people decisions do you need to make to win in 2023? 2023 looks to have major challenges that are slowly developing. And this is especially so when considering the people challenges we're all facing. One of the most important questions to answer in order to best prepare for 2023 is how do I get the right people in the right seats doing the rig…

1
#140 Planning to win in 2023 - (1 of 5) 24:08

1+ y ago24:08

24:08

2023 is looking like one of the most interesting years in our lives and careers. We didn't really see 2020, it just happened to us, and we all responded. But 2023 looks to have major challenges that are slowly developing. So what can we do in order to win in 2023? In this first of five episodes, we look at what we know about 2023, and what we can d…

1
#139 What’s more important: Right People or Right Strategy? 20:52

1+ y ago20:52

20:52

What is more important, getting the right people or getting the right strategy? Many people have opinions about what matters more. Strategy people think it's strategy, and you might have a great team, but they will spin their wheels without a great strategy. Then others will think that culture is more important and that a great strategy will go now…

1
#138 Why the One Page Plan works 27:05

1+ y ago27:05

27:05

Many companies might have a plan, but some plans work better than others. Focus matters; having an ideology, strategy, and execution goals in one plan enables leaders to focus and achieve results. By bringing together the ideology (Core Values & Core Purpose), Strategy (How you're different) and execution together into a logical fit, you avoid just…

1
#137 The Four Forces of Growth: What CEO’s need to focus on to sustain growth 24:42

2y ago24:42

24:42

This week we're talking about a new book that Kevin is working on entitled The Four Forces of Growth. We talk about the four forces, why they matter and what you can do to focus on growth. Here's an excerpt from Kevin's website outlining the four forces of growth. The 4 Forces of Growth We’re about a third of the way through this year, and it feels…

1
#136 If We Bought Twitter: things to consider when acquiring a business 24:32

2y ago24:32

24:32

What would we do if we paid $44 USD Billion for a business that was losing 4 million dollars a day? It's no different than buying any business, you're either going to let it run, or extract and create more value through a turnaround. We talk about what we would do if we bought Twitter, and what you should consider if you're buying a business. -----…

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#135 Onboarded - The role scorecard and onboarding sprint plan (4 of 4) 25:33

2y ago25:33

25:33

What tools do you need to use for an effective onboarding process? First, you must document what success looks like in the role after the onboarding. Second, you must build a plan to ensure the new hire understands how to succeed in the role. The role scorecard should include the job purpose, responsibilities, measurable metrics and expectations of…

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#134 Onboarded - What’s your Onboarding debt? (3 of 4) 19:17

2y ago19:17

19:17

What is onboarding debt, and how can you calculate your onboarding debt? When people don’t understand how to succeed in a new role, they do what they think is right. But that might not be the right thing. They won't understand the culture, the technical and process expectations and your expectations as their manager. Onboarding debt is the liabilit…

1
#133 Onboarded - The problem with new hires who are a good fit (2 of 4) 24:15

2y ago24:15

24:15

Many people refer to a person as a good fit (they are still here) or a bad fit (they left). This creates a mindset problem when we think about new hires. We can then think that new hires are pre-determined to be a good or bad fit, and it’s outside our control. And worse, any effort to make them fit is a wasted effort. Because this mindset tells us …

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#132 Onboarded - What is onboarding and why does it matter (1 of 4) 20:25

2y ago20:25

20:25

What is onboarding, and why does it matter? In this first of four episodes, we're discussing Brad's new book Onboarded, how to bring new hires to the point where they are effective faster. We discuss what onboarding is and what it isn't. We cover how 83% of organisations aren't realising the benefits of an effective onboarding process and why onboa…

1
#131 Leveraging the Stockdale Paradox in this Economy 19:02

2y ago19:02

19:02

How can you leverage the Stockdale Paradox in this economy? During these turbulent times, with major events that are out of your control which could impact your company, how can you maintain composure and results? The Stockdale Paradox from Jim Collins can be defined as - you must maintain unwavering faith that you can and will prevail in the end, …

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#130 Jim Collins: Level 5 leaders 26:47

2y ago26:47

26:47

What are Jim Collins Level 5 leaders? Level 5 leadership is a concept developed in the book Good to Great. Level 5 leaders display a powerful mixture of personal humility and indomitable will. They're incredibly ambitious, but their ambition is first and foremost for the cause, for the organization and its purpose, not themselves. While Level 5 lea…

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#129 How to identify A players during an interview 27:23

2y ago27:23

27:23

How can you identify A players during an interview? There is no substitute for a team of A players. The higher the percentage of A players that you have in your team for longer, the greater the chance of the team's success. How do you know when you’ve got an A player - or potential - on your hands? This week we discuss the four things you must do t…

1
#128 Is your leadership team too big? 21:06

2y ago21:06

21:06

Is your leadership team too big? There's a real challenge that comes with having too many people in a meeting or in a team. Some leaders want to be all-inclusive and can end up with too many people in the room, or others can end up with too few people. Each of these can come with a set of second-order consequences that can negatively affect the eff…

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#127 How to deal with an executive that is underperforming 30:21

2y ago30:21

30:21

How do you deal with an executive that is underperforming? Executives are the most impactful and important roles in your company. Weak executives create weak teams, which start to rot the company from the inside out. Sometimes we have good people who we trust, but they perform at a B level. They score high on the core values but score low on produc…

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#126 What to say when managers tell you people are leaving for more money 33:09

2y ago33:09

33:09

What happens when managers tell you people are leaving for more money? As a leader, your direct reports will tell you that a team member of theirs has left for more money. The problem is that it’s an easy excuse, that actually leads to never fixing attrition issues. Instead, what if you didn’t accept that answer and asked them for the real answer? …

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#125 What to do when your team resists change 28:17

2y ago28:17

28:17

Sometimes you're clear about a change that needs to happen, but team members might resist that change. It doesn't make sense. You understand why and how the change is required, but team members are resisting that change in perhaps an illogical or unreasonable way. In this episode, Kevin and Brad discuss what to do when your team resists change, and…

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#124 Five things that make a bad strategic plan 26:55

2y ago26:55

26:55

What makes a bad strategic plan? According to Harvard Business School, 92% of business plans fail due to poor execution, and so getting a plan that succeeds, is difficult. Your strategy should clearly explain your direction, and how you will be different from your competition. Then, your execution plan should detail specifically where to commit you…

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#123 Seven important things to develop your mid managers 24:46

2y ago24:46

24:46

How do you develop your mid-managers? As companies grow, the gap tends to be in the middle management and, as they are so busy working, they rarely get the development time, resources and attention needed for the growth that is required to develop talent from within. As a result, we end up having to hire many external team members to strengthen the…

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#122 Fire bullets before cannonballs: Jim Collins' method for validating ideas 28:14

2y ago28:14

28:14

What does it mean to fire bullets before cannonballs? Often leaders are too bold or, alternatively, too conservative. Instead of taking too much or too little risk, the concept of firing bullets before cannonballs asks leaders to validate an idea with a series of small, low-risk experiments. Once you have validated your idea, then you can concentra…

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#121 How to structure presentations to ensure effective decision making 23:40

2y ago23:40

23:40

Leaders often waste a lot of time on decisions because meeting delegates are not well prepared with the information needed or aren't well-disciplined with a process that can lead to an effective and quick decision. In order to be a more effective leader, effective decision-making in meetings is crucial. Also, the format of rules and engagement to d…

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#120 The 20 Mile March concept By Jim Collins: Thrive in Uncertainty 30:33

2y ago30:33

30:33

The 20 Mile March is a concept developed by Jim Collins in the book Great by Choice. Enterprises that prevail in turbulence self-impose a rigorous performance mark to hit with great consistency—like hiking across the United States by marching at least 20 miles a day, every day. The march imposes order amidst disorder, discipline amidst chaos, and c…

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#119 Jim Collins SMAC Recipe: your recipe for success 25:37

2y ago25:37

25:37

SMaC Recipe is a concept developed in the book Great by Choice. A SMaC recipe is a set of durable operating practices that creates a replicable, consistent success formula. The word "SMaC" stands for Specific, Methodical, and Consistent. A solid SMaC recipe is the operating code for turning strategic concepts into reality, a set of practices more e…

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# 118 The biggest problem with most Flywheels (part two of two) 26:48

2y ago26:48

26:48

There's a big problem with most flywheels, and it's the main reason they're destined to fail. The Flywheel Concept originated from Jim Collins' book Good to Great and outlines a series of actions that a business takes in order to build momentum in the business. The Flywheel Concept is designed to build ever-increasing momentum and growth in a busin…

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#117 The biggest problem with most Flywheels (part one of two) 23:36

2y ago23:36

23:36

There's a big problem with most flywheels, and it's the main reason they're destined to fail. The Flywheel Concept originated from Jim Collins' book Good to Great and outlines a series of actions that a business takes in order to build momentum in the business. The Flywheel Concept is designed to build ever-increasing momentum and growth in a busin…

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