In this special final episode of Less Than 15, we take a journey through the highlights of Series 1, revisiting the most valuable insights from our guests and suggesting one key action you can implement immediately to strengthen your business.

From navigating tough times to preparing your business for sale, each episode was packed with actionable advice — and we’ve also included links to free resources that can help you dive deeper.

Key Takeaways from This Episode:

• Episode 1: Insights for Tough Times with Rob Shelton
  Focus on balancing cost-cutting with growth opportunities.
  
  
• Episode 2: The Hidden Business Economy with Liz Fleming
  Unlock grant opportunities with a strategic plan.
  
  Free Resource: Grant Application Checklist & Australian Grants Search Sites.
  
  
• Episode 3: Open the Door to Innovation with Reverse Mentoring with Maree McPherson. Bring diverse perspectives into your leadership.
  
  Free Resource: The differences between coaching and mentoring
  
  
• Episode 4: The Productivity Power of AI for SMEs with Gihan Perera
  AI can streamline processes and free up time.
  
  Free Resource: Accelerate AI: Build your capability rapidly
  
  
• Episode 5: The Right to Disconnect with Wendy Jeffery-Lonnie
  Build clear out-of-hours communication policies for your team.
  
  Free Resource: Right to Disconnect Guide and Checklist
  
  
• Episode 6: Everyday Cybersecurity with Christina Arcane
  Implement strong password hygiene and educate your team.
  
  Free Resource: Launching your cybersecurity employee program
  
  
• Episode 7: Creating Menopause-Friendly Workplaces with Sonya Lovell
  Simple adjustments can make a big difference in supporting staff.
  
  Free Resource: Menopause-Friendly Workplace Checklist.
  
  
• Episode 8: Data-Driven Business Decisions with Mitchell Brooks
  Track KPIs in real-time for smarter business growth.
  
  
• Episode 9: Shorter, Smarter Meetings with Donna McGeorge
  Keep meetings to 25 minutes to maximise efficiency.
  
  Free Resource: A Guide to Transform Your Meetings.
  
  
• Episode 10: Getting Your Business Ready for Sale with Gary Nugent
  Start planning 3-5 years ahead to maximize business value.
  
  

If you found value in this series, take a moment to subscribe so you don’t miss out on Series 2 of Less Than 15 — where we’ll continue to provide you with expert advice and actionable insights to grow your business!

Less Then 15 is a show brought to you by leading Accountants and Business Advisors, DFK Australia New Zealand.

We help business owners make better decisions with our local knowledge, national connections and global reach.

Search for a firm here and have a conversation with us today!

Preparing Your Business for Sale: Start Early, Sell Smart

Selling your business is one of the most significant decisions you’ll make as a business owner. In this episode of Less Than 15, Gary Nugent, Managing Partner at DFK Nugent in Melbourne and Chair of DFK Australia New Zealand, shares how to prepare your business for sale.

Gary explains why it’s crucial to start planning 3 to 5 years in advance and provides practical advice on how to increase your business’s value before you even think about selling.

If you want to ensure you’re not leaving money on the table, this episode is a must-listen.

Key Takeaways:

1. Start with the End in Mind:
   
   
   • Most business owners leave it too late to start preparing for a sale. Gary recommends starting at least 3 to 5 years in advance to ensure you have enough time to make necessary improvements and position your business for the best possible sale price.
2. Avoid Common Pitfalls:
   
   
   • The biggest risk of leaving it too late is that you’ll end up selling your business for less than it’s worth. If you don’t have enough time to lock in key people or fix issues within the business, it may appear less attractive to potential buyers and you could become a “price taker” rather than getting what your business is truly worth.
3. Focus on Key Areas for Improvement:
   
   
   • Gary highlights the importance of focusing on core areas like brand strength, system documentation, key people, business plans, and client relationships. Think about what makes franchises successful: a strong brand, documented systems, and clear plans.
4. Create a Transferable Business:
   
   
   • It’s not about selling you—it’s about selling the business. Make sure you have systems in place that allow the business to run independently of you. This means empowering your team and ensuring your processes are well-documented.
5. Different Avenues to Market:
   
   
   • From selling to a competitor to engaging with brokers or attending trade fairs, Gary outlines multiple pathways to selling your business. Each comes with its own risks and benefits, so it’s important to choose the right strategy based on your goals and timeline.

Why You Should Listen:

If you’re a business owner thinking about selling your business—whether it’s in 3 years or 10 years—this episode provides invaluable advice on how to maximise your business’s value and avoid common pitfalls. Don’t leave this important decision to the last minute. Start planning now to ensure a successful and profitable sale.

Guest Information:

Gary Nugent is the Managing Partner of DFK Nugent in Melbourne and the Chair of DFK Australia New Zealand. With extensive experience in advising businesses on mergers, acquisitions, and sales, Gary is a seasoned expert in preparing businesses for sale and ensuring owners get the best value for their hard work.

Less Then 15 is a show brought to you by leading Accountants and Business Advisors, DFK Australia New Zealand.

We help business owners make better decisions with our local knowledge, national connections and global reach.

Search for a firm here and have a conversation with us today!

Meetings can be a huge time drain for business owners like you. In this episode of Less Than 15, Donna McGeorge, an expert in productivity and efficiency, discusses how you can cut your meetings down to just 25 minutes without sacrificing effectiveness.

Donna shares practical strategies to make meetings more focused and productive, so you can free up your time for what really matters. If your calendar is packed with back-to-back meetings, this episode is for you!

Key Takeaways:

1. The Problem with 60-Minute Meetings:
   • Most meetings are set for an hour by default, but they often waste valuable time. Donna explains why cutting meetings down to 25 minutes creates a sense of urgency and focus, leading to better outcomes in less time.
2. Creating Focus and Clarity:
   • When you limit a meeting to 25 minutes, everyone knows they need to get to the point quickly. This sense of urgency eliminates unnecessary chatter and gets everyone aligned on the task at hand.
3. Managing Different Types of Meetings:
   • Short, sharp meetings work best for operational discussions or regular check-ins with 5-7 participants. For more strategic or creative sessions, consider using structured frameworks to maximise productivity even in a shorter time frame.
4. Avoiding Common Pitfalls:
   • Don't just replace one-hour meetings with more short ones! Use the extra time to catch up on work, decompress, or prepare for your next meeting. It’s about having fewer, better meetings.
5. Taking the Leap:
   • You don’t need anyone’s permission to make your meetings shorter. Start with your own meetings and lead by example. Set the expectation that meetings will be 25 minutes, with a clear purpose and desired outcomes.

Why You Should Listen:

If you’re overwhelmed by back-to-back meetings and want to take control of your schedule, this episode offers practical steps to make your meetings shorter and more productive. Learn how to create space for the work that truly matters!

Visit the dfkanz website episode page to download your free guide from Donna to transform your own meetings.

Guest Information:

Donna McGeorge is a productivity and efficiency expert, author, and speaker. She helps businesses and individuals reclaim their time by making meetings more effective and impactful.

Less Then 15 is a show brought to you by leading Accountants and Business Advisors, DFK Australia New Zealand.

We help business owners make better decisions with our local knowledge, national connections and global reach.

Search for a firm here and have a conversation with us today!

As a business owner, you know that setting the right goals can make or break your success. In this episode of Less Than 15, I’m joined by Mitchell Brooks, Partner at DFK Hirn Newey in Brisbane, to show you how combining your gut instincts with real-time data can unlock your business’s full potential. We’ll discuss how to use technology to track key performance indicators (KPIs), measure your goals in real-time, and make smarter, data-driven decisions that drive real growth.

Key Takeaways:

Why You Need to Set Clear Goals:

Without clear, defined goals, your business risks losing direction with success happening by accident, rather than repeatable, scaleable design. Mitchell explains that having goals in your head is not enough—you need to vocalise them and share them with your team so everyone is aligned and working towards the same targets.

Avoiding Common Pitfalls:

One of the biggest mistakes business owners make is not communicating their goals. Whether you’re aiming to increase sales or reduce costs, it’s crucial to ensure your team knows what those targets are so they can contribute to achieving them.

Using Tech to Track Progress:

You don’t have to be a tech expert to use cloud-based tools like Xero to track your goals in real-time. Mitchell shares how you can easily set up dashboards to monitor KPIs such as sales, profitability, and customer growth—all without getting lost in spreadsheets.

Customising How You See Your Data:

Every business is different, and so is every business owner. Whether you prefer detailed reports or visual dashboards, Mitchell explains how you can tailor how your data is presented, making it easier to keep your finger on the pulse of your business.

Real-Life Application:

Mitchell walks you through a real-world example of how he’s helped clients use data to improve their profitability. From tracking gross profit margins to monitoring sales numbers, he demonstrates how to turn insights into action, driving growth and efficiency.

Why You Should Listen:

You’re busy, and so is your team. However, making time to set and track meaningful goals could be the key to unlocking more profit and smoother operations. This episode will give you practical, actionable steps to combine your business instincts with the power of data—helping you achieve goals that grow your business.

Our Guest - Mitchell Brooks

Mitchell Brooks is a Partner at DFK Hirn Newey, specialising in helping businesses leverage data and technology to make informed decisions and drive profitability. He has extensive experience working with small and medium-sized businesses, helping them set actionable goals and track their progress with real-time data.

Less Then 15 is a show brought to you by leading Accountants and Business Advisors, DFK Australia New Zealand.

We help business owners make better decisions with our local knowledge, national connections and global reach.

Search for a firm here and have a conversation with us today!

In this episode, we speak with Sonya Lovell, Training and Communications Director for Menopause Friendly Australia about why businesses need to become menopause-friendly and how simple adjustments in the workplace can support staff during this life stage. This is a must-listen for business owners and leaders who want to foster inclusivity and retain experienced staff, all while enhancing productivity and employee well-being.

Key Takeaways:

1. Why Menopause Matters in the Workplace:
   • With 81% of people going through menopause currently in the workforce, Sonya highlights the growing importance of creating a supportive environment. Women over 50 represent the fastest-growing demographic in the workforce, making it crucial for businesses to understand how to accommodate menopause-related challenges.
2. Education is Key:
   • The first step is educating leaders and staff about menopause and its different phases. Menopause is not just a brief moment but includes perimenopause, which can begin as early as age 40 and last for several years. Understanding this timeline can help businesses make better-informed decisions about workplace accommodations.
3. Dispelling Common Myths:
   • Myth 1: Menopause is a brief event that occurs only in your 50s. In reality, symptoms can start a decade earlier.
   • Myth 2: Employees want menopause leave. Sonya shares that most women prioritise flexible working arrangements over dedicated leave.
   • Myth 3: Hormone therapy is the one-size-fits-all solution. While it helps some, other lifestyle changes and workplace support are also important.
4. Tailoring Workplace Support:
   • Creating a menopause-friendly workplace doesn’t have to involve significant costs or complex policies. Simple changes like flexible start times, appropriate uniforms, and understanding cognitive challenges (such as brain fog) can make a huge difference. Employers should actively ask their staff what support they need.
5. The Benefits of a Menopause-Friendly Workplace:
   • Retaining experienced staff, reducing sick leave, and lowering hiring costs are just some measurable benefits of fostering a supportive environment. Sonya emphasises that this is a win-win for both employees and employers.

Guest Information:

Sonya Lovell is the Training and Communications Manager for Menopause Friendly Australia and the host of the Dear Menopause podcast. She is an advocate for menopause education in the workplace, helping organisations create supportive environments for their employees.

Less Then 15 is a show brought to you by leading Accountants and Business Advisors, DFK Australia New Zealand.

We help business owners make better decisions with our local knowledge, national connections and global reach.

Search for a firm here and have a conversation with us today!

In this episode, Christina Arcane, Director of Inspire Cyber, shares practical cybersecurity measures that every small to medium-sized business should implement.

With recent high-profile cyber incidents making headlines, Christine breaks down how even smaller breaches can be devastating and offers actionable advice on how to safeguard your business.

Whether you’re just starting to think about cybersecurity or looking to strengthen your existing practices, this episode provides essential insights to help protect your organisation from everyday threats.

Key Takeaways:

1. Understanding the Risks:
   
   
   • High-Profile vs. Everyday Threats: While large-scale cyber incidents like those affecting Optus and Medibank grab headlines, Christine highlights the importance of protecting your business from smaller, yet potentially devastating, attacks that often go unreported.
2. Critical Conversations with IT:
   
   
   • Key Questions to Ask: Christine emphasises the need for business owners to engage with their IT teams by asking the right questions. For example, how aligned is your organisation with the Australian Government's Essential Eight cybersecurity strategies? Regularly revisiting these discussions ensures your business stays protected.
3. Password Hygiene:
   
   
   • The Dangers of Reusing Passwords: One of the most common vulnerabilities is password reuse across multiple accounts. Christine explains how credential stuffing attacks can occur when the same password is used on different sites, leading to unauthorised access and potential breaches.
4. Internal vs. Perimeter Security:
   
   
   • Two Lines of Defence: Christine introduces the concept of perimeter security (like firewalls and MFA) versus internal security (such as access control and data storage practices). She stresses that while preventing entry is crucial, protecting your internal systems is equally important once a breach occurs.
5. Empowering Your Employees:
   
   
   • The Role of Education: Christine argues that employees are often seen as the weakest link in cybersecurity but believes they can be your strongest asset with the right education. She suggests creating a culture of openness and continuous learning to help employees recognise and avoid threats.

Our guest - Christina Arcane

Christina is a renowned cyber security education specialist and the Director of InspireCyber.

With years of experience across IT, Cyber Security and Privacy domains, including the successful launch of her own cyber security SaaS startup BreachAware, leading its operations right through to acquisition in 2020. Christina is now dedicated to empowering organisations to equip their employees with the knowledge and confidence to navigate the complex cybersecurity landscape effectively.

Links and Resources:

• Australian Government's Essential Eight Strategies: Visit Here
• InspireCyber: Visit Here
• Download: Launching Your Employee Cybersecurity Program

Less Then 15 is a show brought to you by leading Accountants and Business Advisors, DFK Australia New Zealand.

We help business owners make better decisions with our local knowledge, national connections and global reach.

Search for a firm here and have a conversation with us today!

In this episode Wendy Jeffery-Lonnie, HR Manager at DFK Gooding Partners in Perth, covers the Right to Disconnect legislation and its implications for small to medium-sized businesses.

Wendy provides practical advice on how to proactively address this legislation, ensuring it integrates smoothly into existing operations and maintaining positive employee relatiosnhips.

Whether you're concerned about compliance or looking to foster a healthy work-life balance for your team, this episode offers valuable insights.

Key Takeaways:

1. Understanding the legislation:
   
   
   • The Right to Disconnect legislation gives employees the right to refuse unreasonable out-of-hours contact. Wendy clarifies that it’s not about banning all communication after hours but about defining what constitutes "reasonable" contact for your business.
2. The importance of proactive communication:
   
   
   • Open dialogue with your team is crucial. Wendy highlights the importance of having proactive discussions to set clear expectations and avoid misunderstandings. She also offers a checklist of questions to guide these conversations, which can be downloaded from the show notes.
3. Tailoring policies to your business:
   
   
   • Every business is different, and what’s reasonable for one industry might not be for another. Wendy discusses how the Fair Work Act and industry-specific awards can provide guidance, and why it’s important to customise your policies to reflect the unique needs of your business and workforce.
4. Practical implementation tips:
   
   
   • Simple actions like using delayed email sends and setting clear boundaries for after-hours communication can go a long way in preventing stress and potential legal issues. Wendy offers actionable steps that businesses can take right now to prepare for the new legislation.
5. Why you need to act now:
   
   
   • With the legislation becoming law soon, Wendy emphasises the importance of getting on the front foot. By taking proactive steps now, you can ensure your business is compliant and avoid any last-minute complications.

Less Then 15 is a show brought to you by leading Accountants and Business Advisors, DFK Australia New Zealand.

We help business owners make better decisions with our local knowledge, national connections and global reach.

Search for a firm here and have a conversation with us today!

In this episode, renowned business futurist, AI researcher, and author, Gihan Perera, outlines the transformative power of AI for small to medium-sized businesses.

In a must-listen for business owners looking to future-proof their operations and harness the power of AI today, Gihan shares practical examples of how AI can boost productivity and enhance customer experiences, while also debunking common fears about AI taking over jobs.

Key Takeaways:

Boost productivity:

• Streamline routine tasks: Learn how a daycare centre reduced the time to create child development plans from 3 hours to just 15 minutes using AI, freeing up staff for more meaningful work.
• Frequent updates: With AI handling repetitive tasks, businesses can update key processes more often, leading to greater efficiency and relevance.

Enhance your customer experience:

• Personalisation at scale: AI enables businesses to deliver tailored customer experiences, like personalised recommendations and faster responses, without increasing staff workload.
• Improved service frequency: Regular, AI-driven updates can significantly enhance client satisfaction and loyalty, as shown by the daycare’s improved parent interactions.

Getting Started with AI:

• Easy entry point: Begin with simple, low-risk tasks to get comfortable with AI, such as planning personal events, before applying it to business projects.
• Tool Selection: Use AI itself to identify the best tools for your business needs, ensuring a smooth and informed start.

Empowering Your Team:

• Identify AI Champions: Find and support team members who are eager to explore AI, allowing them to lead its integration in your business.
• Responsible use: Involve your IT team to ensure AI is used safely and securely, protecting sensitive data and maintaining compliance.

Long-term AI Impact:

• AI as a Daily Tool: Embrace AI now to prepare your business for a future where AI is a standard part of operations, similar to how we use the internet today.
• Continuous Learning: Stay adaptable as AI technology evolves, ensuring your business remains at the forefront of innovation.

Download the resource for this episode: Accelerate AI: Build your AI capability fast

www.GihanPerera.com

Less Then 15 is a show brought to you by leading Accountants and Business Advisors, DFK Australia New Zealand.

We help business owners make better decisions with our local knowledge, national connections and global reach.

Search for a firm here and have a conversation with us today!