If your business is running your life, this is how you take it back.

Mark and Caroline aren’t just co-hosts — they’re a real-life couple who’ve spent 15 years building a business together without losing their minds (or each other). In this episode, they unpack one small, ridiculously effective strategy that could give you back your time, your focus, and even your evenings.

They call it “bunkering.”

We’re talking about turning distraction into discipline, chaos into clarity, and busywork into bold business moves. Whether you run your business solo or with your significant other, these insights will change how you think about time forever.

You’ll learn how to bunker like a boss, from when to do it, where to do it, and what to do while you’re in it.

If your business is starting to feel like it owns you, this might just be your first step back to freedom.

In today's podcast, Mark explores:

• Redefining productivity in terms of outcomes, not effort, and shifting focus from urgency to impact (03:26)
• How to leverage your natural rhythms to tackle high-value work (07:40)
• How to create a real bunker for deep work that actually moves the needle (11:29)
• How setting boundaries around your time creates better results (16:08)
• Treating time as the scalable asset it actually is (20:43)

You don’t wake up planning to fail. But without a plan, that’s exactly what happens.

In this snapshot episode, Mark Creedon and Darren Finkelstein dissect the quiet chaos of unintentional self-sabotage, the myth of “just sucking it up,” and why your goal needs more than just good vibes.

If you’ve ever had big dreams and zero follow-through, this one’s your wake-up call with a side of accountability.

• Why good intentions without a plan are just elegant self-sabotage
• The mindset shift that skyrockets your follow-through rate
• How to build a “game plan” that actually fits your life (not your fantasy schedule)
• Why telling people your goals increases your odds of crushing them
• The accountability hack that boosts your success rate to 95%

You don’t need more motivation. What you need is a plan that sticks and someone to hold your feet to the fire. This episode is your first step.

Listen to the full episode here

Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-get-shit-done-with-darren-finkelstein/id1683205897?i=1000638948213

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/episode/5cTunDQfqHjZPXxG0l265N

Starting small might just be the secret to finishing big.

In this episode, Mark and Nick unravel why we put things off and what actually gets us going again. From Russian waiters and half-built projects to marketing fails and metaphorical underpants, this conversation dives deep into why business owners feel stuck, and how to unstick themselves.

We also explore why “just being better” isn’t the real answer, and how radical authenticity, not polished perfection, is your smartest business move.

If you're done with burnout, busywork, and trying to outdo everyone else, this episode is your reset button. You'll walk away with smarter ways to get started, finish strong, and finally build a business that feels like freedom again.

This one’s for every business owner staring at a to-do list they never started.

In today's podcast, Mark explores:

• Why procrastination hijacks your brain and how starting small can stop the spiral (00:38)
• The power of a 5% start and how it flips your brain into finish mode (04:00)
• Why chasing “better” is exhausting and how “being different” is your shortcut to standing out (07:28)
• How authenticity beats strategy and why “copycat marketing” falls flat (10:55)
• Why pretending to be someone else is draining your mojo (14:27)
• A question to ask when your business feels off (18:18)

The most successful businesses aren’t just profitable, they’re built on purpose.

In this snapshot episode, Mark Creedon explores the powerful Japanese concept of ikigai or your reason for being and how it applies to business owners who want more time, more meaning, and a life beyond the grind.

From staying active and doing what you love, to surrounding yourself with the right people and making space for joy (yes, even ice cream), Mark unpacks simple mindset shifts that help you build a business that supports your life, instead of running it.

• What ikigai really means and how it applies to entrepreneurs
• Why retiring isn’t the goal (and what to aim for instead)
• How to stay energised by doing work that actually lights you up
• Why “slow and steady” is a better business plan than hustle
• Practical ways to reconnect with the reason you started your business in the first place

Whether you're scaling up or slowing down, this episode will help you realign your business with your purpose and rediscover the joy that got you started.

Listen to the full episode here

Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-secret-to-finding-balance-in-your-life-and/id1683205897?i=1000637435480

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/episode/0CRHIi8CV2OiBxGHqLOBPW?si=e9df034cd9954771

Most business owners run from the storm. But the smartest ones? They charge into it, like a buffalo.

In this episode of Mastermind for Business, Mark and Nick unpack a powerful mindset shift that separates overwhelmed operators from strategic leaders, the ones that run into the chaos instead of hiding from it.

From sudden staff exits to financial curveballs, every business hits storms. The difference between staying stuck and scaling forward comes down to how you respond. This isn’t about hustle or heroics, it’s about building a resilient, high-performing business that works with you, not against you.

Whether you’re dealing with uncertainty or just tired of firefighting every day, this episode gives you a practical game plan for leading with clarity and growing stronger through the storm.

In today's podcast, Mark explores:

• Why confronting challenges directly leads to faster resolution, deeper resilience, and a more empowered leadership mindset (00:28)
• Why avoidance delays growth and how staying “safe” can actually sink your business (03:46)
• A practical framework for finding forward momentum instead of freezing (08:07)
• How to turn tough moments into operational improvements that prepare your business for future curveballs (10:48)
• How to let people go without burning bridges (12:03)
• The communication habits that build trust, speed, and alignment (17:12)
• How proactive check-ins and values-based hiring can prevent blindsides and ensure long-term alignment with your team (21:07)

What if the real reason you’re exhausted isn’t your workload, but where you’re spending your time?

In this snapshot episode, we’re breaking down the four time zones every business owner operates in. And more importantly, how to stop spending your precious energy in the wrong ones.

The happiest business owners spend 70% of their time in one zone. Let’s find yours.

Grab a notebook, because this conversation just might change the way you work forever.

Listen to the full episode here

Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-whole-new-look-at-time-management/id1683205897?i=1000649584285

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/episode/3rKykty42tRvbOdcOR05u0

You built your business for freedom, not to carry it all alone. So when your team steps up, you get to step back, and finally lead the way you always imagined.

This episode breaks down exactly why your team isn’t taking ownership and stepping up, and how to fix it without burnout, micromanagement, or more stress on your shoulders. We’re talking about practical strategies that give your team autonomy and give you your freedom back.

Nick and Mark unpack the 4 big blocks stopping your team from taking ownership and how to eliminate each one so your business runs without every decision running through you.

If you’ve ever felt like freedom’s slipping away the more your business grows, this episode will help you take it back.

Your team can do more. You just need the right systems and a whole lot less micromanagement.

In today's podcast, Mark explores:

• Your team members don’t want clearer instructions. They want this (00:45)
• How your reactions to mistakes might be training your team not to think for themselves (02:29)
• Creating a culture where smart risks are safe to take (07:36)
• How unclear expectations keep your team stuck and turn you into the bottleneck (10:08)
• Why micromanagement backfires, even when it comes from good intentions (13:16)
• Why withholding trust kills motivation (15:43)
• Identifying who’s ready to step up and who’s not (18:48)
• A smarter way to tie salary increases to accountability (20:14)
• Quick recap (22:33)

Get in touch with Mark Creedon

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-creedon/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markcreedoncoach/
• Business Accelerator Mastermind: https://investor.metropole.com.au/business-mastermind/

About Mastermind Business Accelerator

Mastermind Business Accelerator is a hands-on practical program aimed at driving results fast. Spearheaded by Mark and Caroline Creedon and a range of highly qualified experts, the program will give you back the freedom you hoped for when you first started your business or professional practice. With his coaching program, Business Accelerator Mastermind, Mark helps business owners maximise their time, set and achieve goals, while remaining accountable.

It’s not about working harder. It’s about finding (and fixing) what’s quietly draining your momentum.

In this snapshot episode, Mark Creedon breaks down a deceptively simple 4-tier self-assessment that reveals exactly where your business bottlenecks are hiding.

Instead of slapping on bandaids (like, hiring another salesperson when delivery is the real problem), this episode shows you how to diagnose and fix the right things, so you can finally scale with sanity and freedom.

If you’ve ever felt like your business is a leaky bucket, this episode is going to be helpful. It’s time to stop chasing quick wins and start finding the right fix.

Listen to the full episode here

Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-work-out-what-the-next-right-thing-is-in-your-business/id1683205897?i=1000638189134

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/episode/0lhAOpegluUIMrOTKAmiaL

Links:

• https://www.facebook.com/mastermindbusinesspodcast
• https://www.instagram.com/mastermindbusinesspodcast/
• https://www.linkedin.com/company/mastermindbusinesspodcast/
• https://www.linkedin.com/company/mastermindbusinesspodcast/
• https://www.youtube.com/@mastermindforbusinesspodcast

About Business Accelerator Mastermind

Business Accelerator Mastermind is a hands-on practical program aimed at driving results fast. Spearheaded by Mark and Caroline Creedon and a range of highly qualified experts, the program will give you back the freedom you hoped for when you first started your business or professional practice. With his coaching program, Business Accelerator Mastermind, Mark helps business owners maximise their time, set and achieve goals, while remaining accountable.