Disciplinn by Tony Simmons

If you fancy yourself as an entrepreneur, then you will love this episode. Tim Fung has taken a non-linear career path that had him successfully co-founding and scaling one of Australia's most disruptive, successful, gig-economy marketplaces, Airtasker. Tim has grown Airtasker with his diligent and expert approach to tech, capital raising, pivoting and hard hard work. More importantly, Tim and Airtasker are mission driven and that is why they have made such a huge impact on the community.

“Every successful business needs a good accountant and good lawyer”, and it is 100% true. If you are a start-up and want some free accounting advice, listen up. Darren Heveren is making accountancy and tax sexy and on this episode of Disciplinn, Darren discusses business structure and tax. Whilst all of these concepts might seem out-of-reach and fanciful when starting out, believe me, you can lose A LOT of money if you overlook accounting; tax, bookkeeping, cash flow, real time data and much much more. This week Darren opens up about his incredible journey from average student, to partner at Deloitte, to giving it all away to find freedom and start out again at his own small firm which has grown and grown and grown.

Alan Kohler, a hugely respected icon of business journalism joins me on Disciplinn this week, allowing me to turn the tables and ask him all the questions. Alan is an incredible journalists, story teller, newspaper editor, TV presenter who has continued to drive into, and thrive in, incredible roles. He ascended the ladder to the top with his ability to lead, see things that others don’t and connect with audiences. Alan has also been an entrepreneur who has been at the leading edge of digital disruption to media and journalism and he understand that consistency, brand and good people make a business tick. Enjoy Disciplinn with Alan Kohler

This week on Disciplinn Paul and I sit down and unpack the mysterious world of Venture Capital. 
We look at what makes VCs invest in founder, and certain businesses. We talk valuations, founder mentors, pricing, escape velocity, why failure is a nuanced word and what Seed, Series A and all these rounds actually mean. If you want to understand everything about Venture Capital, then tune and listen to this podcast.

This week I speak to Zandy Fell about her journey from the boardrooms of Toyota as their Diversity and Equal opportunity manager Employee relations Manager and National recruitment Manager To running her own business, The Zalt Group. Zandy says there is nothing soft and fluffy about workplace relations and I can really see that now, enjoy as we cover: - HR - Values and Idealism - HR and ER - not a soft skill - It really is the silly things - emotions run high - The female assumptions in business - Feelings - Nothing more than feelings - Conflict needs a PR remodel - a good workplace is the ability to deal with difference and can get an organisation to a better place - “Don’t take it personally” Be rational - change your thinking! - Conflict is a leakage point - it is a loss of hours, mental space and - and most companies don’t measure it - Who has the power - the manager or the subordinate - HR is a strategic advantage - We’ve all got the skills for conflict resolution

Have a business that sells a product or service, or are a sales person yourself, then you must listen to this weeks episode. I speak with Graham Hawkins about Sales Tribe and his incredible journey from facing displacement as a sales person in a rapidly evolving digital world, to how he founded a transformational company; Sales tribe. The insights you will get for how sales in changing and what you / business can do to change now to improve all sales efforts is truly valuable. We discuss: - Subject Matter leads to understanding - buyer behaviour - B2B sales - Frightening changes in Sales - fast changing roles - Sales Influencer - curating and leveraging a network - Why take a risk - because I knew!!! The problem was obvious - Know your market - product / market validation - The entrepreneur - “the white knuckle ride” - keep energy high - Sales - trust, open, reputation and integrity - Content, content, content is, and always has been, king - Get out of your comfort zone - you must connect and be front of mind - Sales is becoming a cultural and competency fit - it is not a bum on a seat - This is how you must find people - The entrepreneurs journey is sacrifice - but healthy body and mind helps amazingly Enjoy the episode!

Hiring, firing and looking for great people - especially start-ups - this weeks episode of Disciplinn is a must. I speak with Jamal Khan, Managing Partner of Amrop Carmichael Fisher. Jamal has spent his working life in recruitment, building recruitment start-ups throughout the world, and now having his own executive search firm incorporated into the Global Amrop Group. He gives you an inside track into what makes an outstanding candidate, and we cover some fertile ground, including: - Entrepreneurial itch from an academic background - Falling into recruitment - controlling your own destiny and creating something from nothing - Getting in sales and generating revenue - Tom Hopkins, How to Master the Art of selling - it's a number game! - Starting again - the adrenalin of new things and another start-up - Plugging it into a global network - Recruitment - Halos and Horns - good hiring tips - Good people for business - People are enablers its all about people - context driven - What is Executive Search - how does it work - client & Candidate side - what makes a good candidate - What about start ups - attracting great candidates - What about Executive Coaches - Constant exposure to incredible business people - front row seat to captains of industry - Personality traits in great CEOs - and sustainable leadership

Disciplinn has already had incredible feedback and listeners want to know who I am, what qualifies me to sit in the interviewers chair and why am I doing these interviews. If you have six minutes, all will be revealed.

This week on Disciplinn I speak with Paul Breen, AKA the Bull. Paul is one of the most down to earth people you will ever meet - he’s had spectacular business success, but as you will hear he’s also seen the other side and embraces failure whole heartedly. Paul is universally admired for his honesty, insights, ability to hit you straight between the eye and to understand that cultural motivations that drive business, and the personal motivations that accelerate or decelerate individuals. Paul is a writer, raconteur and this episode of Disciplinn will give you an insight into the commitment an entrepreneur needs, to achieve great success. He also gives insights into sales, culture and retail and about grafting your way to an outcome. Enjoy my chat with THE BULL, Paul Breen

This week, I speak with Jason Ellenport, Principal at Edison Partners and Member board or directors for EO (Entrepreneurs Organisation). For any entrepreneur, Disciplinn is a vital listen as we delve into key tips for business leaders and entrepreneurs and what makes entrepreneurs tick. This week we start with: Inauspicious beginnings Growing ambition Father & son / family values Start-ups calling The value of values From pilot to trusted advisor M&A advice - how, when, why and who Set backs and challenges Passions and just being Jason There was significant set-backs for Jason on his path and this article in The Australian newspaper will give even more insight into this incredibly story and into this brilliant entrepreneur: https://bit.ly/2Kr9pix Next week, we look at a no bullshit entrepreneur, THE BULL. See you then Tony