Better Business, Better Life

Hosted by Debra Chantry Taylor

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316

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Aug 2026

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About the show

You've heard the saying happy wife, happy life. This not only applies to marriage but also to business leaders. We go into business looking for more freedom, money and happiness. But before too long you find yourself working long hours, stressed, overwhelmed and feeling like your business has a grip on you. From the outside things look good - you've got the car, house, wife, kids, bach and toys but how often do you get freedom to do what you truly love? And is your wife loving you or leaving you? Learn from those who have built a life they truly love, through building a better business.

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August 22, 202637 min

Living With Cancer: A Story Of Love & Heartbreak with Kim Sorrelle

In 2009, while battling breast cancer, Kim Sorrelle's love, Steve, received a pancreatic cancer diagnosis. After six great weeks together, Kim held Steve as he took his last breath. Her first book, Cry Until You Laugh, chronicles that journey through laughter and tears and laughter again. The back-to-back cancer diagnosis led her youngest son, Noah, to change his trajectory and earn a Ph.D. as a cancer researcher. With a focus on breast cancer, Noah has made significant discoveries that have already helped with other research and continue to move the needle on the survivor rate. Kim's second book, Love Is, came from a desire to know the true meaning of love. Love Is, chronicles her year-long quest to discover the true meaning of love, a sometimes funny, sometimes scary, always enlightening journey that led to life-changing discoveries found mostly on the streets of Haiti. Today, Kim lives in her hometown of Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA, a regular radio, television, and podcast guest, Kim speaks to audiences all over the world. Inspirational and educational, Kim entertains CEOs, industry leaders, company staff members, educators, parents, women's groups, and more. With first-hand experience, Kim also speaks for The American Cancer Society and Susan G. Koman. A coach is always a coach and Kim is no different. Working with individuals and teams, Kim helps people succeed not only in business and family life but in every aspect of life, leading to greater fulfillment and happiness while teaching the secrets to working less and playing more. When she is not writing, broadcasting, coaching, speaking, or serving, Kim enjoys her life-long and newer friendships, hanging out with the grandkids, reading, playing tennis and pickleball, painting (she's no Bob Ross!), traveling, meeting new people, and an occasional stick of black licorice. HOST'S DETAILS:___________________________________________►Debra Chantry-Taylor is a Professional EOS Implementer | Entrepreneurial Leadership & Business Coach | Business Owner►See how she can help you: https://www.businessaction.com.au/ ____________________________________________GUESTS DETAILS:____________________________________________►Book: https://www.amazon.com/Love-Yearlong-Experiment-Living-Corinthians/dp/0825446740/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=love+is+kim+sorrelle&qid=1629861751&sr=8-1 ►Website: https://www.kimsorrelle.com/

August 17, 2026Episode 28547 min

Mirko Roettgers: How to Go From Losing Money to 20%+ Profit with EOS

In this episode of Better Business, Better Life, Debra Chantry-Taylor is joined by an experienced EOS Implementer® to explore how to go from losing money to 20%+ Profit with EOS®. The conversation begins with his journey from digital transformation in Queensland’s tourism industry to entrepreneurship, where he discovered EOS® while working with a Martech startup. At the time, the business was struggling with negative profits. After implementing EOS, it transformed into a company generating more than 20% profit margins. A major part of that turnaround came from focusing on the right things. The leadership team introduced a disciplined Scorecard®, identified the numbers that genuinely drove performance, & made sure the right people were in the right seats. Debra & her guest also discuss the Accountability Chart®, why it can be confronting, & how it helps leadership teams clarify ownership, uncover gaps & resolve confusion around accountability. They also explore the value of leading indicators, the challenge of being an Integrator pulled into constant firefighting, & why sustainable growth requires a strong leadership team underneath the Integrator role. The conversation then turns to the opportunities ahead for Queensland, including the 2032 Olympic Games & major infrastructure investment. Rather than simply hoping for growth, Debra & her guest discuss why businesses need to build the structure, people & systems now so they are ready when those opportunities arrive. Drawing on the discipline of ultra-marathon running, this episode is a powerful reminder that business growth rarely comes from one dramatic effort. It comes from consistent execution, clear priorities, disciplined habits & the willingness to keep moving when things get difficult. A valuable listen for business owners who feel stuck, want to improve profitability, or need to prepare their organisation for the next stage of growth. CONNECT WITH DEBRA: ___________________________________________ ►Debra Chantry-Taylor is a Certified EOS Implementer® | Entrepreneurial Leadership & Business Coach | Business Owner ►Connect with Debra: debra@businessaction.com.au ►See how she can help you: https://businessaction.co.nz/ ►Claim Your Free E-Book: https://www.businessaction.co.nz/free-e-book/ ___________________________________________ GUEST’S DETAILS: ► Mirko Roettgers – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mirkoroettgers/ ► Website – Mirko Roettgers – https://www.mirkoroettgers.com.au/ Ep 285 Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction 00:30 – Speaker 1’s Professional Journey 05:36 – The Power of EOS Tools 09:54 – Developing Effective Scorecards 14:23 – Challenges of the Integrator Role 18:58 – Transitioning to EOS Implementation 22:50 – Economic Outlook and Scaling 27:07 – Clarity and Business Discipline

August 15, 202633 min

Don’t Listen To the Naysayers with Wyndi Tagi

Wyndi (Rodokal) Tagi is a Visionary who is passionate about enhancing the mana of Māori and Pacifica People, with a vision to impact the lives of 10 million. Wyndi took an idea, convinced her husband to start a business and things were going well. Then they were told by one of the big 4 accounting firms that they should stop spending so much time & money with their community & with their family - that their culture didn't differentiate them. It was demoralising but also a big turning point for Wyndi & her husband Eli. Hear how they took this, what it prompted in them & how they built this into a purpose-led business across several countries. Wyndi is now one of my EOS clients. We connected on LinkedIn initially and just chewed the fat over a walk & talk. Later on, she contacted me having read the EOS books & wanted to talk to me to see if I could help them. She shares what EOS has done for the business & their family, how they went from 47 goals down to 6 & how they manage to employ family in the business without any issues. More about Wyndi: On her mother's side, she is from Ati-Hau-Nui-A-Paparangi, on her dad's side, she is of NZ European descent from England and Greece. After her first breast cancer diagnosis in 2017, she decided that she wanted to ensure she lived her best life and she wasn’t interested in dying with regret. So she's been living into her purpose, which is to better the statistics of Māori and Pacifica people. WE Accounting is one of the many vehicles she drives for doing just that. "At WE, WE don’t just believe in a better future, WE are building it. Our Accounting Practice provides support, guidance and opens growth opportunities to small and medium-sized NZ businesses. WE know that SME’s are the backbone of the economy and when they thrive, so too do families, communities and our economy."

August 10, 2026Episode 2841 hr 3 min

Dr. Michael Filosi: The Journey From Doing Everything to Almost Nothing

In this episode of Better Business, Better Life, Debra Chantry-Taylor is joined by Dr Michael Filosi, former owner of Fullarton Park Dental, to explore his remarkable journey from doing everything to almost nothing in the business he built. Michael began his career as a dentist after graduating from Adelaide University in 2006. For years, he was deeply involved in the clinical side of the practice, personally generating around 40% of its revenue. But as his interest in business, strategy & leadership grew, he began asking an important question: how could he build a successful business that no longer depended on him? That question led Michael on an intensive journey of business education. He read around 100 business books in three years, including Traction by Gino Wickman, & began applying what he learned to his practice. Over time, he reduced his clinical contribution from 40% of revenue to just 0.6%, creating a business that could operate successfully without relying on any single person. Michael shares how clear expectations, strong recruitment, accountability & the right Visionary/Integrator relationship helped him build a more scalable & dependable organisation. With a strong leadership team around him, he was able to move away from doing everything himself & focus instead on vision, growth & the bigger picture. Debra & Michael also explore some of the harder realities of business ownership, including dealing with underperforming team members, maintaining high standards, learning from mistakes & creating a culture where people feel comfortable giving honest feedback. Michael explains why reducing key-person dependency is one of the most important things any owner can do to protect the long-term value of their business. The conversation also dives into financial resilience. Michael shares why business owners need to prepare for difficult periods while things are going well, from maintaining a rainy-day fund to understanding cash flow & making thoughtful long-term investments. Having experienced economic uncertainty firsthand, he explains why planning for the unexpected is essential for both financial security & peace of mind. CONNECT WITH DEBRA: ___________________________________________ ►Debra Chantry-Taylor is a Certified EOS Implementer® | Entrepreneurial Leadership & Business Coach | Business Owner►Connect with Debra: debra@businessaction.com.au►See how she can help you: https://businessaction.co.nz/►Claim Your Free E-Book: https://www.businessaction.co.nz/free-e-book/___________________________________________ GUEST’S DETAILS:► Dr. Michael Filosi – LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/michaelfilosi► Website – Fullarton Park Dental : https://www.fullartondental.com.au/ Ep 284 Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction03:29 – The Importance of Business Education and Planning06:57 – Building a Scalable and Dependable Business08:06 – Challenges and Lessons in Business Ownership08:37 – The Role of Leadership and Team Dynamics08:49 – The Impact of Business Ownership on Personal Life09:32 – The Journey to Success and the Importance of Resilience11:32 – Preparing for the Worst54:38 – Top Tips for Business Success

August 8, 202634 min

Happy Wife, Happy Life: Bring Your Wife on Your EOS Journey with Jack Martin

Jack Martin is the Co-founder of 52TEN, a proud U.S. Army Veteran, Father & Husband. In this episode, he talks us through how he founded 52Ten, 6 years ago & has built it up to over 25 people. He share the challenges he has faced & how he overcame them, plus where that name come from. But most importantly he shares with us how he keeps his family 7 children & particularly his wife happy & how he brings Andrea on the EOS Journey. Jack's top 3 tips:1. Read the book Traction, before you buy or start a business. And find yourself an EOS Implementer2. Stay in your superpower 80% of the time3. Learn how to let go

August 3, 2026Episode 28349 min

Nathan James: The EOS® System That Changed a Creative Agency

In this episode of Better Business, Better Life, Debra Chantry-Taylor is joined by Nathan James, Creative Director at The Attention Seeker, to share his honest story on the EOS® system that changed a creative agency, & the lessons every entrepreneur can learn from failure, resilience & growth. Nathan’s career began in London’s creative industry in 1995, where he worked with some of the world’s leading advertising agencies, including Mother & R/GA, before taking his expertise across Stockholm, New York, Amsterdam & eventually Auckland. Along the way, he built an impressive career creating campaigns for global brands & later launched his own content production & advertising business. Despite his creative success, Nathan’s business ultimately failed. Poor financial management, inconsistent cash flow & the absence of a reliable sales pipeline led to bankruptcy. Rather than allowing the experience to define him, Nathan chose to learn from it. He openly shares the hard lessons he discovered about cash flow, networking, business strategy & the importance of separating creative talent from sound business management. Nathan eventually joined The Attention Seeker, where implementing EOS® transformed the way the business operates. With clear accountability, structured Level 10 Meeting® rhythms, transparent communication & defined roles through The Accountability Chart®, the agency reduced politics, strengthened collaboration & built a more profitable, stable business. Nathan explains why structure does not limit creativity. It creates the freedom for creative people to do their best work. Debra & Nathan also explore the importance of company culture & core values, discussing how transparency, daily recognition of team members & hiring based on shared values have helped create a high-performing team. Nathan shares why reporting to someone younger than himself became a valuable lesson in humility, proving that great businesses are built on merit, not hierarchy or ego. Throughout the conversation, Nathan offers honest advice for entrepreneurs who are facing setbacks. He encourages business owners to never stop learning, let go of ego & remember that material possessions do not define success. Instead, lasting success comes from building a healthy business, maintaining strong relationships & creating a life that is fulfilling both professionally & personally. CONNECT WITH DEBRA: ___________________________________________ ►Debra Chantry-Taylor is a Certified EOS Implementer® | Entrepreneurial Leadership & Business Coach | Business Owner ►Connect with Debra: debra@businessaction.com.au ►See how she can help you: https://businessaction.co.nz/ ►Claim Your Free E-Book: https://www.businessaction.co.nz/free-e-book/ ___________________________________________ GUEST’S DETAILS: ► Nathan James – LinkedIn: https://nz.linkedin.com/in/nathanjames-cooper ► Website – attn:seeker : https://www.attnseeker.com Ep 283 Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction 00:38 – Nate’s Background and Early Career 09:17 – Transition to Digital and Freelancing 17:27 – Joining The Attention Seeker 21:41 – Impact of EOS® on Business Structure 34:33 – Cultural Values and Team Dynamics 39:22 – Reducing Ego and Embracing Structure 47:37 – Lessons Learned from Business Failures 47:46 – Advice for Entrepreneurs

August 1, 202637 min

The Ultimate Pricing Strategy with Per Sjöfors

Per Sjöfors is the Founder and CEO of Sjöfors & Partners Inc, Los Angeles. He used pricing as the lever to turn around several European and US companies in his 25 years of executive management experience. Per believes that what business schools teach about pricing is too abstract for executives to act on and has made it his life’s work to make pricing practical and actionable. Per has a unique appreciation for the importance of optimal pricing and brings with him his international experience of pricing practices from a global perspective. He has helped over 600 clients substantially increase sales and profits by bringing understanding of how pricing affects sales volume, adding billions to their bottom line. HOST'S DETAILS:___________________________________________►Debra Chantry-Taylor is a Professional EOS Implementer | Entrepreneurial Leadership & Business Coach | Business Owner►See how she can help you: https://www.businessaction.com.au/____________________________________________GUESTS DETAILS:____________________________________________►Website:https://www.persjofors.com/►Books:1. The Price Whisperer: A Holistic Approach to Pricing Power: https://www.amazon.com/Price-Whisperer-Holistic-Approach-Pricing/dp/1637351178 2. 7 Easy Steps To Successfully Increase Prices: ...And Keep Your Customers Happy: https://www.amazon.com/Easy-Steps-Successfully-Increase-Prices-ebook/dp/B015GOOMJY/ref=sr_1_2?qid=1663298761&refinements=p_27%3APer+Sjofors&s=books&sr=1-2&text=Per+Sjofors

July 27, 2026Episode 28249 min

Jeff Starin: The EOS Lesson That Grew a Business by 484%

In this episode of Better Business, Better Life, Debra Chantry-Taylor is joined by Certified EOS Implementer® Jeff Starin to share the remarkable story of how he grew his business by 484% after implementing EOS® & transforming the way he led his company. Jeff’s entrepreneurial journey is anything but ordinary. After leaving college to become a professional pool player, he started an auto parts business with the simple goal of earning enough money to one day open a pool hall. Over the years, he built the company into a successful business, but after reaching around $5 million in revenue, growth completely stalled. For four consecutive years, sales remained virtually unchanged, leaving Jeff searching for a better way forward. Everything changed when Jeff discovered the Entrepreneurial Operating System®. Like many business owners, he initially chose to self-implement after reading Traction. While the tools helped, he quickly realised that trying to facilitate the process himself limited the results. Bringing in an experienced EOS® Implementer became the turning point, giving his leadership team the accountability, structure & objective guidance they needed to gain real Traction®. One of the biggest breakthroughs came through redesigning The Accountability Chart® & clearly defining the Visionary & Integrator roles. Jeff explains how understanding his natural strengths as a Visionary & finding the right Integrator to drive execution allowed him to stop being the bottleneck in the business. By learning to delegate effectively & empowering others to lead, the company experienced dramatic improvements in both performance & culture. Debra & Jeff also discuss the power of EOS® tools such as Level 10 Meeting® & IDS®. Jeff shares why helping leadership teams identify the real issue, instead of treating symptoms, transforms the quality of conversations, accelerates decision-making & creates a stronger culture of accountability. They also explore why difficult conversations become much easier when leadership teams have clear data, defined expectations & a proven framework for solving problems. Throughout the episode, Jeff shares practical leadership lessons that extend beyond EOS®, including why businesses move at the speed of their decisions, the importance of understanding what customers are truly paying for, & why happiness often lies on the other side of the difficult conversations leaders avoid. This episode is essential listening for entrepreneurs who want to grow their business, overcome the plateau many companies experience, & discover how EOS® can help build a stronger leadership team, create greater accountability & unlock sustainable long-term growth. CONNECT WITH DEBRA: ___________________________________________ ►Debra Chantry-Taylor is a Certified EOS Implementer® | Entrepreneurial Leadership & Business Coach | Business Owner ►Connect with Debra: debra@businessaction.com.au ►See how she can help you: https://businessaction.co.nz/ ►Claim Your Free E-Book: https://www.businessaction.co.nz/free-e-book/ ___________________________________________ GUEST’S DETAILS: ► Jeff Starin – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffstarineosimplementer ► Website – Entrepreneurs Organization - Los Angeles Valley: https://eolavalley.com Ep 282 Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction 00:57 – Building a Business by Accident02:02 – Discovering EOS and Achieving 484% Growth06:03 – Visionary vs Integrator: Finding the Missing Piece08:02 – The Difference Between Visionaries and Integrators22:20 – Helping Businesses Grow Is the Greatest Reward44:34 – Jeff's Top Three Business Lessons

July 25, 202633 min

Blame It On EOS! A Family Business Tale with Corey Lawson

"Being an excellent husband, father, friend & entrepreneur is a choice. Easy to say, hard to do." That's how Corey describes himself on his LinkedIn Profile & when you listen to this podcast you'll understand how he achieves all of these. Corey works as the Co-Owner & President of All Volleyball Inc - a family-owned business that has been running for many years. Just 2 years ago, after trying to implement many other business systems, the family business decided to go with EOS & use a professional implementer to help them. In that time they have survived & thrived throughout a pandemic & grown the business to 5x its revenue. However, it hasn't been without its challenges. Find out why they chose to go with EOS, what it has done for the business & how they went from 5 family members on the leadership team down to just one but how they still all get along & love each other. Their story is VERY inspiring & if you're a family business owner or part of a family business, you will take a lot from this episode.

July 20, 2026Episode 28155 min

Kris Snyder: The Next Evolution of EOS Powered by AI

In this episode of Better Business, Better Life, Debra Chantry-Taylor is joined by Kris Snyder, Chief Advocate at Ninety.io, to explore how EOS® Powered by AI is helping leadership teams work smarter, run better meetings & build scalable businesses. Kris shares his journey from building five software companies & surviving the dot-com crash to becoming an EOS® Implementer & one of the driving forces behind Ninety.io. Today, the platform supports more than 18,000 companies & over 300,000 users, while staying grounded in the core principles of EOS®. A major focus of the conversation is how AI is transforming the way businesses use EOS®. Kris explains that AI is not replacing the EOS® process or the role of the EOS® Implementer. Instead, it removes administrative work, surfaces insights & helps leadership teams spend more time solving real business issues. Debra & Kris discuss how AI-powered tools within Ninety.io can improve meeting preparation, identify patterns, provide visibility into team performance & help leaders ask better questions. They also explore how Ninety.io is balancing innovation with the simplicity that makes EOS® so effective. Beyond technology, Kris shares why exit planning should begin long before a business owner is ready to sell. He explains how EOS® helps businesses become less dependent on the founder by building stronger leadership teams, clearer accountability & systems that allow the business to thrive independently. Throughout the episode, Debra & Kris reinforce that while AI can improve productivity & efficiency, lasting business success still depends on clear leadership, disciplined execution & meaningful human relationships. This episode is essential listening for entrepreneurs & leadership teams who want to understand how EOS® Powered by AI can improve meetings, strengthen accountability, simplify operations & build a business ready for the future. CONNECT WITH DEBRA: ___________________________________________ ►Debra Chantry-Taylor is a Certified EOS Implementer® | Entrepreneurial Leadership & Business Coach | Business Owner►Connect with Debra: debra@businessaction.com.au ►See how she can help you: https://businessaction.co.nz/►Claim Your Free E-Book: https://www.businessaction.co.nz/free-e-book/___________________________________________ GUEST’S DETAILS: ► Kris Snyder – LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/krissnyder/► Website – Kris Snyder: https://krissnyder.com/ Ep 281 Chapters:00:00 – Introduction47:04 – Transition to EOS and Ninety.io47:19 – Changes in Ninety.io and EOS Purity47:33 – Impact of AI on EOS and Ninety.io47:47 – Challenges and Opportunities in EOS Implementation50:11 – Planning for Exit and Personal Growth50:44 – Advocacy and Community Building53:26 – Final Thoughts and Tips