Please, let me know if I’m on the right track with the podcast by hitting Subscribe/Follow and then, download the Blog Summary & Josh’s contact details: https://criticalfewactionspodcast.com.au/JoshuaMorseEpisodePage

It means the world to me and helps me know I’m adding value.

If your net profit margin hovers around 4–5%, you’re not alone. But what if that return isn’t worth the stress, the sleepless nights-or the risk to your house and future?

In this episode of the #criticalfewactions, John Downes sits down with long-time business advisor and accounting partner Joshua Morse of Sarwood Dawson, to unpack the truth about SME profitability, strategic costs, and the risks too many CEOs ignore.

Together, they explore why smart businesses aim for 15%+ net profit, how to stop bleeding money below the gross profit line, and what to do now to protect your margin and your cashflow.

What You’ll Learn

Why 5% net profit might be too low - and how to benchmark what’s realistic

= How to distinguish strategic investments from admin overheads

= The #1 habit of profitable businesses (hint: it’s not revenue-related)

= What a 3-way forecast is and why it’s a game changer for cashflow control

= When to stop doing $30/hr tasks as a $500/hr CEO

⏱️ Highlights

00:00 Meet Joshua Morse: Business Excellence Judge

01:03 Understanding Business Profitability

02:05 Operational Costs and Strategic Spending

08:03 The Importance of Cash Flow Management

08:43 Investing in Technology: Timing and Strategy

14:14 Governance and Outsourcing for Growth

20:52 Case Study: Optimizing IT Systems

30:44 Finance, Borrowing, and Strategic Asset Management

33:47 Taxation and Compliance Costs

37:17 Tools and Strategies for Better Profitability

42:10 The #CriticalFewActions™ for Founders and CEOs

Take Action: What You Can Do Today

✅ Benchmark your net profit against industry averages

✅ Reclassify your operating costs: essential vs. investment vs. waste

✅ Build a 3-way forecast and review it monthly

Let’s Stay Connected

If this episode challenged your thinking, subscribe to the channel and share it with a fellow business leader. Leave a comment: What’s your net profit target-and is it enough for the risk you’re carrying?

Sponsor

The CEO Masterclass in Strategic Planning & Implementation – helping founders and CEOs of mid-sized businesses turn ambition into action. https://criticalfewactionspodcast.com.au/JoshuaMorseBAC

Final Thought

• You didn’t build your business to break even.
• You built it to create value, freedom and security.
• This episode might be the push you need to raise your standards; and take action.

#ceomasterclass #profitability #smeleadership #businessstrategy #NetProfit #Cashflow #ThreeWayForecast #StrategicPlanning #BusinessMentor #AustralianBusiness #JohnDownes

Please help me know if I’m on the right track with this podcast by hitting Follow and then Download the Blog Summary & Anabela’s Contact Details: https://www.criticalfewactions.com.au/podcast/Anabela-Correia-Inner-Maven/

It means the world to me and helps me know I’m adding value.

Raising capital is one of the most daunting and misunderstood parts of the founder journey-especially in the health tech space. In this episode of the #CriticalFewActions™ to Improve Your Business podcast, I speak with Anabela Correia, a health tech capital raising expert with deep experience guiding both investors and innovators.

This conversation is essential listening for any founder considering a capital raise. We explore the steps, the mindset, and the missteps that can make or break your growth journey.

What You’ll Learn:

= How to Validate Your Market: Why it’s the starting point for any serious investor conversation.

= Avoidable Mistakes Founders Make: Especially around timing, valuation, and investor readiness.

= Team Dynamics Matter: Why who you bring to the table is as critical as what you're selling.

= Valuation Strategy: How to strike the right balance between ambition and realism.

= Governance and Execution: What happens after the money lands in your account, and how to avoid post-funding drift.

Highlights:

00:00 – Anabela’s Health Tech journey

03:23 – What investors look for in health tech

07:16 – How to approach a capital raise

09:10 – Validating your market early

12:47 – Commercialisation hurdles

14:40 – Knowing your customer

18:57 – Valuation and funding rounds

23:32 – Founder roles and team structure

29:03 – Moving from innovation to market

30:15 – Challenges of the founder path

33:35 – Top capital raising pitfalls

35:36 – Valuation and investor expectations

43:26 – Life after funding: execution

45:45 – Governance done right

51:19 – Supporting founders to thrive

57:16 – Resources founders should know

59:21 – #CriticalFewActions™ you should take now

Where to Take Action?

% Revisit your market validation strategy. Are you genuinely solving a pain point?

% Review your team composition. Can you show investors you’ve got the right mix?

% Start early. Build investor relationships long before your raise.

Liked the episode? Subscribe/Follow. Please let me know by leaving a comment, share with a founder you know, or hit subscribe to keep these practical insights coming.

Episode Sponsor:

The CEO Masterclass in Strategic Planning & Implementation – helping founders and CEOs of mid-sized businesses turn ambition into action. https://www.criticalfewactions.com.au/ceo-masterclass/

Final Thought:

Anabela’s insights serve as a reminder: capital doesn’t solve your business problems; it amplifies whatever’s already working or broken. Get your foundations right before you hit “raise.”

#criticalfewactions #CEOMasterclass #startupfunding #HealthTech #CapitalRaising #FounderAdvice #ScaleUp #StrategyExecution #Governance #BusinessGrowth #Valuation #MarketValidation

📥Download the Blog Summary & Contact Details: https://www.criticalfewactions.com.au/podcast/Linda-Murray-Feedback/

Most CEOs think they're giving helpful feedback. But in this episode, leadership expert Linda Murray reveals a tough truth: the problem isn’t what you say -it’s when and how you finally say it. This isn’t about better HR policy. It’s about creating cultures where courageous conversations fuel performance.

If you're a founder, CEO, or exec of a growing business, you already know: performance conversations are some of the most uncomfortable -and most essential -moments in leadership. But too often, these conversations happen late, badly, or not at all. And when they do? They confuse rather than clarify. They can also lead you to FairWork!

In this deeply insightful and practical episode, Linda Murray - executive coach to hundreds of senior leaders - breaks down why performance conversations fail, and how you can build a culture where feedback becomes growth, not grief.

What You’ll Learn:

= Why silence is not kind -it’s unclear (and unkind)

= How to ditch the feedback sandwich and use "feed forward" instead

= What great leaders do to build psychological safety and trust

= The 3+1 method that makes feedback part of daily culture

= How to lead tough conversations without losing your humanity

Episode Highlights:

00:00 – The Pitfalls of Telling vs. Teaching

03:17 – The Fear of Performance Conversations

04:43 – New Hires & The Probation Mistake

06:51 – The Feedback Sandwich: Why It Fails

13:32 – Building Psychological Safety with FAIR

18:32 – Creating a No Surprises Culture

23:45 – Making Feedback a Daily Habit

24:24 – How to Use “Three Plus One”

26:03 – Frequency Beats Formality

27:18 – Self-Reflection for Leaders

28:18 – Leading Through Underperformance

32:12 – Step Back: The Grandstand Perspective

33:53 – The Hardest Feedback Linda Ever Received

44:23 – The CriticalFewActions for Every CEO

Sponsor

This episode is sponsored by the CEO Masterclass in Strategic Planning & Implementation. Join high-performing CEOs focused on building strategy and implementation capability. https://www.criticalfewactions.com.au/ceo-masterclass/

📌 Subscribe | 🔁 Share | 💬 Comment

Please help me support more business leaders committed to doing the hard work that matters.

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Get access to exclusive #CriticalFewActions™ content here: https://www.criticalfewactions.com.au/podcast/

𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆’𝘀 𝗲𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲, 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀:

Start the conversation. Don’t wait for the perfect words. Don’t wait for a crisis. Performance conversations should be frequent, forward-focused, and kind through clarity.

Want help creating a culture where feedback is safe, effective, and part of your daily rhythm?

𝑷𝑺::

If you avoid the conversation, you avoid the growth. Linda reminds us that feedback isn't a confrontation -it's an investment. Clarity is the kindest thing you can give your team.

#CriticalFewActions #CEOMasterclass #LeadershipDevelopment #PsychologicalSafety #ExecutiveCoaching #MediumBusiness #PerformanceCulture #FeedForward #CourageousConversations #LeadershipMindset #PeopleAndCulture #FeedbackNotFear