In this episode of Business Made Smarter, host Doug D’Aubrey is joined by David Hyner, a researcher and professional speaker who has spent nearly three decades interviewing high achievers to understand how they think and behave.

The conversation explores what truly drives success - from having a powerful reason why, to setting meaningful goals and, crucially, taking consistent action. David breaks down the simple but often overlooked principles used by top performers, showing how anyone can apply them to achieve better results in business and life.

Key Takeaways

Most people don’t know how to set goals

Goal setting is widely talked about but rarely taught properly, leaving many people unclear on how to actually achieve what they want.

Success is built on simple, consistent actions

The fundamentals are not complicated - but top performers execute them relentlessly, while others give up too early.

Prioritise the hard things first

Focusing on the most important and challenging tasks early creates momentum and makes everything else easier.

Big goals need small, consistent steps

Massive goals provide motivation, but it’s the daily “smart steps” that drive real progress and results.

Key Moments

“You’re looking at someone who strived for and achieved mediocrity.”

“Over my dead body am I going to fail.”

“Most failure isn’t lack of skill - it’s lack of graft.”

“The massive goal is motivating, but doing the small stuff is inspiring.”

About the guest

David Hyner is a researcher and professional speaker who has spent over 28 years interviewing successful individuals from all walks of life. He distils their thinking and behaviours into practical models that can be applied by others to improve performance and achieve meaningful goals.

About Business Made Smarter

Business Made Smarter is a podcast focused on helping business owners improve performance, productivity and profitability through practical advice and real-world insights.

Hosted by Doug D’Aubrey of Executive Training and Consultancy, each episode explores key areas of business growth with actionable takeaways.

Take the Next Step

If you’re looking to improve performance and achieve more consistent results in your business, you can book a FREE 2-hour Business Review with Executive Training and Consultancy.

Visit: https://exec-tc.com/ to find out more.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Business Made Smarter, host Ed Nell is joined by Doug D’Aubrey, Founder and Managing Director of Executive Training and Consultancy, to explore one of the most important (and often misunderstood) aspects of running a business: people management.

Doug explains why people management is both an art and a science, highlighting the importance of understanding individual motivations, adapting your approach and creating a culture that drives performance.

From hiring the right people to handling difficult conversations and building long-term loyalty, this episode offers practical, no-nonsense advice for business owners looking to improve team performance and avoid common management pitfalls.

Key Takeaways

People management is both an art and a science.

The science lies in understanding that everyone is different, while the art is in adapting your approach to motivate and manage each individual effectively.

Hire for fit, not just skill.

Even highly skilled individuals can damage a business if they don’t align with its culture, values or ways of working.

Culture starts at the top.

The business owner defines the culture. Your behaviour, standards and expectations shape how the entire organisation operates.

Don’t avoid difficult decisions.

Keeping the wrong person for too long can disrupt the business. Address issues early rather than adapting the business around them.

Develop people continuously.

People management doesn’t stop once someone is settled. Ongoing feedback, support and development are key to long-term success.

Key Moments

“One size does not fit all when it comes to people.”

“If they don’t fit the culture, you have to let them go - no matter how skilled they are.”

“Maybe you need to look at yourself as the business owner.”

“Culture is set at the top - it flows down through the business.”

“Your biggest job as a manager is people management.”

About the host

Doug D’Aubrey, founder and Managing Director of Executive Training and Consultancy (ETC), leverages extensive senior management experience to help businesses across the UK and Europe. With tailored consultancy packages ranging from short-term projects to 3-year growth programs, Doug aids companies in improving operations and achieving results. Doug’s success lies in his honest communication with leaders, identifying strategies to enhance management skills and optimise service delivery for measurable outcomes.

Take advantage of a FREE 2-hour Business Review with ETC’s expert consultants to identify goals, tackle challenges, and create a clear plan for growth. Visit https://exec-tc.com/ to book your review.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Business Made Smarter, host Doug D’Aubrey is joined by Michele Ibbs, Director of I’m Your PA, to explore what it really takes to scale a business effectively. Following her previous appearance, Michele shares how the business has expanded into three distinct service areas — and the practical decisions behind that growth.

The conversation focuses on building the right structure for scale, from hiring the right people and implementing automation, to managing risk and planning for the unexpected. Michelle offers honest, experience-led insights into what business owners need to prioritise if they want to grow sustainably.

Key Takeaways

Build solutions around constraints

Growth often creates challenges like space or capacity limits. Instead of stalling, find practical ways to work around them — such as remote teams or new service lines.

Hire the right people for the role

Different roles require different personalities and skillsets. Matching the right person to the right job is key to maintaining productivity and quality.

Automation drives efficiency

Automating repetitive tasks saves time, improves consistency and frees up capacity to focus on revenue-generating work.

Plan for risk and continuity

From backup systems to contingency planning, businesses must prepare for worst-case scenarios to ensure they can continue operating.

Invest in everything that matters

Sustainable growth comes from ongoing investment in people, systems, knowledge and the business itself.

Key Moments

“Automation saves time to do the things that actually earn you money.”

“If you’re not prepared to invest, don’t bother running a business.”

“Where’s your backup plan?”

“Running a business is about people development.”

About the guest

Michele Ibbs is the Director of I’m Your PA, alongside its sister services Truly Yours Agency and I’m Your VA. With a focus on call handling, automation and administrative support, Michelle has built a growing business centred around efficiency, structure and people development.

https://imyourpa.co.uk/

https://www.trulyyours.agency/

About the host

Doug D’Aubrey, founder and Managing Director of Executive Training and Consultancy (ETC), leverages extensive senior management experience to help businesses across the UK and Europe. With tailored consultancy packages ranging from short-term projects to 3-year growth programs, Doug aids companies in improving operations and achieving results. Doug’s success lies in his honest communication with leaders, identifying strategies to enhance management skills and optimise service delivery for measurable outcomes.

Take advantage of a FREE 2-hour Business Review with ETC’s expert consultants to identify goals, tackle challenges, and create a clear plan for growth. Visit https://exec-tc.com/ to book your review.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.