This episode unpacks how a lawn mowing business can be the key to a fulfilling lifestyle and significant income.

We're joined by Benn Ward, a Regional Franchisor for Jim's Mowing, who bought his first franchise at just 18 years old in 1997.

He shares his journey from a hands-on operator with a pager to a regional leader mentoring nearly 90 franchisees.

Benn demystifies the world of franchising, revealing the secrets behind the Jim's Group's success. You'll learn about the unique fixed-fee model that encourages growth, the importance of building a business that serves your lifestyle, and the practical strategies for managing seasonality and maximizing efficiency.

Discover how franchisees are empowered to coach their kids' sports teams and stay deeply connected to their community, all while building a profitable enterprise.

This is a masterclass in building a resilient, lifestyle-focused business, perfect for aspiring entrepreneurs and anyone curious about the power of a proven franchise system.You can connect with Reyan Fernando here:

• ⁠LinkedIn
• ⁠⁠Website⁠

What if your greatest challenges were actually your biggest opportunities for growth?

From a life-altering injury and 20 years of chronic pain to running the Great Wall of China Marathon, positive psychology coach Stephanie Caldow from Think Collective shares her remarkable journey of defying limits and rewriting what’s possible.

In this episode, Steph challenges the idea that strategy or circumstances are the biggest blockers to success. Instead, she reveals why the real bottleneck in our lives and businesses is the subconscious mind, where up to 95% of our actions are driven on autopilot.

We explore powerful, practical frameworks including:

• Be, Do, Have: Why identity change must come before goal achievement

• The Nemesis Tool: A simple but confronting exercise to visualise and step into your highest-performing self

• Inspiration vs Motivation: Why great leaders inspire belief and behaviour, not just action

Whether you’re a leader feeling stuck, a business owner hitting invisible ceilings, or someone wrestling with self-doubt, this conversation offers a clear roadmap to rewire your thinking, overcome internal barriers, and unlock sustainable high performance.

You can connect with Reyan Fernando here:

⁠LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/reyanfernando/

⁠⁠Website⁠ - https://reyanfernando.com.au/

In this episode of Beyond Growth, Reyan sits down with Kate Ware, founder of Made Great and a trusted strategic advisor to growing businesses and brands.

Kate takes us through the shift small and medium businesses have witnessed in marketing, from the early days of organic social and community building to the rise of AI, search disruption and commercial accountability.

Kate shares how her transition into social media during maternity leave led to managing online communities for brands such as Cadbury and Kmart, and the lessons that translate directly to SMEs today.

We unpack the shift from “likes and reach” to real ROI and outcomes, and how smaller businesses can leverage smarter strategies without huge teams or budgets.

Kate walks us through the impact of generative AI on search behaviour and conversions, including a real world example of a client who experienced an 80 percent drop in organic search traffic.

We discuss how tools like ChatGPT are reshaping marketing roles, and how SMEs can use AI to increase visibility, improve content and stay competitive, rather than get left behind.

We also explore leadership branding and why trust in individuals now outweighs trust in corporate brands. Kate shares practical advice for business owners who want to grow their presence online, communicate more authentically and step confidently into thought leadership without feeling like they have to manufacture a persona.

Kate offers candid insight into her own rebrand, the fears and disruption caused by AI, and what led her to her next chapter as a fractional CMO supporting growing businesses.

If you are an entrepreneur, business owner or leader growing an SME and want clarity on how to navigate AI, brand visibility and modern marketing, this episode gives you strategic guidance, practical direction and reassurance that the future belongs to those who adapt and lead intentionally.

You can connect with Reyan Fernando here:

• ⁠LinkedIn
• ⁠⁠Website⁠

This episode was proudly brought to you by the ⁠Geelong Chamber of Commerce⁠