The Toxic Fox Show podcast

...it’s a movement we are in this together, we have just  one beautiful planet."  Vinita Baravkar shares her journey to creating authentic organic cotton and fairtrade homewares and clothing.  Safe for the workers, and safe for you and your family.     ...Asking gives you power,  power gives you positive consumer choices,  choices about what you ...  eat, drink, wear etc that choice will bring positive change,   positive change for the planet  and for humanity -  change for yourself as  you are part of humanity" 

Today's interview is with Gabriela Rosa.  We explore taking a traditional "bricks and mortar" business online to help couples all over the world in every nook and cranny to have a baby. 

Taking their entire nest egg meant for the purchase of their first home… James and Monica Meldrum started their own business instead – changing the Australian children’s snack industry for good. Tired of questioning the purpose and value of their respective corporate careers (beyond making money), James and Monica Meldrum searched for a business opportunity they could begin together. Both being the youngest siblings and surrounded by nieces and nephews; they saw a need to provide kids with healthy lunchbox snack options.  Monica dreamed of transitioning into the health and nutrition fields. They were determined to run a socially and environmentally responsible business of their own. And Whole Kids was born. Whole Kids was the first Australian brand to sell certified organic snacks for children, providing parents with healthier options, no artificial ingredients and real, honest good food for their kids. Since its’ inception in 2005, Whole Kids has become certified as B Corporation and are now in their second term of accreditation following a rigorous onsite audit last year. The Company’s purpose is to create healthy food options for healthy kids while sustaining a healthy world. Join James and I as we discuss: Why the couple felt that the corporate world has become so disconnected from their own business goals & values – other than just their bottom lines. The inspiration behind Whole Kids, and its’ business values. How engaging with their target market from the get go helped them gain the confidence to start. The importance of becoming Certified Organic and B Corporation. How they have maintained a strong partnership at work and at home. The key to forming a creative, dedicated and value driven culture. Aligning their business with suppliers and manufacturers that have the same social and environmental values. Why outsourcing their warehouse and logistics operations, allowed their business to grow. Taking on the top dogs and standing for what is right. Unjunkit: reconnecting kids with nature. Quotes to ponder and share Let’s make organic kid’s food. Make it as healthy as we can and build a business that is transparent, it’s value driven, and it has a purpose beyond making money. #wholekids @_JamesMeldrum   There is life beyond money.  @_JamesMeldrum #purpose #BCorp #family #wholekids   We all should be eating organic food – especially (for) kids and babies.   @_JamesMeldrum   Now we will not recruit for a role if we don’t find the right values and culture fit first. #wholekids @_JamesMeldrum   How can we make healthier, better products, which is what we’re all about, and make more impact in the community? #wholekids @_JamesMeldrum #Bcorp #organic   If you don’t understand something, if you don’t connect with something, then you won’t care about it. #unjunkit @_JamesMeldrum   There is not enough regulation, in our view, around when and how food should be marketed or even promoted at all to children, and in what circumstances and environments. #unjunkit @_JamesMeldrum  My three top learnings: Ensure you get your purpose and values right on the inside first. Embed them into all your internal policies and procedures in order to create a strong culture. Really focus on people. If the right people are on board, who share the same values, it will do amazing things for your business. Shout your business purpose and what you’re all about from the rooftops. Be confident and proud of your values and what you stand for. Please share yours… Episode Resources Whole Kids Website Whole Kids Facebook Whole Kids Twitter Whole Kids Instagram Whole Kids You Tube Channel Unjunkit James Meldrum LinkedIn  James Meldrum Facebook James Meldrum Twitter James Meldrum Conscious Capitalism and Responsible Business Blog      Gratitude – I am very grateful to… Music: Sung by Vince Jones   Old Mother Earth Knows  Modern Folk  link  Written by Horace Silver Show Notes: Elaine Paice |Office Savvy Sound Editor: Steven Philips

Today I am delighted to introduce you to Kim Morrison, founder of Twenty8 chemical-free skin care and essential oils. She is a health and lifestyle educator, environmental health coach, author, aromatherapist, and set a world record in ultra-marathon running representing Australia. Kim is passionate about helping women to challenge their potential, take responsibility for their health and well-being, overcome obstacles and acknowledge their strength and beauty by taking good care of themselves.  more...to come...   Favourite book 2016: Exhausted To Energised by Dr Libby Weaver Links Twenty8.com Twenty8 Facebook - Twenty8 Instagram - twenty8.8.essential Kim Morrison Facebook - Kim Morrison Instagram - kimmorrison28 Kim Morrison Twitter - @kimmorrison28   Hashtags: #twenty8  #selfcare28  #takecarebekind   Kim's Qualifications Dip. Wholistic Aromatherapy Kinesiology, Reflexology Dip. Homeobotanical Therapy Dip. Remedial Therapies, Hons Dip. Fitness Leadership, PT Gratitude Music: Sung by Vince Jones   Old Mother Earth Knows  Modern Folk  link  Written by Horace Silver Show Notes: Elaine Paice |Office Savvy Sound Editor: Steven Philips  

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Twenty-five years ago, two mates took a bunch of friends and an ex-council truck from Australia and travelled throughout Africa. This was the germination of Intrepid Travel, a responsible travel business that now has six specialist tour operators and 17 destination-management companies employing more than 1500 staff in 25 offices around the world. Each year, they take over 250,000 travellers to more than 100 countries on all seven continents. My guest today is Geoff Manchester, one of the two mates who co-founded Intrepid Travel with the aim of creating experiences that benefit all stakeholders: travellers, staff, communities and the environment. The conversation starts with Geoff explaining why Conscious Capitalism and becoming a certified B Corp is important to him and Intrepid Travel. From there, we go on to discuss: How Intrepid Travel got started and what pivoted them towards responsible travelling The four pillars of conscious capitalism: Purpose beyond profit Stakeholder orientation Conscious Leadership: Leading from behind Culture: “Culture eats strategy for breakfast” Managing people from different countries with different cultures within the Conscious Capitalism framework Recruiting for culture versus recruiting for skill Choosing which social projects to support Partnerships The three main hurdles Intrepid Travel has faced Geoff’s tips for people wanting to start their business as a responsible entity Quotes “The four pillars of conscious capitalism really reflect our business.” @GeoffManchester “Companies will need to become B Corporations because B Corp certification will assist the consumer to decide who they want to spend their money with.” – @GeoffManchester “Conscious leadership is much more about leading from behind.” – @GeoffManchester “Give people the understanding that they can think for themselves.” @GeoffManchester “Be focused on getting culturally correct people because you can teach them the skills you need.” @GeoffManchester “Keeping up with the technology involves a huge investment all the time, and it never seems to stop.” @GeoffManchester “It’s not a matter of going to new countries but a matter of doing new styles of travel.” @GeoffManchester Episode Resources Intrepid Travel Twitter @GeoffManchester Twitter @Intrepid_Travel Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest Intrepid Foundation Conscious Capitalism B Corporation free assessment tool Firms of Endearment by Raj Sisodia Everybody Matters: The Extraordinary Power of Caring for Your People Like Family by Bob Chapman & Raj Sisodia The B Corp Handbook: How to Use Business as a Force for Good by Ryan Honeyman Seven Women The skincare social enterprise mentioned – Metta Natural Skincare. Hacks and Insights Culture eats strategy for breakfast: if you haven’t got your culture right, you have no hope of implementing your strategy. Think long term – and don’t compromise for the short-term gain. When taking on partnerships, pay attention to the culture and make sure your values are aligned. And finally I really love the research, outlined in book Firms of Endearment, that found conscious businesses significantly outlast and outperform those that don’t adopt these philosophies.  my email contact hello[at]thetoxicfox.com  Gratitude – I am very grateful to… Music: Sung by Vince Jones   Old Mother Earth Knows  Modern Folk  link  Written by Horace Silver support team: Tim Hallowell

Imagine growing up and being called a double scoop of ice cream with a cherry on top – the cherry being your head? This is what the kids at school used to call today’s guest, Luke Tan, and it’s one of the many memories that have inspired him on his journey. An obese and sick child, Luke has been to some very dark places, including suicide, but thankfully he chose to change tracks and pursue a career in health and fitness. Passionate about conscious consumption through plant-based athleticism, Luke – a vegan bodybuilder who has won many competitions – is the founder of three brands: the Awake Method the Evolved Generation Live Green Live Lean He is also a personal trainer, author, and connector of like-minded professionals. In 2015, Luke and his wife Emily moved from Australia to Singapore to launch programs to help others in Asia to make a difference to their health through conscious consumption, specifically plant-based consumption. Join Luke Tan and me as we chat about: What conscious consumption means to him and what conscious athleticism is Leveraging his work through social media His health issues as a child His aha! moment, depression and the effects Why he chose veganism Evolved Generation: a collective of vegan professionals His role in World Vegan Day Partnering with plant-based cafe, Supercharger Emporium AWAKE Method: Awareness, Why, Action, Knowledge, Expression His target market The joys of working in Singapore Business challenges: leading the team and growing his brand The real challenge: quieting the noise and finding what’s important that will move him forward The power of following your heart and focusing on your passion Quotes: “Believe that you are actually the change and you can create change.” #LukeTan @livegreenlean “We’re living as if we have unlimited resources.” #LukeTan @livegreenlean “In this day and age, this is where conscious consumption really plays a part regarding focusing on solutions rather than problems.”#LukeTan @livegreenlean “Change really starts with what you have on your plate.” #LukeTan @livegreenlean “Our food choices have a direct impact on our long-term health, the environment, and the treatment of animals.” #LukeTan @livegreenlean “More and more doctors in the U.S. are looking at plant-based nutrition as a viable alternative to long-term health.” #LukeTan @livegreenlean “You can not only thrive as a plant-based vegan athlete, but you can really excel and be a competitive athlete as well.” #LukeTan @livegreenlean Episode Resources: Live Green Live Lean Connect with Luke on Twitter @livegreenlean or on Facebook Live Green Live Lean Evolved Generation The Food Revolution by John Robbins Earthlings, a documentary Supercharger Cafe Instagram LinkedIn Youtube Luke’s manifesto: we, not I; solutions not problems; collaboration not competition; mindful not mindless; feminine not masculine energy. Four top insights from today’s episode. Choose the people you surround yourself with carefully. Make sure you avoid the energy vampires. Turn down the noise that is distracting you. Focus on your passion and follow your heart. Take small steps. Celebrate the milestones as each will be a positive reference for your next goal. BELIEVE. Believe you are the change, and you can create the change. Bio Luke is an author, coach and vegan athlete that has won international awards. Also the founder of Evolved Generation, the brand strives to promote plant-based health and fitness through conscious athleticism. He specialises in helping professionals achieve sustainable fat loss and long-term health while making a difference.   Awards 2015 Crossfit Bukit Timah Games, 1st Place 2015 Plantbuilt Team Captain (Male bodybuilding) 2015 Naturally Fit Games (Austin, Texas), Physique Novice Class, 1st Place 2013 ANB (Victoria) Fitness Model (O30), 2nd Place 2013 IFBB Physique competitor 2010 INBA (Victoria), placed 2nd Runner-Up (Novice) and won ‘Best Routine/ Poser Gratitude Music: Sung by Vince Jones   Old Mother Earth Knows  Modern Folk  link  Written by Horace Silver  and the support team Thank you to those that have Subscribed, Rated & Reviewed us on iTunes. You can leave a comment below or an audio message – I’d love to hear from you & I will respond.

Today’s guest Nick Savaidis is the Founder of Etiko (clothing), and Jinta Sport, (sports equipment), ethical brands committed to fair trade, traceability, and sustainability. Since establishing these businesses in 2005, Nick has been awarded numerous sustainable and ethical awards. Released on the eve of the third anniversary of the Rana Plaza factory collapse in Bangladesh, the 2016 Australian Fashion report – The Truth Behind the Barcode reviews the practices of many iconic brands in sold in Australia. This is the third report and once again Etiko has been awarded the A+ rating. Nick’s awareness of social justice began at a young age. Growing up, he witnessed inequality in his home and in his community where his mother, and other women in the neighbourhood, were poorly compensated for the garments they sewed for high-end brands. After working as a high school teacher, and in a remote aboriginal community, Nick decided to draw on the experience he gained in each of these jobs and combine it with his passion for social justice to develop a for-profit social enterprise/business that creates a positive social impact. Join our chat as we discover and discuss: How Nick's interest in fair trade inspired by his family's struggles when he was young Yurrampi Crafts: sourcing local t-shirt designs of aboriginal art From distributing the No Sweat brand to developing his own brand The use of organic cotton and sustainable rubber, and becoming the first non-food company in Australia to be Certified Fair Trade by FLO The Australian Fashion Report created in response to the Rana Plaza tragedy in Bangladesh The benefits of GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) and Fair Trade US accreditations Minimum wage vs. living wage The steps they are taking to become investment-ready Market demographics and strategies for reaching their market The power of social media in building their brand The challenge of encouraging people to apply their values to their purchasing decisions Profit sharing and giving back to communities The importance of setting up a board of advisors or mentors The impact of working with a team to help grow your business Quotes  "Business doesn't always have to be a bad thing. It actually can be a positive thing." @etikofairtrade #NickSavaidis "Some accreditations allude to being ethical but when you scratch the surface, they're guaranteeing the absolute minimum." @etikofairtrade #NickSavaidis "You can't sell a t-shirt for $5 or $10 without exploiting someone in the supply chain." @etikofairtrade #NickSavaidis "We have proven you can create an ethical supply chain in fashion." @etikofairtrade #NickSavaidis "The reality is that if you're a sustainable business, you're not going to have much an impact on anyone's life. I needed to become a generative business, one that generates social impact and profit. Without generating profit, we can't generate social impact." @etikofairtrade #NickSavaidis Episode Resources: Twitter @etikofairtrade Etiko Jinta Sport NAB Impact Investment fund 2016 Australian Fashion report – The Truth Behind the Barcode Nick's top tips : Get yourself a team. Work with others, their strengths and partnerships. Not having resources will hold you back. When considering accreditation, choose the one with the most clout to give your brand the most credibility. If you have the drive and the will you’ll find the resources to make things happen. Gratitude - Music Sung by Vince Jones   Old Mother Earth Knows  Modern Folk  link  Written by Horace Silver  support team Thank you to those that have Subscribed, Rated & Reviewed us on itunes. You can leave a comment below or an audio message – I'd love to hear from you & I will respond as soon as I can.

Today’s guest is Martin Gleeson, a co-founder of The Electron Workshop and Serversaurus, two companies that sit under the umbrella of Arktisma, which is one of the founding members of the B Corp movement in Australia. Serversaurus, which promotes an equitable workplace, was the first 100 percent carbon-neutral Australian web-hosting company, partnering with Greenfleet Australia in 2007 to offset their carbon emissions. They’re also part of the One Percent for the Planet movement, donating one percent of their sales to environmental causes. We recently changed hosting to Serversaurus primarily because they’re a B Corp, and we’re working towards achieving B Corp accreditation. Join our chat as we discover and discuss: Martin's awareness of a fair workplace at the age of 12 and why he gives a damn Principles of a fair workplace: respect, autonomy, equality Treating people the way you expect to be treated The psychology and effects of men asking for higher wages than women Pushing equality between men and women in the workforce The advantages of working four days a week Creating a more equitable workforce and other issues they need to face About the B Corp movement and why they chose B Corp How to become a B Corp: Learn the process of becoming one! Getting help from The Intern Group Resources small businesses can tap into (business templates and handbooks) Martin's advice for success in business partnership Processes and channels they've used for effective communication Various challenges they've faced and solutions they've applied Organisational tools they use (Apple Calendar, Highrise CRM) The demographics of clients they serve What makes Serversaurus different from other web hosts The company's green initiatives How they're supporting their employees to engage in environmental causes Quotes: Money is the oxygen of business. Treat people the way you expect to be treated and that should be the default position. If you're negotiating something, the first person to get their deal on the table is the one who is going to do best out of it. You say you're B Corp then they know what you're about. It's a shorthand way for sharing your values. The key to any effective relationship is communication. Don't be afraid. Be prepared to be yourself and to put your values and your ethics way upfront. We worry more about the opinions of people that we don't respect than those that we do. Episode Resources: Connect with Serversaurus on Twitter or Facebook The four-part blog post on Arktisma's and Serversaurus' B Corp accreditation journey Business Victoria Templates Three tips and insights: Do the things you know have to be done to keep the business going. Do these first and don't avoid them just because you're not good at them or you don't like them. (i.e. admin and sales) Communication is very important. Set up daily, weekly, monthly, and annual catch-ups that not only reflect on the what’s happened in the past but also focus on strategies and tactics for the future. Don't be afraid to put your values and ethics way out in front and keep them. Gratitude - I am very grateful to... Music: Sung by Vince Jones   Old Mother Earth Knows link   Written by Horace Silver and my support team. Thank you to those that have Subscribed, Rated & Reviewed us on itunes. You can leave a comment below or an audio message – I'd love to hear from you & I will respond as soon as I can.

The Slow School of Business... Melbourne-based The Slow School of Business is a people-powered learning community with a global focus on driving business with purpose. The school seeks to help build purpose-driven and prosperous organisations to collectively make this world a better place. With more than 14 years business experience, Carolyn has written four books, including Conscious Marketing. She loves to quote that “87% of people are making a ‘dying’ at work instead of a living.” Today, Carolyn shares with us the school’s strategic transformational learning principles such as learning by doing, how to build a business plan on a tree, and having a deeper understanding of why you are here. Join our chat as we discover and discuss What is The Slow School of Business? And why it exists! The Slow School collective The school's five core principles: Courage Consciousness Compassion Connection Co-creation The Power of Conscious Marketing and what it is Carolyn’s journey from following a traditional business model to launching The Slow School of Business The importance of starting your business with an open mind Their biggest challenges in a start-up business Why being naive is great in starting a business The person Carolyn would choose as her mentor – if she could choose anyone. Finally, what's on Carolyn's bucket list this year Quotes If we don't change what's wired in business, in capitalism, in government, and in institutions and hierarchies around the world, then we're not going to have a future and a planet to live on. @carolyntateco @slowschoolofbiz Have a mind and a business that's open to everything, that's scouting for the opportunities, and closed to nothing! @carolyntateco By focusing on purpose and people, and building a product together, you can then build a prosperous business. @carolyntateco @slowschoolofbiz We [@slowschoolofbiz] have a very clear vision of millions of people in businesses working on purpose. @carolyntateco @slowschoolofbiz is a business school that teaches the purpose principles. @carolyntateco What we teach are the human skills that are required to adapt to this volatile and uncertain world. @carolyntateco @slowschoolofbiz We have to unlearn everything we've been taught today and learn new ways of being in the world and being in business. Essentially, that is why we - @slowschoolofbiz - exist.  @carolyntateco  Episode Resources The Slow School of Business carolyntate.co Carolyn’s book Conscious Marketing Viktor Frankl's book Man's Search for Meaning Connect with Carolyn on Twitter @carolyntateco Three insights Understanding what you don't do is as important as understanding what you do do. Your business and personal values need to be aligned. Find yourself a community of like-minded people to keep you motivated and inspired. Bonus Have a mind that is open to everything and closed to nothing. A question for discussion/comment How do you find the balance between having an open mind to everything and closed to nothing but at the same time, not chase the bright, shiny objects? Gratitude - I am very grateful to... Music: Sung by Vince Jones   Old Mother Earth Knows link   Written by Horace Silver Launching support team: Timbo Reid | Small Business Big Marketing | twitter @TimboReid Daryl Missen | LinkedIn  | twitter 

Promoting health and wellness through good food and cycling, Australian company Bike n' Blend, employs your pedal-power to make your smoothies. Founder Leena van Raay spent the first 10 years of her career as a scientist trying to get sick people healthy before making the decision to transition from research labs and hospitals to focus on prevention rather than cure. Established in 2011 with a single cycle, Bike n’ Blend today has a fleet of over 25 bikes across three cities, Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide. Basically, the company’s growth has doubled every year, and they’re planning to build another 25 bikes during the next 12 months. Listen in to learn more about Bike n' Blend the business; the power of a good team; the importance of getting good systems in place; accountability; the impact of having a mentor; the value of partnerships in business, and more.   Join our chat as we discuss: Leena’s passion for promoting health and wellness Why Leena gives a damn Her dream of 100 percent of people cycling to work The Bike n' Blend biz Bike n' Blend pedal-powered smoothies - How do they work? How Leena conceived the smoothie bike business Generating the finances for her business Her first event and how it was received by the public Promoting the health and cycling message How they get more people cycling - festivals and fun runs! How they double their growth every year and measure their success Little awesome winning moments that mean a lot! Putting a good team and good systems in place Staffing as the most challenging part of her business How she put together a great team The importance of delegation Tips for creating good systems and processes The power of mentoring Mentoring as a key part of her success Why and how Leena chose her mentor How the mentoring works Accountability as a critical aspect Leena keeps a default diary - what is it? Why you need to check your email just once a day Partnership in business Guidelines for selecting their partners How Leena reached out to 30 different companies for her event Presenting businesses with two package options Companies using their product as a marketing tool Things they would have done differently in the business Saying "no" to so many ideas they get from other people and just focusing on what wor Quotes to ponder: "When you're happy and healthy, you can just look after all aspects of your life more easily." "We really hope it sparks that interest and gets people on their bikes and thinking about cycling more." "It feels like you've got 20 hats in one day but I learned to delegate really quickly." "Whether you're a team of one or five, get everyone involved in each step." "Sometimes it is the right person, but it's not the right job for them." "It's really hard for the business owner to let go and just trust but as soon as you do, it just works really well." "Keep doing what works and it makes you happy and just do more of it. That's all you need to do.   Episode Resources: Bike n' Blend website Catch ‘em on Twitter @bikenblend Connect with Bike n’ Blend on Facebook and Instagram Top 3 Insights - what are yours? Document everything so everyone can be on the same page. Get your whole team involved in the documentation and continuous updating of the manuals. Have a good team. Learn to delegate to your team and learn to really listen to what they say. Set up a default diary to manage your time and only check your emails once a day Gratitude – I am very grateful to… Music: Sung by Vince Jones   Old Mother Earth Knows link  Written by Horace Silver Launching support team: Timbo Reid | Small Business Big Marketing | twitter @TimboReid Daryl Missen | LinkedIn  | twitter   

  He likes to be known as the "feeder who keeps you healthy," and prefers to describe the relationship between farmer and consumer as “feeder and eater”. Charlie’s presentation regarding the importance of knowing where and how our food is grown and – more importantly – who grows it, inspired the audience attending Sydney’s  2015 Conscious Capitalism Conference. It’s this focus that underpins the Who's your Farmer? campaign. Charlie is passionate about helping farmers move away from a commodity-based mindset to achieve greater value financially, socially, and economically for them and their community. In this episode he speaks about this, along with his commitment to connecting the city and country via food, knowledge, and awareness. Join our chat as we discover and discuss: What Charlie does as a biodynamic farmer. The selection of products available to customers and how he sells this produce. Butcherman, the online meat distribution service connecting customers with local butchers. Charlie’s mission to bring change to the agricultural industry. The turning point to move into biodynamics. The difference between biodynamic, organic, and certified organic. The nature philosophy behind biodynamics. Charlie’s advice to farmers considering biodynamic farming. The importance of having an effective team and how he found the right people for his enterprise. Charlie’s ideal eaters. The concept behind Who’s Your Farmer? Being part of Landcare Australia's From Farm to Fork campaign. Various training courses Charlie offers: Introduction to Biodynamics course with John Priestly and Hamish Mackay Bio-fertiliser course How Charlie connects the city and country through food, knowledge, and awareness. Quotes to ponder and share "When we have an abundance mentality... you tend to attract that certain sort of person." Charlie Arnott #TFS  "Working against nature can be really stressful, expensive, and counterproductive. You need a lot of inputs to reverse nature's progress." Charlie Arnott #TFS "I'm on a mission to change the agricultural industry to promote social and cultural and economic change by connecting city people with farming communities." Charlie Arnott #TFS "Not only are the [folks] in the city screaming out for NON chemical-laden food... they're saying, I want good clean, healthy food to feed my family." Charlie Arnott #TFS "If we all had a farmer then we probably wouldn't need to go to the doctor often because the farmer is producing healthy food." Charlie Arnott #TFS "If I can connect city and country via food, knowledge, and awareness, my job is done." Charlie Arnott #TFS "Now, the biggest challenge in my business is my philosophy that I'm actually growing healthy food to feed people." Episode Resources: Learn more about Charlie Arnott through his website charliearnott.com.au and Facebook page Support the Who's Your Farmer? campaign Support the Who's Your Butcher? movement Check out Butcherman   (Don't have a butcher in your area? Leave your email address and they will make sure to get them on board.) Landcare From Farm To Fork Charlie's  courses Conscious Capitalism Top Three Tips, Tricks & Insights: Skills can be taught. Values and attitudes are harder to align. When employing people, take people who are aligned with your attitudes, values, and philosophy even if they don't have the exact skills you want. Just do it. It's not necessary to have the answer to everything. Take tiny steps. Change doesn't have to come from big steps. Contact Charlie Arnott  Links | website |  facebook | Instagram  | Gratitude - I am very grateful to... Music: Sung by Vince Jones   Old Mother Earth Knows link  Written by Horace Silver Launching support team: Timbo Reid | Small Business Big Marketing | twitter @TimboReid Daryl Missen | LinkedIn  | twitter  Thank you to those that have Subscribed, Rated & Reviewed us on itunes. You can leave a comment below or an audio message – I'd love to hear from you & I will respond as soon as I can.

Alexx Stuart is a speaker, author, motivator, and someone who loves to help people. Over the past 20 years she has worked in a diverse range of fields including cosmetics, singing, hospitality, bartending (becoming Australia’s best female bartender), management, until finding her niche as a conscious-business owner and feeling that fire in her belly. Using her blog lowtoxlife.com (previously AlexxStuart.com), Alexx lives her passion by helping people create low-tox lives. (apologies upfront – a couple of sections of this conversation are a bit disjointed as we had technical issues and these had to be edited out) Join our chat as we discover and discuss: Lessons she’s learned from her diverse career and establishing a luxury-events business Alexx’ lightbulb moment for starting her blog How to make money being a blogger How to build your tribe. The importance of creating products for customers first versus finding customers for your products The social media channels that work for Alexx The importance of disconnecting from social media The power of consciousness when balancing your personal life and career Why taking a break between 11am-2pm is important Things Alexx would have done differently along the way What has worked well for Alexx in her business Who Alexx would choose to be her mentor and why Profit + purpose as the greatest business combination Her advice to having a healthier life: 1. Go back to nature!2. Detox your mind.3. Get earthed. Quotes to ponder & share: “I love the transformation journey and this is something I’ve always been a bit nerdy about.” Alexx Stuart #TFS “Why are we feeding our kids out of plastic pouches? None of it makes sense. “Alexx Stuart #TFS “Once you have a tribe, a bunch of people who really get what you’re about, trust you, and understand that you want the best for everybody in that tribe, then you can create products for them and it’s effortless.” Alexx Stuart  #TFS “You’ll run out of juice pretty fast if the way you’ve said you’re going to help people is not directly in line with your values and the fire in your belly.” Alexx Stuart #TFS “If you’re always helping people then you will have success because if you help successfully, that is success.”  Alexx Stuart #TFS “Don’t be afraid of the fact that your business is not going to be helping everybody.” Alexx Stuart #TFS It’s not about work life balance: “If you get it right, work is an integral part of your whole life.” Alexx Stuart #TFS  “Having finance and business behind you just allows you to make the actioning of those ideas a lot more powerful. ” Alexx Stuart #TFS  “Taking the time to prove you don’t want anything out of this other than to help people, gives you just such a great authentic boost. ” Alexx Stuart #TFS “The most powerful thing you can do in business is be obsessed with how you can directly help people.”  Alexx Stuart #TFS Episode Resources: Alexx’ book: Real Treats Martin Zucker’s book, Earthing: The Most Important Health Discovery Ever? Connect with Alexx Stuart website twitter @Alexx_Stuart facebook  instagram  Three Take Outs: Be obsessed about knowing who your tribe is. Communicate and listen to what they have to say. If you’re a profit-with-purpose business, you’re on the right track. Understand your figures and numbers and always be on top of them.  When you think of your tribe or you receive trollish comments, remember to reference Seth Godin. “People like us, do things like us.” Don’t be afraid to really focus on your niche. Gratitude – I am very grateful to… Music: Sung by Vince Jones   Old Mother Earth Knows link  Written by Horace Silver Launching support team: Timbo Reid | Small Business Big Marketing | twitter @TimboReid Daryl Missen | LinkedIn  | twitter      Please Subscribe, Rate & Review us on itunes. You can leave a comment below or an audio message – We’d love to hear from you.  

A Divine Story ... Today's show is a divine opportunity for education and learning as Therese Kerr, the co-founder of The Divine Company talks to us not just about the business side of things, but also about the power of putting in your heart and soul as a conscious business owner. Divine by Therese Kerr, is a premium Australian beauty and personal care company where they create, manufacture, and sell certified organic personal care products. Impressively, Therese is also an ambassador of the Australian Certified Organic (ACO). And yes, she is Miranda Kerr's mother. Listen in as Therese shares with us her journey of starting a certified organic business, the challenges that go with it and being the mother of a celebrity, as well as some pieces of advice to aspiring conscious business owners. Join our chat as we discuss: How Therese's love for meditation has changed her life big time The growth of the certified organic industry The difference between natural, organic,and certified organic How Therese and Nick Allan started The Divine Company Their goal of creating certified organic products without compromising quality Branding the company: Finding the name, purpose, and vision Bringing together different skills to create a happy family business A walk-through on the packaging of their products Overcoming price objections about certified organic products Avenues they use to educate consumers about buying organic The power of being authentic and transparent and the ability to make informed choices Dancing with chaos: The unexpected challenges they've come across as a business: Packaging Labelling Therese's advocacy for using safer alternatives and the impact of chemicals on nature, our planet, and ourselves Therese's ultimate tips to leverage yourself as a conscious business owner Quotes to ponder & tweet: We are much greater than the sum total of ourselves and we have a bigger role than we can ever possibly imagine. @Therese_Kerr @TheToxicFox One of the key things in business is coming to terms with your potential and when you need help to actually ask for it. @Therese_Kerr @TheToxicFox Whatever you do, it's your choice. But at least you may have the ability to make informed choices for your health and the health of your children and for our planet. @Therese_Kerr @TheToxicFox It's not just about what you put on our skin, it's also about nurturing our mind and our soul and our emotions.@Therese_Kerr @TheToxicFox We're the only species on the planet actively contributing to our own extinction.  #Therese_Kerr  @TheToxicFox We only know what we know. We don't know what we don't know. It's about educating ourselves. @Therese_Kerr @TheToxicFox [bctt tweet="There are thousands of chemicals in every conventional product we use. @Therese_Kerr"] [bctt tweet="It's about sharing information, educating, &  giving healthy alternatives. @Therese_Kerr"] [bctt tweet="I honestly believe there is nothing I can't do. We're limited only by our thoughts. @Therese_Kerr"] [bctt tweet="Would we not be wiser to actually allow chemicals to be used only if they were safe? @Therese_Kerr"] Episode Resources: The Divine Company website www.thedivinecompany.com Kora Organics website www.koraorganics.com Therese's Twitter The Human Experiment movie Learn more about Australian Certified Organic My Three Top Learnings: Learn to dance with chaos and enjoy it. The team makes a difference. Find people to share your dream and your vision – it’s not just a job they go to daily. Do the research,plan, then put your heart and soul into the business. The Divine Mantra: As I embrace the riches of nature to quench and nurture my body, I restore myself, my divinity, and the service I am to all that is. What have you learned from today's show? Please comment below and/or send us a voice message with a question or comment.  When we can we will include your message/question in a future episode.     I promise to respond to all comments. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, facebook or Pinterst.  Gratitude – I am very grateful to… Music: Sung by Vince Jones   Old Mother Earth Knows  Modern Folk  link  Written by Horace Silver Launching support team: Timbo Reid | Small Business Big Marketing | twitter @TimboReid Daryl Missen | LinkedIn  | twitter 

Eco-Man Today's guest is Malcolm Rands, co-founder of ecostore, a leading New Zealand-based company that offers a wide range of sustainable, eco-friendly household cleaning and body care products that are widely available in Australia and other international markets. Malcolm is also the author of the book "ECOMAN from garage in Northland to a pioneering global brand." Influenced greatly by his parents (along with the 'why not" written on his mum's car number plate), Malcolm grew up with a business mindset. Today, he is a conscious business owner who continues to bring quality, sustainable products to consumers. An eco-warrior for many years, Malcolm is truly an entrepreneur that gives a damn about the health and wellbeing of people and the planet. Join our chat as we discuss: Malcolm's strongest influences in his life Ways to transition from your shy self to extrovert His philosophy on business, which he discusses during his TEDx Talk Merging not-for-profits and business together - Can you do this? The "why" behind ecostore How he's advocating the "no chemicals" campaign Where they manufacture all their products How do they keep being nimble as an organisation? How ecostore inculcates the culture into their organisation - The power of leading by example! The idea behind ecostore's mission statement How they went about branding the ecostore with black and white What the squiggle represents Why they're using palm oil in their products How do you know if a product is made sustainable? Coming up with capital as the hardest thing for an entrepreneur when starting up Deciding when and how to reduce their product range The one thing Malcolm knows about business now that he wished he knew when he first started What conscious businesses can do to educate the public about greenwashing Here's what Malcolm thinks about their copycats Malcolm's secrets to de-stressing   Twitter Quotes:   [bctt tweet="If something is worth doing, it's worth doing badly. Malcolm Rands @ecostoreAU"] [bctt tweet="It's your transparency and your authenticity which will overcome the greenwashing. Malcolm Rands @ecostoreAU"] [bctt tweet="Just get out there and try things. Push yourself out of your comfort zone. Malcolm Rands @ecostoreAU"] [bctt tweet="A world of good - that's where we want to live. We want to live in a world of good. Malcolm Rands @ecostoreAU"] Other Quotes to ponder:   Start doing things. You can't wait for something to happen or for the right moment. Even if you're not ready, just get out there and do it." - Malcolm Rands "If you can visualise where you're like your money to go in the future, it can actually help you stay on track with your business." - Malcolm Rands  "We are far from perfect but we can put our hands on our hats and so we don't know a better way to do it yet. But as soon as a better way comes along, boy we're going to be the first people who would jump on that ship." - Malcolm Rands @ecostoreAU "Our mission statement... is we want to make it easy and pleasurable for you to make a difference." - Malcolm Rands @ecostoreAU   Episode Resources: Check out ecostore NZ or ecostore AU Malcolm's book:  Buy the book here or grab a copy of the first chapter for free here Watch Malcolm's TEDTalks video, A New Model for Business Malcolm’s Twitter ecostore's Twitter   My three top learnings: Love copycats. Copycats show you that you are changing the world and creating an industry. There's never a perfect time to start. Just do it. Do it now. And don't wait. Narrow your ideas. make sure your ideas are really focused. Once you really know what you want, you'll be surprised by the opportunities that turn up Gratitude - I am very grateful to... Music: Sung by Vince Jones   Old Mother Earth Knows  Modern Folk  link  Written by Horace Silver Launching support team: Timbo Reid | Small Business Big Marketing | twitter @TimboReid Daryl Missen | LinkedIn  | twitter