The Business Behind Your Business - Real Advice to Help Small Business Owners Build, Lead and Thrive
Conversations to help your business grow and thrive — like having your own board of expert advisors in your pocket.
The Business Behind Your Business is the go-to podcast for small business owners who want practical guidance, clearer decision-making, and strategies that actually work in the real world.
Hosted by Paul Sweeney, each 15–30 minute episode takes you behind the scenes of how small businesses grow, lead teams, manage money, and solve the problems that keep owners up at night. Whether you’re running a team of one or twenty, you’ll find relatable stories, expert insights, and tools you can put into action straight away.
From improving cash flow and pricing for value to building systems, reducing overwhelm, and preparing for long-term success, our guests share straightforward advice without the jargon.
What you’ll learn:
* How small businesses make money — and where they lose it
* Leadership and team-building strategies that actually work
* Smart marketing ideas for busy owners
* Financial planning and forecasting explained simply
* How to scale without burning out
* What successful businesses do differently behind the scenes
If you want your business to run better, grow stronger, and give you more freedom, this show gives you the practical steps and confidence to make it happen — one smart decision at a time.
Subscribe and join thousands of business owners who are building better businesses, not just bigger ones.
The Business Behind Your Business - Real Advice to Help Small Business Owners Build, Lead and Thrive
From Invisible to In-Demand: How to Make Your Business Impossible to Ignore
If you’ve ever felt frustrated because you know your business offers something incredible—but the world isn’t noticing—this episode is for you. Many business owners excel at creating a great product or delivering exceptional service, yet struggle to get seen, recognised, and paid what they’re worth. In this conversation, Joel Pilger reveals how he went from running a thriving studio to now building a global community supporting creative entrepreneurs.
In this episode, Joel shares how business owners can evolve from “doing everything themselves” to leading a business that is visible, sustainable, connected, and profitable. You’ll discover how learning the fundamentals of business, building the right relationships, and shifting from isolation to community can be the catalyst for long-term success. Whether you’re a creative, consultant, trade business, or service provider—the principles Joel shares can transform how you operate and grow.
You'll learn:
- Why great work alone isn’t enough—visibility and connection matter
- The mindset shifts that move businesses out of survival mode
- The danger of delegating without understanding
- How collaboration—yes, even with competitors—creates exponential opportunity
- Why treating business as an art can reignite passion and drive growth
This episode is filled with wisdom, real-world experience, and actionable insights for any entrepreneur ready to stop hiding in the shadows and start building a business that’s truly seen, valued, and in demand.
Joel Pilger helps creative studios and production companies — typically generating $1–10M in annual revenue — master the art of the business so they can attract better clients, command bigger budgets, and build the studio of the future. For 20 years, Joel helmed Impossible Pictures until exit. Now, through Joel's ecosystem of accelerators, community, and connections, he guides hundreds of studios worldwide — names like Sarofsky, STATE, Laundry, Giant Ant, Polyester, Kill 2 Birds, and Antfood — and many more on the rise. No theories. No consultants. No wannabes. Just real-world experience from one who has built, scaled, and sold a studio… and now helps others do the same.
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