Many business owners believe their biggest challenges are rising costs, staffing issues, or external market pressures. But what if the real threat to profit, growth, and freedom is something far less visible? In this episode of The Business Behind Your Business, host Paul Sweeney sits down with fractional COO and operations coach Forrest Derr to uncover what they call the accountability gap—a silent drain that can cost businesses up to 30% of their revenue and keep founders trapped in day-to-day decision-making.

This conversation is essential listening for any founder who feels indispensable to their business, struggles to step away without constant interruptions, or wants to build a company that can scale, perform, and ultimately exit without depending solely on them. Forrest shares practical, experience-backed insights into how structure, clarity, and self-accountability can transform a founder-dependent operation into a business that truly functions as a system.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why the lack of accountability quietly erodes profit and limits scalability—even in healthy businesses
• How to create clear ownership and performance without resorting to micromanagement
• The importance of defining the 5–7 core responsibilities that drive 80% of business results
• How simple, visible scorecards enable teams to self-manage and measure success
• Why the right mix of hungry, humble, and emotionally intelligent team members matters more than experience alone
• How strong processes and training reduce interruptions and free founders to work on the business, not in it

Get a clear framework for closing the accountability gap in your own business and a better understanding of what it takes to build a company that runs efficiently without burning out the owner. If your phone never stops ringing with internal questions and decisions, this conversation may be the turning point you didn’t know you needed.

Forrest Derr is a Fractional COO, integrator, and operations coach committed to helping small and mid-sized business owners regain control, build structure, and scale sustainably. With over 28 years of experience across industries such as tech, SaaS, telecom, construction, and landscaping, Forrest specializes in empowering leadership teams, creating accountability, and freeing overwhelmed founders from day-to-day operations. His career began with hands-on roles in retail and warehousing before rising to executive leadership in tech companies, where he led operations, finance, sales, and marketing. Today, through his firm Derr Consulting, Forrest equips businesses with proven systems, playbooks, and practical tools to align their vision, delegate effectively, and prepare for future growth or exit strategy.

www.derrconsulting.com

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Fixers & Founders Podcast

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What if your products are great, your website looks professional, and your SEO has been solid for years — yet customers are quietly disappearing? In this episode of The Business Behind Your Business, host Paul Sweeney sits down with e‑commerce growth expert Matthew Stafford to unpack one of the biggest shifts business owners are facing right now: how AI tools like ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini, and Grok are completely changing how customers discover and decide what to buy.

Traditional SEO alone is no longer enough. Customers are increasingly asking AI for answers — and those AI tools are making trusted recommendations without sending people to Google results pages. If your business isn’t visible or “understandable” to these AI engines, you risk losing a significant share of warm, high‑intent traffic. This episode explains what’s changed, why it matters urgently, and what practical steps you can take right now to make sure your products are still being found.

What you’ll learn:

• Why over half of Google searches now result in no clicks — and what that means for your revenue
• What AI Engine Optimisation (AEO) is, explained in plain English
• How AI tools are influencing buying decisions and acting as a “trusted advisor” for customers
• Why traffic from AI recommendations converts up to five times higher than traditional search clicks
• How to restructure your website content so AI can understand, trust, and recommend your products
• Why FAQs, buyer‑intent answers, and clarity now matter more than keywords and quantity
• How reviews, testimonials, and even lower‑star feedback can increase trust and conversions
• The one simple action e‑commerce owners should prioritise first to stay competitive

In a world where customers may never even visit your website before making a purchase decision, this conversation is a wake‑up call — and a roadmap. Matthew shares practical, achievable advice that business owners can start implementing immediately, without waiting for the “next update” or perfect clarity.

If you want to protect your visibility, future‑proof your growth, and ensure your business is recommended when customers ask AI for the best option, this episode is essential listening.

Matthew Stafford Over the past three decades, Matthew Stafford has been entrepreneurial and successfully building several businesses across various industries, including Concrete, Brick and Mortar Locations, POD, and Software-based ventures. Matthew Stafford, the Managing Partner of Build Grow Scale and an equity owner of some in-house Ecommerce brands, has knowledge and expertise, enabling him to mentor thousands of store owners through paid Ecommerce groups and live events. His experience has also allowed him to help hundreds of ecommerce brands scale past the million-dollar mark - with many hitting the $10 million mark. To top it off, he's been speaking on stages about ecommerce optimization for the past seven years! In fact, before COVID-19, BGS hosted the largest yearly Ecommerce-focused event in North America - BGS LIVE.

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If you’ve built a great product or developed a powerful idea and are thinking about taking it global, one critical question quickly arises: how do you protect your intellectual property internationally without burning through your cash?

In this episode of The Business Behind Your Business, host Paul Sweeney sits down with experienced patent attorney Austin Bonderer to demystify international patents and explain how small and medium businesses can protect their ideas, expand globally, and stay competitive — without making costly mistakes.

With more than two decades of experience and over 700 issued patents, Austin breaks down complex patent concepts into clear, practical insights. Together, Paul and Austin explore why patents aren’t just for large corporations, how international patent systems actually work, and how business owners can take a strategic, staged approach to protecting their IP while preserving precious start-up capital.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Why patents are essential for protecting your competitive edge — even as a small business
• When to start thinking about international patent protection (and why earlier is better)
• How the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) works and how it can buy you time and flexibility
• Common mistakes business owners make that can permanently destroy patent opportunities
• How patents can be used strategically to attract investors and support business growth
• Why controlling manufacturing locations can be just as important as protecting sales markets
• How to work effectively with a patent attorney without exhausting your legal budget

Paul and Austin also tackle misconceptions around disclosure, cost, timing, and global enforcement, offering real-world examples that help business owners make smarter, more confident decisions about their intellectual property.

Whether you’re preparing to scale globally or simply want to safeguard the ideas you’ve worked so hard to build, this conversation will help you move forward with clarity and confidence.

Austin Bonderer is a seasoned patent attorney with over two decades of experience. Austin's impressive portfolio boasts over 700 issued U.S. patents, underscoring his expertise and dedication to the field. Before his distinguished career as a patent attorney, he honed his skills as a U.S. Patent Examiner for the USPTO. Austin's professional journey has also taken him across the globe, enriching his perspective and broadening his knowledge. His extensive experience and international exposure make him a knowledgeable asset in the world of intellectual property. Notably, Austin also led the U.S. Nanotechnology prosecution for a Forbes World 100 company.

Today, Austin is the principal at the Law Office of Austin Bonderer, PC, where he specializes in obtaining patents for his clients. His extensive experience and international exposure make him a valuable asset in the world of intellectual property.

www.bondererpatents.com/contact-us

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What does true wealth really mean — and who gets to define it? In this episode of The Business Behind Your Business, host Paul Sweeney is joined by Nancy Griffin, founder of Women, Worth & Wellness, for a powerful conversation that challenges traditional ideas about money, success, and legacy. If you’re a business owner, leader, or entrepreneur — particularly a woman navigating growth, responsibility, and long‑term planning — this episode will help you rethink how health, wealth, and values intersect, and why aligning all three is essential for sustainable success.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why legacy planning is about purpose, not just assets
• How women’s growing financial power is reshaping business, wealth, and philanthropy
• Why prioritising health is foundational to confidence, leadership, and long‑term success
• The importance of planning early for benefits, insurance, and estate planning — even at the start of your career
• How philanthropy can strengthen your business, your community, and your personal sense of worth
• Why collaboration and co‑creation are becoming essential strategies for modern business owners
• How peer‑to‑peer advisory groups can accelerate growth and reduce costly mistakes

With decades of experience across wealth management, philanthropy, and women’s leadership, Nancy Griffin offers timeless insights that are more relevant than ever. This episode is a reminder that your life is your greatest asset — and that building wealth without considering health, values, and legacy is an incomplete strategy. Whether you’re just starting out or well into your business journey, this conversation will encourage you to own your life, lead with intention, and create impact that lasts well beyond the balance sheet.

Nancy Griffin is a connector and influencer. She attributes her success to personal courage, determination, and joy, when focusing on women’s health and wellness, hence creating Women, Worth & Wellness®. Nancy enjoys every opportunity to inspire and inform women about their personal health and wealth, net worth and self-worth, philanthropy and legacy—so that women feel fabulous, generous, joyful, confident, and on top of their game every day.

Nancy Griffin established Women, Worth & Wellness in 1994 as a Private Client Wealth Advisor for her female clients and their families. Nancy continues to promote and inspire Daring & Caring Leaders, encouraging them to step up and lead in the world, following in the footsteps from many other powerful Women Leaders in the past.

Nancy’s overall purpose is to connect and influence for positive impact every chance she gets.

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www.womenworthwellness.com

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Most business owners open LinkedIn with a sense of dread. Cold pitches, generic messages, and wasted time have led many to believe the platform simply doesn’t work. In this episode of The Business Behind Your Business, host Paul Sweeney is joined by LinkedIn expert John Nemo to challenge that belief and reveal how LinkedIn can become a powerful, predictable source of genuine business opportunities — without posting content every day or chasing the algorithm.
John shares the simple, proven framework he’s used since 2012 to build a seven-figure business almost entirely through LinkedIn. This conversation cuts through the noise and shows business owners how to stop using LinkedIn like an online CV and start using it as a practical lead‑generation tool that actually delivers results.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why most LinkedIn profiles are set up incorrectly — and how to fix yours in minutes
• How to turn LinkedIn from a “cold pitch graveyard” into a consistent source of warm leads
• Why the real money on LinkedIn isn’t in posts or content, but in the inbox
• How a single, well‑written message can qualify leads and start real business conversations
• Why niching down on LinkedIn dramatically increases trust, relevance, and conversion

If you’ve been unsure how to use LinkedIn effectively, or you’ve felt overwhelmed by conflicting advice, this episode provides clarity and a refreshingly simple approach. It’s a must‑listen for any business owner who wants better conversations, better leads, and better outcomes from LinkedIn — without adding more complexity to their day.

John Nemo is a bestselling LinkedIn Author & Trainer who has been featured by The New York Times, LinkedIn's official marketing blog, Social Media Examiner, Entrepreneur on Fire, Inc. Magazine, Huffington Post, Business Insider and many others. He runs Nemo Media Group, which provides “Done For You” LinkedIn Lead Generation for Small Business Owners, Business Coaches and Consultants.

LinkedIn

Get a free copy (audiobook or digital version) of John's Bestselling Book "LinkedIn Riches" online at www.nemomediagroup.com

Listen to John's Podcast "Nemo Radio" online at www.nemoradio.com

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In a digital world where it’s easier than ever to create and distribute content, many business owners and creators are unknowingly losing value from the assets they’ve already built. In this episode of The Business Behind Your Business, host Paul Sweeney is joined by Paul Goldman, Founder and CEO of Muserk, to explore how hidden value slips through the cracks — and how technology can help recover it. Using the music industry as a case study, the conversation reveals why protecting and properly managing creative assets is now a critical business skill, not just a legal concern.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why a significant portion of global royalties never reach their rightful owners
• How missing data, poor documentation, and unclear ownership quietly erode asset value
• The role AI and technology play in tracking, protecting, and monetising intellectual property
• How music catalogues are valued, bought, and sold as investment assets
• Practical lessons business owners can apply to protect their own brands and digital assets

This episode highlights a powerful truth: value creation doesn’t end once the work is done. Through insights from the global music industry, Paul Goldman shows how clear agreements, accurate data, and the smart use of technology can transform overlooked assets into long‑term value. The lessons extend well beyond music, offering business owners a fresh perspective on protecting what they’ve built and uncovering opportunities already within reach.

Paul Goldman is the Founder and CEO of Muserk, a global digital rights management company dedicated to ensuring music and video creators are properly compensated in today’s fast‑moving digital economy. Through Muserk’s patented Blue Matter™ AI platform, Paul has helped uncover millions in lost royalties by enabling accurate, large‑scale rights administration across streaming platforms, social media, and digital services worldwide. Since its launch, Muserk has grown to represent over 20 million works across 98 countries and has been recognised multiple times on the Inc. 5000 list and is one of America’s fastest‑growing private companies.

Before founding Muserk, Paul spent decades as an award‑winning composer, producer, and creative entrepreneur. A graduate of Berklee College of Music, he built a successful career in New York City creating music, sound design, and visual content for film, television, advertising, and major global brands. His discovery that significant international royalties from his own work were never being collected led him to build Muserk with a clear mission: to create a transparent, technology‑driven system that empowers creators, protects intellectual property, and ensures artists are paid fairly wherever their work is used.

www.muserk.com

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Is it possible to build wealth and freedom without quitting your day job or sacrificing your family life?

In this episode of The Business Behind Your Business, Paul Sweeney is joined by Billy Keels, former corporate executive turned entrepreneur, to explore a smarter path to generational wealth. If you’re a high‑performing professional who feels stuck on the corporate treadmill but unsure how to create freedom without blowing everything up, this conversation offers clarity, perspective, and a proven alternative.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why clarity is the real first step to making your 9–5 optional
• How to protect your career while building something on the side
• The difference between creating a job and building a true asset
• How to avoid burnout by designing your business on purpose

If you’re successful on paper but craving more control over your time and life, this episode offers a practical place to start.

Billy Keels is an expert executive coach, best-selling author, and host of the top-ranked "Going Long Podcast with Billy Keels”. As an internationally renowned business strategist, Billy boasts over two decades of experience leading global teams generating over $500 million as a top sales leader at SAP and working alongside household names like Michael Dell, Bill Gates, Ken Chenault, John Chambers and more. Through his podcast and national best-seller "Grow Your Money the Smart Way," Billy shares strategic and actionable advice on how to make your corporate role optional.

Whether founding a private equity firm raising over $12.5 million with Accredited Investors or advising Fortune 500 clients, Billy draws on his experience from working in over 80 countries. Based in Barcelona, Billy Keels is the go-to Strategic Advisor for enterprise-level executives who want to excel in their careers while safely and securely building an additional stream of predictable income so that
their jobs become optional. He has worked with leaders from industry titans like SAP, Oracle, Salesforce, and Microsoft on multiplying their options from within
their current role.

Fluent in five languages, he has spoken at prestigious venues worldwide on his
approach for unlocking new professional and personal opportunities.

Billy's mission is helping mid 6 & 7 figure executives achieve extraordinary career growth without requiring a change in employment. He provides a blueprint for excelling in your career, leveraging your transferable skills, and building your business on the side. Accomplish this while maintaining your current career’s security and stability!

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www.billykeels.com

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What would actually happen if you injected $250,000 into your business tomorrow—would it create real value, or disappear into unfocused spending? In this episode of The Business Behind Your Business, host Paul Sweeney sits down with Rodrigo Rodriguez-Novás to tackle one of the most common (and costly) challenges facing founders and business owners: the gap between big ideas and disciplined execution. If you’ve ever felt confident in your vision but uncertain about where to invest time, money, or people, this conversation will give you a clearer path forward.

Rodrigo is the founder and CEO of NORDES Consulting, a former global finance leader, business school professor, and author of The CFO Myth. Drawing on more than 20 years of experience across finance and operations, he introduces his practical CPR Framework—Core, Priorities, and Resources—a simple but powerful way to stop building your business backwards and start allocating resources where they actually create value.

Throughout the episode, Rodrigo explains why raising money is often easier than using it wisely, and how many businesses fail not from lack of capital, but from poor spending discipline. He unpacks the idea of “building backwards,” where founders focus on shiny tools, roles, or growth initiatives before validating the core problem they are solving. You’ll also hear why responsible spending culture matters at every level of a business, why not every company needs a CFO (yet), and how treating company money with the same care as your own can dramatically improve sustainability.

This is a grounded, common-sense conversation about slowing down to grow stronger—perfect for business owners who want to turn vision into execution without burning cash or momentum.

Rodrigo Rodríguez-Novás is the Founder and CEO of NORDES Consulting, a boutique firm specializing in financial leadership, operational efficiency and M&A execution.

With more than 20 years of global experience in finance, operations, and executive leadership, he brings a sharp, strategic mindset to every challenge—paired with the steady focus of a former competitive freediver. Rodrigo holds an MBA from EGADE Business School and has pursued advanced studies at The London School of Economics, Wharton, and the University for Peace.

A certified Project Management Professional, author, entrepreneur and business school professor, Rodrigo is passionate about building resilient businesses, leading with purpose, and helping others navigate complexity with clarity and confidence.

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www.cfomyth.com

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