Candid Conversations with Charles Hsuan from Flying Kite

Our guest today is Leander Opperman of Unlok Consulting a lawyer turned entrepreneur who took a leap of faith by swapping his legal briefs for an International MBA adventure in Portugal. Why? Because he saw a gap in his education, a missing piece about the business side of law.

ABOUT YOUR HOST, CHARLES HSUAN

Charles Hsuan (Shu-wen) the founder of Flying Kite Sales coaching, was born with ADHD. Although his Taiwanese parents wanted him to achieve in school, he struggled to meet their expectations - Despite his best efforts.

In the last year of his Financial Management degree, Charles discovered the power of words to persuade and influence, persuading his lecturer…just in time!

Charles entered the sales world by chance in 2004 and realised that he had a natural gift for it. As a result, he won many sales awards and earned the respect of clients, who were wowed by his unique approach.

Today, some of Charles's clients have doubled their sales. If you're eager to learn and hungry for success, you will be a perfect fit.

I remember sitting beside Yoke van Dam back in 2013, both of us navigating the challenges of sales roles under a demanding boss (rightly so!).

We celebrated our victories when we hit our sales targets, and we lifted each other when we fell short.

You see someone every day and think you have a good grasp of who they are, but sometimes, there's more to discover...

I was recently reminded that to truly understand someone, you need to ask questions and listen. So, I did just that.

Yoke shared a fascinating journey with me: from selling homemade pizzas in primary school to earn pocket money, to honing her skills in sales, customer service, and influencing others.

Then, there was y-connect.biz, where she dedicated herself to transforming dysfunctional teams, inspired by the Japanese kintsugi art of repairing broken pottery with gold. Her clarity in messaging attracted clients dealing with similar issues, leading to remarkable transformations.

Happy listening!

Today, we're diving into a story that many of us can relate to—fear of rejection and the journey to mastering communication. Our guest, Chris Fenning once avoided selling because he dreaded hearing a "no." But now? He embraces those "no's" because he knows they're steps closer to a "yes."

Chris is passionate about "Making communication less painful" because he's lived through the chaos of endless meetings and emails that seemed to never end. He's been there, delivering tough news to senior folks, and he's learned a thing or two along the way.

One of his early blunders? Thinking that "Talking more = A better communicator." Thankfully, a mentor named Carlos set him straight.

Stick around for this interview— join us as we uncover Chris's journey to making communication less painful.

We're joined by the incredible Mandi Hart, the author of "Parenting with courage" and "Courage In The Fire," along with "Parenting World Changers."

Mandi takes us on a journey, from her childhood dream of being a music professor to her unexpected detour into marketing and even surfing. She's all about that courage, and we're diving deep into how it's the secret sauce for tackling life's curveballs and being a stellar parent.

We also touch on challenging cultural beliefs and Mandi's approach to seeking wisdom and focusing on what's within her control.

Stay tuned for some wisdom-packed insights!

Look no further! Civitas is 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐄𝐎 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐥𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝. Let me introduce you to Paul Smith, the visionary behind this incredible community.

Paul's journey is legit. He diligently saved for years and self-funded Civitas back in 2019. But here's the real magic—Paul knows that great entrepreneurs hunt in pairs. He met his business partner Ryan Osher while collaborating on projects.

What sets Civitas apart from other network groups is their criteria—achieving a minimum revenue of 𝐑1 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞. This ensures that the members are driven and accomplished, fostering a powerful environment for growth.

Paul's mission is to make every day count, and he practices what he preaches. He firmly believes in the importance of good sleep for peak performance, cherishes personal connections, and understands the life-changing impact of influential books. 

Tiffany Markman, is an acclaimed copywriter, trainer, and speaker. Tiffany has built a reputation for her skills in writing and messaging, brand voice, digital marketing, content strategy, and creative ideation. With an impressive portfolio of working with 570 different brands in 15 countries and addressing over 29,600 individuals, Tiffany's expertise shines through.

During the podcast, Tiffany takes us on a captivating journey through her career in writing and business. She shares how she fixed a poorly written campaign at just 16 years old and later embarked on her own entrepreneurial venture by reaching out to everyone in her inbox. Tiffany opens up about her workaholic tendencies, her deep passion for art, and her unique hobby of rehabilitating orphaned and injured baby bats.

Additionally, Tiffany stresses the importance of reading for writing and provides insights into the type of clients she collaborates with. Don't miss out on this episode to uncover more about Tiffany's fascinating story and gain valuable insights from her extensive experience as a professional copywriter.

ABOUT YOUR HOST, CHARLES HSUAN

Born with ADHD, Charles Hsuan was always going to struggle to meet his Taiwanese parents’ expectations of academic excellence. However, with his financial management degree hanging in the balance in his final year, Charles discovered the persuasive power of words when he convinced his lecturer to give him the break he needed to graduate.

Equally by chance, he entered the world of sales in 2004, only to discover he had a natural talent for it. Over the years, he won many sales awards, and his clients began to take notice of his unique approach.

It was probably inevitable that Charles would go on to combine his sales success and experience with the power of words into a programme he now sells to help people sell more, in a shorter time, to the right clients. His story-selling programme has delivered sterling results for the likes of Sage, Bean There Coffee Company, Hive Digital, and Unlock Consulting, among many others. For more info please visit www.flyingkite.co.za

Welcome to this week's Candid Conversations podcast! Today, Charles sits down with Graeme Schnell, the CEO of Focus on the Family South Africa.

Graeme shares his serendipity story of how he landed a job that he initially thought he wasn't qualified for, and how it led him to where he is today.

They also discuss the similarities and differences between running a ministry and running a business. Graeme explains the role of marketing in both areas and how managing income can vary between the two.

Graeme also opens up about the impact his parents had on his life and sheds light on the challenges that families in South Africa are currently facing.

KEY POINTS

• Healthy families cannot exist without the concept being modeled to children. 

• Always be faithful in the small things. Consistency reaps rewards over time. 

• South Africa faces unique contextual challenges. But, it’s still possible to learn from and share with other nations. 

RESOURCES

• Dr Gary & Barbie Rosberg

• Focus on the Family (Africa)

• Great by Choice: Uncertainty, Chaos, and Luck – Why Some Thrive Despite Them All – Jim Collins & Morten T. Hansen

• Katharine Hill

• Rob Parsons

Our guest this week is well-respected ophthalmologist Philip Phatudi, who runs SowetoEye with his wife, Precious.

Philip shares his personal story of being inspired by his grandmother's struggle with losing her eyesight, which led him to pursue medicine and help others like her. He also talks about the tough choices he had to make about his career and how he ultimately chose medicine.

During the interview, Philip shares some of the challenges he has faced as an ophthalmologist, as well as the rewarding experience of restoring sight to cataract patients.

If you're looking for an inspiring story and some wisdom about pursuing a career in medicine, be sure to check out this episode!

KEY POINTS

• The concept of ‘work-life balance’ is a misnomer – be willing to take real-time out and prioritise what’s important.

• Life is short. Family should come first. 

• Medicine is predominantly a calling – don’t go into it just for the money.  

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• The Holy Bible 
• Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story (Book) – Ben Carson and Cecil Murphey
• Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story (Film) – Thomas Carter
• Your 168: Finding Purpose and Satisfaction in a Values-Based Life – Harry M. Kraemer, Jr.
• SowetoEye

In this episode, we're excited to have Shelley Walters, the CEO of The Sales Counsel joining us. Her company is the first in South Africa to offer fully remote sales courses.

Shelley shares her inspiring journey from a difficult upbringing to a successful entrepreneur. She talks about how she learned the value of hard work and business ownership from her grandfather, and how moving to a new city changed her life.

Shelley also discusses her early career pursuits, which ultimately led her to start her own business. We dive into a variety of topics, including religion, corporate life, the financial sector, and new technology.

As usual on this podcast, we have plenty of helpful resources that listeners can access to continue learning. So sit back, relax, and get ready to learn!

KEY POINTS

• The art of selling is not taught in school, but it is vital for the work environment.

• Some of your most important hires will be those employees who work diligently behind the scenes.

• Who you let into your life and the choices you make when you’re younger can significantly impact your future success.

RESOURCES

• Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World – Cal Newport 
• Pitch Anything: An Innovative Method for Presenting, Persuading, and Winning the Deal – Oren Klaff
• Resonate: Present Visual Stories that Transform Audiences – Nancy Duarte
• The Millionaire Next Door: The Surprising Secrets of America’s Wealthy – Thomas J. Stanley and William D. Danko
• This Naked Mind: Control Alcohol – Annie Grace
• We’re Still Human – and Work Shouldn’t Suck – Brad Shorkend and Andy Golding
• Your Brain at Work – Dr David Rock

Renee Hasseldine is the founder and CEO of Think RAPT. Her company helps clients with the creation of visual models and intellectual property. By simplifying your message through the use of visuals, Renee believes that you can successfully scale your business. Visuals are also a powerful tool to communicate complex concepts in a simplified and clear way.

In this episode, Charles chats to Renee about her entrepreneurial journey – from a failed vegan bar to the success that is Think RAPT. They also talk about the importance of conducting good market research and defining your ideal client. And, Renee defines her Think RAPT model – Results, Answers, Process, and Target.

Give this episode a listen, and let Renee’s passion inspire you!

KEY POINTS

• Money is never a good motivator for starting any career or business.
• Just because you build it, does not mean they’ll necessarily come. You have to find your right niche.
• Leverage ways to make more money and work less. Then, love what you do.

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• GET VISUAL!: Win clients and grow your business with visual models – Renee Hasseldine
• Think RAPT®

ABOUT YOUR HOST, CHARLES HSUAN

As a business owner and entrepreneur. I know the pressure you are under. I understand your problems, what’s causing them, and exactly what you need to do to solve them...

Born with ADHD and not fitting the mold, I understand if you are not looking to fit in with the rest of the market. Since 2004, I’ve exceeded sales targets and generated millions of rands in sales for companies. 90% of my clients have experienced sales growth from my Story-Selling coaching.

Sounds good? book your 30 minutes complimentary discovery call here.

Mark Sham is the founder of Suits and Sneakers, an informal, online, education platform. He also presents the travel channel, Like a Tourist (Act like a tourist in your own city)

Mark believes that there are many ways to become an expert. While formal education has its place, it doesn’t cater to everyone. In this episode, Charles talks more to Mark about informal approaches to effective learning.

The two also chat about Mark’s unique hiring practices, the time and effort it takes to create content and build a name, and how quickly life can throw small businesses a curve ball. Mark also shares his joy in inspiring fellow South Africans to explore their home country.

KEY POINTS

• You don’t have to have everything figured out. Everyone is simply making their best, calculated guesses on how to start a new business, live their best life, be a good parent, etc.
• Kids learn from their parent’s examples. If they don’t know certain life choices are options for them, they likely won’t carve out new paths for themselves.
• Who you spend your time with matters.
• Learning how to be happy is vital for navigating our complex world.

RESOURCES

• Cakey by Davy
• Like a Tourist
• Suits and Sneakers
• The Algebra of Happiness – Scott Galloway

ABOUT YOUR HOST, CHARLES HSUAN

As a business owner and entrepreneur. I know the pressure you are under. I understand your problems, what’s causing them, and exactly what you need to do to solve them...

Born with ADHD and not fitting the mold, I understand if you are not looking to fit in with the rest of the market. Since 2004, I’ve exceeded sales targets and generated millions of rands in sales for companies. 90% of my clients have experienced sales growth from my Story-Selling coaching.

Sounds good? book your 30 minutes complimentary discovery call here.

That is why Tasneem started the Private Practice Growth Club in 2019 to teach other health professionals the value of effective marketing and selling their services.

As a self-employed Occupational Therapist (OT) Tasneem Abrahams has practiced across many fields of OT, but now predominantly works with teenagers and adults with ADHD.

Tasneem chats to Charles about how OT is a naturally holistic field of medicine. She translates these holistic OT principles into how she helps clients with their private practice marketing and selling. Tasneem also shares her mother’s significant role in her entrepreneurship journey.

KEY POINTS

• An occupation is not just 'work' – it’s anything you spend time on, including leisure, daily living, and playing.
• Many health professionals think of sales as a bad thing. But, not making people aware of health service options is actually a disservice to those in need of help.
• Don’t compare your Day 1 to someone else’s Day 1,000.

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• Atomic Habits – James Clear
• Aisha Baker – Baked online

ABOUT YOUR HOST, CHARLES HSUAN

I know the pressure you are under. I understand your problems, what’s causing them, and exactly what you need to do to solve them...

Born with ADHD and not fitting the mold, I understand if you are an entrepreneur not looking to fit in with the rest of the market. Since 2004, I’ve exceeded sales targets and generated millions of rands in sales for companies. 90% of my clients have experienced sales growth from my training and coaching.

Sounds good? book your 30 minutes complimentary discovery call here.

Brendon Baker is the founder of Australian-based Valuable Change. Even as a young child Brendon wanted to work in business and entrepreneurship. He started his first business at the age of 8, going door-to-door washing cars.

In this episode, Charles learns more about how Brendon perfected his sales approach. The key? Reading, experimentation, and failure.

So what is Brendon's change philosophy?

• Ask a lot of questions.
• Provide solutions based on individual client needs.
• Simplicity is best for moving from point A to point B.

KEY POINTS

• There are three ripples that bring about change:

1. be really clear on why the change needs to happen,
2. bring your team onboard by highlighting what success will look like, and
3. gain momentum by making the public and other stakeholders excited about the change.

• Without a willingness to take action, change can never happen and projects can fail.
• The best way to sell is to first build relationships.

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• Rich Dad, Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids about Money that the Poor and Middle Class Do Not – Robert T. Kiysaki
• Valuable Change: What You Need to Know to Ensure Your Change Pays Off – Brendon Baker
• Creating High-value PMOs: Your Essential Guide –Brendon Baker

ABOUT YOUR HOST, CHARLES HSUAN

I know the pressure you are under. I understand your problems, what’s causing them, and exactly what you need to do to solve them...

Born with ADHD and not fitting the mold, I understand if you are an entrepreneur not looking to fit in with the rest of the market. Since 2004, I’ve exceeded sales targets and generated millions of rands in sales for companies. 90% of my clients have experienced sales growth from my training and coaching.

If you are Smart, Hungry, and Humble. Let's work together!

Nadine Swart is iLead et al.’s Head of Business Development. She might have fallen into her career quite by accident, but she’s since grown to love all things digital marketing. In this episode, Charles chats to Nadine about her pivot from client management to sales. And they touch on what it’s been like developing a department from scratch.

The two also talk about the importance of family, friends, and leadership support when undertaking new endeavors. Nadine further discusses the necessity of overcoming fear. And she details how laying deliberate groundwork has resulted in iLead et al. successfully broadening its client base.

This episode is full of useful insights – from the value of taking your time to how digital marketing companies need to continuously adapt to technological changes. 

KEY POINTS

• The hard-sell approach is not always effective. While it can take some time for other marketing approaches to bear fruit, it’s well worth the effort.
• The best way to ensure lead conversion and client loyalty is to gain clients through referrals.
• Hard work is important but should not come at the expense of everything else in your life.

RESOURCES

• iLead et al.
• Book of Proverbs

ABOUT YOUR HOST, CHARLES HSUAN

I know the pressure you are under. I understand your problems, what’s causing them, and exactly what you need to do to solve them...

• Born with ADHD and not fitting the mold, I understand if you are an entrepreneur not looking to fit in with the rest of the market.
• Since 2004, I’ve exceeded sales targets and generated millions of rands in sales for companies.
• 90% of my clients have experienced sales growth from my training and coaching.

If you are Smart, Hungry and Humble. Let's work together!

Simon Brown is the host of the popular week-day podcast, MoneyWebNOW.

He also runs the website Just One Lap and appears weekly on BusinessDay TV’s The Week That Was and writes a weekly column for the Financial Mail. This man has a passion for money and educating people on how to work well with their finances!

In this episode, Simon shares how downscaling was one of the best financial decisions he’s ever made. He also talks about learning the hard way to ride out stock crashes and take the emotion out of making financial decisions.

From discussions on books and the fact that our bodies age to the people Simon has most enjoyed interviewing over the years, this episode covers a lot of bases.

So, you’re bound to learn something interesting from the man who owns exactly two pairs of shoes.

KEY POINTS

• To avoid wasting money, be sure you really need and really love the things you choose to buy
• Sometimes it’s good to try new things just for their silliness, not because you need to be the best at everything
• We don’t remember important life events by holding onto tangible objects, we simply remember them. So, it’s possible to let go of a lot of clutter

RESOURCES

• Catch-22 – Joseph Heller
• The Complete Maus: A Survivor’s Tale – Art Spiegelman
• The Five Stages of Grief – Elisabeth Kübler Ross

ABOUT YOUR HOST, CHARLES HSUAN

I know the pressure you are under. I understand your problems, what’s causing them, and exactly what you need to do to solve them...

• Born with ADHD and not fitting the mould, I understand if you are an entrepreneur not looking to fit in with the rest of the market.
• Since 2004, I’ve exceeded sales targets and generated millions of rands in sales for companies.
• 90% of my clients have experienced sales growth from my training and coaching.

If you are Smart, Hungry and Humble. Let's work together!

Tamryn Dicks is the founder of an accounting firm, Pharsyde Solutions 

Tamryn has created a company that collaborates closely with and actively mentors clients.

With this approach, business owners not only uphold all legal requirements but actually see their businesses prosper.

The strange thing is that she never actually dreamt of being an accountant.

In fact, for much of her school career, Tamryn believed she would become a psychologist.

In this episode, Charles talks to Tamryn about her accidental fall into the world of accounting and business ownership. And Tamryn shares how the mistakes she made along the way have helped her help her clients.

KEY POINTS

• The rates you charge clients should be in relation to the value you offer them
• There are a lot of financial and legal requirements associated with owning a business. But, few small business owners are aware of these and can find themselves paying a hefty price as a result
• Pay close attention to your business’s finances. These can help you identify your business's strengths as well as what you might need to change

RESOURCES

• The Far Side – Gary Larson
• Mindset: The New Psychology of Success – Carol S. Dweck
• Atomic Habits – James Clear

ABOUT YOUR HOST, CHARLES HSUAN

I know the pressure you are under. I understand your problems, what’s causing them, and exactly what you need to do to solve them...

• Born with ADHD and not fitting the mould, I understand if you are an entrepreneur not looking to fit in with the rest of the market.
• Since 2004, I’ve exceeded sales targets and generated millions of rands in sales for companies.
• 90% of my clients have experienced sales growth from my training and coaching.

If you are Smart, Hungry and Humble. We will get along great!

Sage’s VP of Services, PJ Bishop, joins Charles in this episode. They talk about PJ’s youth and how growing up with entrepreneurial parents paved the way for his own business endeavours.

PJ shares how he began working at a very young age. And he notes the valuable lessons he learned by being under leaders who were willing to embrace teachable moments.

PJ has packed artworks for shipment overseas, delivered newspapers, worked as a cashier, and been a teacher. So, he understands first-hand the value of hard work. This understanding drives him and others at Sage to help SMEs become successful.

KEY POINTS

• Business owners make many sacrifices. Automation can help them gain back valuable time.
• Listen to understand, not to answer.
• There are many avenues of learning. One of the best ways to practically apply such learning is to consider how the knowledge might have served you in a past situation.

RESOURCES

• Leaders Eat Last – Simon Sinek
• True Crime South Africa – Nicole Engelbrecht
• The Art of Manliness – Brett McKay
• Conspiracy Theories – Molly Brandenburg

ABOUT YOUR HOST, CHARLES HSUAN

I know the pressure you are under. I understand your problems, what’s causing them, and exactly what you need to do to solve them...

• Born with ADHD and not fitting the mould, I understand if you are an entrepreneur not looking to fit in with the rest of the market.
• Since 2004, I’ve exceeded sales targets and generated millions of rands in sales for companies.
• 90% of my clients have experienced sales growth from my training and coaching.

If you are Smart, Hungry and Humble. We will get along great!

Lebo Molefe is the founder of The Biz Plug. His aim is to help entrepreneurs operating in, especially, in South Africa’s rural communities to thrive.

In this episode, Charles chats to Lebo about his move out of poverty and the important role books played in this journey.

Lebo wanted to be a lawyer but circumstances lead him down another path. Instead, after school, Lebo found himself in hairdressing and then construction.

Lebo founded The Hookup Dinner (THUD). Then came The People’s Fund. Thanks to his journey, Lebo knows first-hand the hard work it takes to become successful. He also appreciates the unique hurdles faced by South African entrepreneurs. This helps him to provide tailored solutions.

KEY POINTS

• In South Africa, the vast majority of those who start businesses do so out of the fundamental need to make a living. Understanding this reality should change the way we support small businesses
• Both manual labour and informal trade can be exceptionally lucrative. But, they're often looked down upon because they're less glamorous forms of profession
• Copy-pasting solutions from other countries cannot and do not help South African entrepreneurs

RESOURCES

• Principles for Dealing with the Changing World Order: Why Nations Succeed and Fail – Ray Dalio
• Friday Forward: Second Chances and Confirmation Bias – Robert Glazer

ABOUT YOUR HOST, CHARLES HSUAN

I know the pressure you are under. I understand your problems, what’s causing them, and exactly what you need to do to solve them...

• Born with ADHD and not fitting the mould, I understand if you are an entrepreneur not looking to fit in with the rest of the market.
• Since 2004, I’ve exceeded sales targets and generated millions of rands in sales for companies.
• 90% of my clients have experienced sales growth from my training and coaching.

If you are Smart, Hungry and Humble. We will get along great!

This week’s episode serves up a tasty treat as Charles chats to Fred Roed from Heavy Chef. But before you go thinking this instalment will be all about food, think again. As the saying goes, “Never trust a skinny chef”.

This is why Heavy Chef is in the business of equipping entrepreneurs through ‘bite-sized’ education that helps them become heavy hitters in their field. Think of it as ‘Recipes for entrepreneurs’. Heavy Chef is a learning platform for entrepreneurs.

Fred shares his journey from aspiring young cartoonist to co-founder of a successful digital marketing agency. It was while building the agency that Fred learnt the importance of entrepreneurs believing in and using their own products. He used these lessons to create Heavy Chef, with the aim to build up South Africa’s entrepreneurs.

From Ferraris to statistics to inspiring stories, there are a lot of practical insights in this episode.

KEY POINTS

• Selling is an attribute of life – you might not like it, but we all need to do it
• You can be a 'heavy chef' in your field without being an expert
• Entrepreneurship is fraught with micro and macro challenges – the key is how you navigate them

RESOURCES

• To Sell is Human – Daniel H. Pink
• The Heavy Chef Guide to Starting a Business in South Africa – Fred Roed
• https://www.heavychef.com/recipes

ABOUT YOUR HOST, CHARLES HSUAN

I know the pressure you are under. I understand your problems, what’s causing them, and exactly what you need to do to solve them...

• Born with ADHD and not fitting the mould, I understand if you are an entrepreneur not looking to fit in with the rest of the market.
• Since 2004, I’ve exceeded sales targets and generated millions of rands in sales for companies.
• 90% of my clients have experienced sales growth from my training and coaching.

If you are Smart, Hungry and Humble. We will get along great!

In this episode, Charles Hsuan chats to Kimberly Taylor, the CEO and founder of Loop. At 28, Kimberly also happens to be the youngest female entrepreneur to ever be interviewed on Candid Conversations.

The two talk about Kimberly's childhood love of maths and current love of podcasts. Kimberly also shares how her desire for financial freedom influenced her career choice. And, she chats about the importance of hard work and how her mom is her inspiration.

Kimberly shares how she never specifically dreamt of becoming an entrepreneur. Rather, a third-year university assignment set her course.

It was when Kimberly couldn't get the possible real-world value of an algorithm she'd written for an assignment out of her head that Loop was born. Five years on, Loop now offers real-world solutions to clients operating in logistics and deliveries.

KEY POINTS

• Hard work and tenacity are key for successful enterprises
• Investors are more likely to commit when they see there’s a demand for your product – spend more time on establishing your client base than chasing investors
• Visibility, performance, and logic are key factors for successful logistics operations

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• The Diary of a CEO – Steven Bartlett
• The Tim Ferriss Show – Tim Ferriss
• The Aubrey Marcus Podcast – Aubrey Marcus
• Push Past Impossible – Ryan Stamrood

ABOUT YOUR HOST, CHARLES HSUAN

I know the pressure you are under. I understand your problems, what’s causing them, and exactly what you need to do to solve them...

• Born with ADHD and not fitting the mould, I understand if you are an entrepreneur not looking to fit in with the rest of the market. 
• Since 2004, I’ve exceeded sales targets and generated millions of rands in sales for companies. 
• 90% of my clients have experienced sales growth from my training and coaching.

If you are Smart, Hungry and Humble. We will get along great!

• Growth Mindset – Carol Dweck
• Radical Candor – Kim Scott
• The Fearless Organisation – Amy Edmondson

ABOUT YOUR HOST, CHARLES HSUAN

I know the pressure you are under. I understand your problems, what’s causing them, and exactly what you need to do to solve them...

• Born with ADHD and not fitting the mold, I understand if you are an entrepreneur not looking to fit in with the rest of the market.
• Since 2004, I’ve exceeded sales targets and generated millions of rands in sales for companies.
• 90% of my clients have experienced sales growth from my training and coaching.

If you are smart, hungry and humble. We will get along great! 

• Warrick Kerns, CEO of The Insaka eCommerce Academy
• Ines Rosef-Ingram, founder of Pine 3 Marketing 
• Leanne Hughes, leadership coach and facilitator
• Genevieve Nel, Norma and co 
• Amy Stockwell, BrightSparkz Tutors

One of the main things Charles focused on during his 'Listening Tour' was the importance of sales. But, none of his interviewees actually call what they do ‘selling’. Some 'hold conversations'. Others build avenues for passive income. Regardless of their strategy, every entrepreneur sells. And every successful entrepreneur directly addresses clients' pain points.

About your host: Charles Hsuan

Charles Hsuan from Flying Kite is a StorySelling Coach for business owners & sales professionals, he works with growing businesses with a strong culture of learning.

Charles believes customers buy with emotion and justify with fact. He also believes that every business owner and sales professional can benefit from a simple and practical framework (Micro-Scripts) that can teach them the skills of using storytelling as a sales tool.

Before starting Flying Kite in October 2018, Charles won multiple Sales Performer of The Year Awards as the digital advertising manager of Entrepreneur Magazine SA. It was during this period that he discovered and mastered storytelling as a powerful technique to exceed sales targets.

You can contact Joeri Schilders at The magic sauce.com

About your host: Charles Hsuan

Charles Hsuan from Flying Kite is a StorySelling Coach for business owners & sales professionals, he works with growing businesses with a strong culture of learning.

Charles believes customers buy with emotion and justify with fact. He also believes that every business owner and sales professional can benefit from a simple and practical framework (Micro-Scripts) that can teach them the skills of using storytelling as a sales tool.

Before starting Flying Kite in October 2018, Charles won multiple Sales Performer of The Year Awards as the digital advertising manager of Entrepreneur Magazine SA. It was during this period that he discovered and mastered storytelling as a powerful technique to exceed sales targets.

Anywhere between 60% and 80% of new businesses fail in their first 3 years of operation. In this episode, Charles Hsuan chats to Leanne Hughes about successfully navigating her own business's first 1000 Days.

Leanne shares how she took an entire year to prepare before leaving her corporate job. Top tip: establishing contacts and income streams is as important as building up savings before taking the leap. She reminds us that knowing that people want what you’re offering is a great motivator to both start and keep going.

From brand establishment in Year 1 to pivoting due to Covid in Year 2, there’s a lot to learn from Leanne’s journey. And Leanne's shifting again in Year 3. Her podcast might be ending, but that just means she can now focus more on being an author and spending time on strategy work. The key takeaway? Continue evolving and finding your niche!

The two also discuss how to define success and what it means to rework your business's future. Leanne further chats a bit about her upcoming joint Beyond Bureaucracy workshops running in April and June 2022. If you’re looking for inspiration for navigating your own 1000 Days, this episode’s for you.

About your host: Charles Hsuan

Charles Hsuan from Flying Kite is a StorySelling Coach for business owners & sales professionals, he works with growing businesses with a strong culture of learning.

Charles believes customers buy with emotion and justify with fact. He also believes that every business owner and sales professional can benefit from a simple and practical framework (Micro-Scripts) that can teach them the skills of using storytelling as a sales tool.

Before starting Flying Kite in October 2018, Charles won multiple Sales Performer of The Year Awards as the digital advertising manager of Entrepreneur Magazine SA. It was during this period that he discovered and mastered storytelling as a powerful technique to exceed sales targets.

Austrian native, Petra Zink is the owner and founder of Impaccct. Her company helps professionals move from experts to trusted authorities in their field. How? By following the 3 Cs in her company’s name – Clarity, Communicate, Commercialise.

Included in this episode, Petra chats to Charles about her colourful professional trajectory. She notes how she achieved her childhood dream of living on the other side of the world. And she highlights the importance of having diverse income streams.

Petra also details one of her biggest mistakes. Her 'lone wolf' mentality early in her career damaged her chances of progress. But, she learnt her lesson, and now advocates for relationship-building.

Charles talks more to Petra about trust and relationships. They note the value of both when starting a company. They also discuss the pros and cons of in-person versus digital interactions. And Petra gives advice on how to establish good relationships in an increasingly online-first world.

Podcasts also make an appearance. Petra's played host to several herself, and she shares some of the lessons she's learnt along the way. Petra also gives recommendations on a few of her personal favourites. With so much to chew on, it's best to get listening!

About your host: Charles Hsuan

Charles Hsuan from Flying Kite is a StorySelling Coach for business owners & sales professionals, he works with growing businesses with a strong culture of learning.

Charles believes customers buy with emotion and justify with fact. He also believes that every business owner and sales professional can benefit from a simple and practical framework (Micro-Scripts) that can teach them the skills of using storytelling as a sales tool.

Before starting Flying Kite in October 2018, Charles won multiple Sales Performer of The Year Awards as the digital advertising manager of Entrepreneur Magazine SA. It was during this period that he discovered and mastered storytelling as a powerful technique to exceed sales targets.

Meet Leanne Hughes – the first Australian interviewed on the show! Leanne is a facilitator, trainer, and writer. She also hosts the illuminating First Time Facilitator podcast. But Leanne’s main gig is helping companies create ‘rave-worthy' workshops.

Charles chats to Leanne about her childhood. She relays how her natural penchant for planning awesome birthday parties as a kid blossomed into a fully-fledged business. Leanne also shares how her mixed upbringing taught her the value of time. She translates this to what she offers her clients in respect to having an intentional plan and design to make workshops 'pop'.

As an avid reader, Leanne appreciates good content. More so, she believes that good content should be packaged in a way that is meaningful.

Leanne also shares her journey from a corporate employee to an entrepreneur. She is a firm believer in dreaming big, embracing serendipitous moments, and taking chances.

This episode is full of book references, sprinkled with mention of Leanne’s sporting background. So, tune in to learn more about the Three C’s and the importance of focussing on results rather than methodology. And along with all the informative tidbits, you'll be treated to Leanne’s zest for life.

About your host: Charles Hsuan

Charles Hsuan from Flying Kite is a StorySelling Coach for business owners & sales professionals, he works with growing businesses with a strong culture of learning.

Charles believes customers buy with emotion and justify with fact. He also believes that every business owner and sales professional can benefit from a simple and practical framework (Micro-Scripts) that can teach them the skills of using storytelling as a sales tool.

Before starting Flying Kite in October 2018, Charles won multiple Sales Performer of The Year Awards as the digital advertising manager of Entrepreneur Magazine SA. It was during this period that he discovered and mastered storytelling as a powerful technique to exceed sales targets.

Pertunia Sibanyoni is the CEO of Inspectacar. She has also been recently appointed chairperson of FASA. Not only that, but Pertunia runs the AkhuPeliza Foundation and is mom to a lively 10-year-old.

In this episode, Charles chats to Pertunia about becoming CEO before turning 40. They also touch on what it’s like as a woman working in the automotive industry.

Pertunia shares how her post-Apartheid school experience taught her the value of diversity. And, how becoming the first in her family to graduate university led to a successful decade-long career at Shell.

The importance of education in Pertunia's life is clear – she loves to learn and grow. It was this desire that ultimately led to her leaving Shell with no plan before undertaking her journey towards becoming a CEO.

Also in this episode, Pertunia highlights the lessons on integrity that her parents taught her. And, she shares the special role her father played in encouraging her towards success.

Giving back is also important to Pertunia. She looks to encourage young people to never give up on themselves. So, if you’re looking for a bit of inspiration, this episode is one not to be missed.

About your host: Charles Hsuan

Charles Hsuan from Flying Kite is a StorySelling Coach for business owners & sales professionals, he works with growing businesses with a strong culture of learning.

Charles believes customers buy with emotion and justify with fact. He also believes that every business owner and sales professional can benefit from a simple and practical framework (Micro-Scripts) that can teach them the skills of using storytelling as a sales tool.

Before starting Flying Kite in October 2018, Charles won multiple Sales Performer of The Year Awards as the digital advertising manager of Entrepreneur Magazine SA. It was during this period that he discovered and mastered storytelling as a powerful technique to exceed sales targets.

It’s Warren Ingram’s second appearance on Candid Conversations! This time around, he chats to Charles about his new book – Global Investing Made Easy.

This episode is a must for anyone interested in learning more about investment. You'll get a clear definition of 'financial freedom'. And Warren discusses how anyone can take control of their money – it’s never too late to start!

He also touches on the best percentage of your gross income that should go into saving for the future. Charles and Warren further mull over the problematic trap of credit card debt.

Also in this episode, Warren details the concept of a good asset mix. And explains why removing currency fluctuation on your capital is so important.

From the 4% rule to the different ways of investing money overseas, this episode is jam-packed with valuable information. One key takeaway: Warren clarifies the importance of knowing your money’s domicile. He also explains why investing the majority of your money locally is necessary if you’re planning on living and retiring in South Africa.

The episode is a great foretaste of what you can expect from Global Investing Made Easy. You can buy Warren's new book at any good book distributor. All proceeds go to Warren’s Serendipity trust.

About your host: Charles Hsuan

Charles Hsuan from Flying Kite is a StorySelling Coach for business owners & sales professionals, he works with growing businesses with a strong culture of learning.

Charles believes customers buy with emotion and justify with fact. He also believes that every business owner and sales professional can benefit from a simple and practical framework (Micro-Scripts) that can teach them the skills of using storytelling as a sales tool.

Before starting Flying Kite in October 2018, Charles won multiple Sales Performer of The Year Awards as the digital advertising manager of Entrepreneur Magazine SA. It was during this period that he discovered and mastered storytelling as a powerful technique to exceed sales targets.

In this week’s episode, Charles chats to Ines Rosef-Ingram, CEO of Pine3 Marketing, a digital marketing company located in Cape Town. Ines has come a long way, both literally and metaphorically, in starting up Pine3. Having first moved to South Africa from Norway as a student, Ines fell in love with the country. Upon her second trip, she also fell in love with her now-husband and chose to call South Africa home for good.

Ines did not always work in marketing. In fact, she studied in the sciences and did her Master’s in education. She then worked in finance, customer services, and logistics before taking the leap in 2019 to start Pine3. Ines chats to Charles about how all these different facets helped her build a successful business.

Also in this episode, the two discuss books and the valuable role Ines's family plays in her entrepreneurial endeavours. Ines also shares the joys of assisting smaller-sized SMEs. 

She has a real passion for helping small companies grow through digital marketing. No budgetary or other resource limits are too difficult for her and her team to overcome. This episode is choc-full of creativity, learning from mistakes, and…carpentry? Definitely one to enjoy!

About your host: Charles Hsuan

Charles Hsuan from Flying Kite is a StorySelling Coach for business owners & sales professionals, he works with growing businesses with a strong culture of learning.

Charles believes customers buy with emotion and justify with fact. He also believes that every business owner and sales professional can benefit from a simple and practical framework (Micro-Scripts) that can teach them the skills of using storytelling as a sales tool.

Before starting Flying Kite in October 2018, Charles won multiple Sales Performer of The Year Awards as the digital advertising manager of Entrepreneur Magazine SA. It was during this period that he discovered and mastered storytelling as a powerful technique to exceed sales targets.

In this episode, Charles chats to Stacy Hart, founder of Matter at Heart. Stacy started her content-creation business in 2018, and the two talk about the difficulties in overcoming the first 1,000 days. One key point: most problems have simple solutions. Knowing this can help get new owners over this critical hump.

Stacy also shares some stories from her childhood. She highlights the role of her family in her success. And she chats about how being an independent thinker led her to her current occupation. Stacy also discusses wanting to be an actor. But notes how she found she’d rather give others a voice than be the mouthpiece for someone else.

This desire has helped her create a business that captures authentic moments. These moments may be simple - like sharing a cake - but they can have a great impact for promoting business growth.

Charles and Stacy also talk about how understanding people can go a long way to giving good service. And they accept that while some tools might not be ideal, business owners should consider what might help them meet their client's needs. There's also a discussion on the value of asking what you're worth.

About your host: Charles Hsuan

Charles Hsuan from Flying Kite is a StorySelling Coach for business owners & sales professionals, he works with growing businesses with a strong culture of learning.

Charles believes customers buy with emotion and justify with fact. He also believes that every business owner and sales professional can benefit from a simple and practical framework (Micro-Scripts) that can teach them the skills of using storytelling as a sales tool.

Before starting Flying Kite in October 2018, Charles won multiple Sales Performer of The Year Awards as the digital advertising manager of Entrepreneur Magazine SA. It was during this period that he discovered and mastered storytelling as a powerful technique to exceed sales targets.

Joshua Cox is the founder and CEO of Fix Forward – a company dedicated to social upliftment. The business connects building sector-based entrepreneurs with potential clients. Through a careful vetting process, clients are assured of hiring a high-quality contractor. The company also offers workshops and mentorships aimed at growing its contractors' businesses.

In this episode, Charles chats to Joshua about how the idea for Fix Forward came about. Joshua talks about the special role that a friendship played in the company’s birth. They also discuss the hybrid NPO-company model adopted at Fix Forward. Turns out that this model can be very effective for promoting greater scalability!

The difference between working for a purpose versus working for money is also mentioned. And Joshua shares what he might have done differently when starting up the business. They also touch on the most consistent characteristics of successful entrepreneurs.

Josh further talks about how even basic support and a bit of credibility can help grow small businesses. He also shares how Fix Forward has improved individuals’ lives. So, if you’re looking for an inspiring way to spend 20 minutes, this is the episode for you.

About your host: Charles Hsuan

Charles Hsuan from Flying Kite is a StorySelling Coach for business owners & sales professionals, he works with growing businesses with a strong culture of learning.

Charles believes customers buy with emotion and justify with fact. He also believes that every business owner and sales professional can benefit from a simple and practical framework (Micro-Scripts) that can teach them the skills of using storytelling as a sales tool.

Before starting Flying Kite in October 2018, Charles won multiple Sales Performer of The Year Awards as the digital advertising manager of Entrepreneur Magazine SA. It was during this period that he discovered and mastered storytelling as a powerful technique to exceed sales targets.

Anina Heyns is the owner and founder of Pretty Social, and she's pretty passionate about digital marketing. In this episode, Charles chats to Anina about the value of learning from past mistakes. Anina also highlights how a change in her career path led to her finding her passion.

This episode also includes some marketing tips. 

Tip 1: Use digital marketing’s measurability to build robust campaigns. 

Tip 2: Listen to the full podcast – there's an interesting discussion about the '90:10 principle'. And Anina shares how one 'old-school' marketing tool might be more valuable than you think.

Also in this episode, you’ll learn from Anina about how to harness marketing to reach different clients. And she shares her own experience of the positive impact when you ‘niche down' your business. A key takeaway: saying no to certain businesses can actually lead to greater rewards down the road.

Charles and Anina also touch on the importance of honesty and clear communication. So, if you're looking to gain a whole lot of great insights, this episode is just for you!

About your host: Charles Hsuan

Charles Hsuan from Flying Kite is a StorySelling Coach for business owners & sales professionals, he works with growing businesses with a strong culture of learning.

Charles believes customers buy with emotion and justify with fact. He also believes that every business owner and sales professional can benefit from a simple and practical framework (Micro-Scripts) that can teach them the skills of using storytelling as a sales tool.

Before starting Flying Kite in October 2018, Charles won multiple Sales Performer of The Year Awards as the digital advertising manager of Entrepreneur Magazine SA. It was during this period that he discovered and mastered storytelling as a powerful technique to exceed sales targets.

In 6 short years, Magriet Groenewald has built one of the leading social media marketing companies in the country. Magriet’s main aim with her business, Magriet.co, is to teach and help entrepreneurs – and others – to navigate the complexities of social media, turn content into engagement, and engagement into profits. 

In this week’s episode, Charles chats with Magriet about her passion for teaching and empowering others, the benefit of being ahead of the curve when it comes to technology, and random encounters with celebrities that have led to long-term partnerships.

Magriet also shares how having entrepreneurial parents impacted her career trajectory, even though she started out following the more traditional ‘study then become employed’ route. She talks about the valuable influence of other entrepreneurs on her life as well, particularly in terms of learning how to be brave, not letting doubt take hold and building resilience. 

One important point she makes is about how nothing is impossible if your mindset is geared towards finding solutions. Another point: asking the right kinds of questions can lead to success, even when faced with serious setbacks.

From taking risks, moving cities, the birth of Magriet.co, and, of course, books, this episode offers something for everyone. So, sit back, relax, and let Magriet’s enthusiasm inspire you on your own social media journey.

About your host: Charles Hsuan

Charles Hsuan from Flying Kite is a StorySelling Coach for business owners & sales professionals, he works with growing businesses with a strong culture of learning.

Charles believes customers buy with emotion and justify with fact. He also believes that every business owner and sales professional can benefit from a simple and practical framework (Micro-Scripts) that can teach them the skills of using storytelling as a sales tool.

Before starting Flying Kite in October 2018, Charles won multiple Sales Performer of The Year Awards as the digital advertising manager of Entrepreneur Magazine SA. It was during this period that he discovered and mastered storytelling as a powerful technique to exceed sales targets.

In this episode, Charles Hsuan talks to the owner and founder of V8 Media, Jandre de Beer. They touch on Jandre’s history as a professional rugby player. Included is a story of how colourful clothing items made him stand out to scouts!

Jandre then walks us through his foray into personal training. Here, he learnt that perception is key not only for standing out on the field but for landing clients too. But there is a caveat. It's important to build a positive perception while still remaining honest and transparent. Jandre warns that businesses get into trouble when perceptions are built on falsehoods.

From there, Jandre highlights the key practice of discipline. Especially: how the discipline has helped him better navigate business successes and failures. He then goes on to talk about the importance of consistency and the need to avoid growing too fast.

He notes that you can’t ensure business sustainability if you’re taking on more clients than you can handle. Jandre also touches on the need to respond well to negative client feedback.

About your host: Charles Hsuan

Charles Hsuan from Flying Kite is a StorySelling Coach for business owners & sales professionals, he works with growing businesses with a strong culture of learning.

Charles believes customers buy with emotion and justify with fact. He also believes that every business owner and sales professional can benefit from a simple and practical framework (Micro-Scripts) that can teach them the skills of using storytelling as a sales tool.

Before starting Flying Kite in October 2018, Charles won multiple Sales Performer of The Year Awards as the digital advertising manager of Entrepreneur Magazine SA. It was during this period that he discovered and mastered storytelling as a powerful technique to exceed sales targets.

This episode takes a bit of a different spin. Which makes sense when you consider Richard Mulholland’s whole take on his industry is for it not to be boring.

Join Charles and Richard as they discuss Richard’s early desire to be a stuntman, salesman, and actor. Also, Richard’s absolute childhood obsession with Michael J. Fox! And if that isn’t interesting enough, they touch on Richard’s time as a roadie and how working as a crew member for conferences birthed Missing Link.

Richard’s aim with Missing Link is to address the issue of boring presentations at the source. He does this by highlighting the importance of narrative.

Of course, there is a touch of ‘the usual’ in this episode as well. The guys discuss books – including Richard’s own three. And there’s mention of lessons learnt when starting a new venture. One key takeaway: don’t offer a product that could (unintentionally) hinder your clients’ ends.

So, tune in to take one rock ‘n roll ride down memory lane – CD-ROMs are involved. And between all the metaphors about cake, you’ll also unlearn some of the myths surrounding public speaking. Not bad for a half-hour episode.

About your host: Charles Hsuan

Charles Hsuan from Flying Kite is a StorySelling Coach for business owners & sales professionals, he works with growing businesses with a strong culture of learning.

Charles believes customers buy with emotion and justify with fact. He also believes that every business owner and sales professional can benefit from a simple and practical framework (Micro-Scripts) that can teach them the skills of using storytelling as a sales tool.

Before starting Flying Kite in October 2018, Charles won multiple Sales Performer of The Year Awards as the digital advertising manager of Entrepreneur Magazine SA. It was during this period that he discovered and mastered storytelling as a powerful technique to exceed sales targets.

Allon Raiz has worked as a business ProsperatorTM for over 20 years. He’s also authored two books. Through his company, Raizcorp, Allon assists entrepreneurs to prosper in their ventures. If a business (idea) is valuable, Allon is happy to help. In his view, a business doesn’t need funding to ensure success. Rather, enterprises need to be sustainable and run by someone dedicated.

Allon established Raizcorp as a way to pay forward the initial help offered to him by his mentor. Raizcorp does this by equipping fellow entrepreneurs through various education and training initiatives. The company also offers entrepreneurs strategic partnership and sponsorship programmes. 

In this episode, Allon shares his first foray into failure and how it changed his mindset. He also talks about running “the only genuine incubator on the African continent”. Listen as Charles Hsuan and Allon bond over both interviewing for corporate jobs before committing to their own ventures. And be treated to Allon’s unique storytelling style. You’ll also get some great suggestions for new reading material!

About your host: Charles Hsuan

Charles Hsuan from Flying Kite is a StorySelling Coach for business owners & sales professionals, he works with growing businesses with a strong culture of learning.

Charles believes customers buy with emotion and justify with fact. He also believes that every business owner and sales professional can benefit from a simple and practical framework (Micro-Scripts) that can teach them the skills of using storytelling as a sales tool.

Before starting Flying Kite in October 2018, Charles won multiple Sales Performer of The Year Awards as the digital advertising manager of Entrepreneur Magazine SA. It was during this period that he discovered and mastered storytelling as a powerful technique to exceed sales targets.

Mike Anderson is the founder and CEO of NSBC Africa. The NSBC is the largest organisation on the continent dedicated to helping SMEs grow. He has a passion for helping people. 

This passion feeds into the various avenues the NSBC provides to SMEs. Some of these resources include webinars, publications, and monthly business breakfasts. The largest event on the NSBC calendar is The Business Show. This expo enables SMEs, decision-makers, and others to learn from and network with one another. Mike believes empowering SMEs can strengthen the South African economy.

This is how Mike measures his success: “If I can help one small business in one small way every day, then I’m successful”.

In this week’s episode, Charles talks to Mike about the value of seizing opportunities. They also touch on embracing failure and how Covid-19 has led to innovation. There are also some great stories involving caravans and fish – no spoilers!

About your host: Charles Hsuan

Charles Hsuan from Flying Kite is a StorySelling Coach for business owners & sales professionals, he works with growing businesses with a strong culture of learning.

Charles believes customers buy with emotion and justify with fact. He also believes that every business owner and sales professional can benefit from a simple and practical framework (Micro-Scripts) that can teach them the skills of using storytelling as a sales tool.

Before starting Flying Kite in October 2018, Charles won multiple Sales Performer of The Year Awards as the digital advertising manager of Entrepreneur Magazine SA. It was during this period that he discovered and mastered storytelling as a powerful technique to exceed sales targets.

One of our most asked questions is how to settle debt and get closer to financial freedom. Warren Ingram speaks to Charles Hsuan on how he went from over 170k in debt to debt-free and shares his methods used, how he stayed motivated and how his mindset has changed since.

Topics/ Questions:

How did you get into debt?
What was your driving factor to pay off your debt?
How has being in debt and now debt-free impacted the way you run your business?
How did those around you support you in paying your debt off?
What is the importance of having support whilst on your financial freedom journey?

Do you or someone you know have an inspiring story around gaining financial freedom? Reach out to us and you could feature on the next podcast with Warren Ingram.

Don’t forget to send us your Voice Note questions on WhatsApp to (+27) 72 934 4218 and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more Financial Freedom content: @HonestMoneyPod

Warren Ingram is a busy man. He’s the executive director of Galileo Capital. He hosts the podcast, Honest Money. He’s written two books. And he appears regularly on 702 Talk Radio's Personal Finance with Bruce Whitfield. Whew!

This week, Warren takes some time out of his busy schedule to chat with Charles about sport, cars and making good impressions. We, of course, also talk about good financial practices.

In this meaty episode, Warren touches on common mistakes young people make with their money and how being persistent can pay off. He also discusses the value of partnering with people who are different from yourself. Above all, Warren reminds us that nothing can replace integrity and good character when it comes to being successful.

About your host: Charles Hsuan

Charles Hsuan from Flying Kite is a StorySelling Coach for business owners & sales professionals, he works with growing businesses with a strong culture of learning.

Charles believes customers buy with emotion and justify with fact. He also believes that every business owner and sales professional can benefit from a simple and practical framework (Micro-Scripts) that can teach them the skills of using storytelling as a sales tool.

Before starting Flying Kite in October 2018, Charles won multiple Sales Performer of The Year Awards as the digital advertising manager of Entrepreneur Magazine SA. It was during this period that he discovered and mastered storytelling as a powerful technique to exceed sales targets.

Adele Benvie has been on a 20-year journey of reigniting entrepreneurs’ passion for their businesses. She firmly believes that the entrepreneurial lifestyle should be EPIC – Exciting, Purposeful, Insightful, and Courageous. Yet, all too often, entrepreneurs tend to lose their visionary abilities in the everyday grind of simply keeping their businesses going instead of growing.

That is why Adele established EPIC LIFE back in 2000 – to help and support entrepreneurs on their journey towards maturing their businesses.

We spoke to Adele about the best ways to meet customer needs, embracing technology and the futurification of business, the endless possibilities of scaling in a post-Covid world, and the many avenues she offers entrepreneurs to guide and sustain them along the way.

This podcast is presented by Charles Hsuan

Warrick Kernes started his first business at the age of 16 selling wooden light switch covers. This entrepreneurial spirit never left him, and he went on to start (and fail in) six more businesses before the age of 30.

In 2010, Warrick co-founded Action Gear, an e-commerce retailer in outdoor high-tech sporting gear, sold the company in 2018, and went on to start Insaka eCommerce Academy.

We spoke to Warrick about why he chose to name the business Insaka, the most ‘surprising’ online business (we had a good chuckle, no spoilers!) that his students have chosen to start, and some common myths about e-commerce.

This Podcast is presented by Charles Hsuan of Flying Kite.

Cindy is a Motivational Speaker, Business Coach, and author of How to be Unstoppable and Achieve more in Business and Life. She is also the founder of the Robin Hood Foundation. 

Cindy Norcott started her working career in human resources where she was responsible for placing student jobs. She enjoyed it so much that she started Pro Appointments in 1994 and never looked back.

If you are looking for a podcast that will lift your mood and help you believe that you too can become an “unstoppable action taker”, you will certainly enjoy this episode.

This Podcast is presented by Charles Hsuan of Flying Kite.

When Gidyon Lankers was a child, he made home videos of his family pets. That was the genesis of his “content production career”.

Gidyon ultimately studied Film at AFDA, and later completed a course in digital marketing at VEGA. All the skills he learned along the way helped to shape him into someone capable of sharing a person’s story and voice.

In 2020, Gidyon started DISRUPT X, a podcast production company, that worked on the likes of Warren Ingram’s Honest Money, Marnus Broodryk Making SMEs Matter, Alex MacPhail’s High-Performance Teams, and Diana Granoux’s The Family Finance Show

All this is pretty impressive for someone who is only 25!

This podcast is presented by Charles Hsuan.

Two Nick Vujicic quotes come to mind when I think of Nicky: “Life isn't about having, it's about being,” and “I never met a bitter person who was thankful or a thankful person who was bitter.”

Nicky Abdinor was born without arms and shortened legs, but that did not stop her from becoming an Inspirational Speaker and Clinical Psychologist. Nicky is also a professional member of PSASA.

Her registered non-profit organisation, Nicky's Drive, aims to fund car adaptations for people with disabilities in South Africa.

Nicky credits her parents with instilling in her a mindset of not “Can I do this?” but “How can I do this?”

This podcast is presented by Charles Hsuan.

Sue is a physiotherapist and owner of Body Brilliance Physiotherapy. She’s also a life coach - AKA “The Energy Guru”.

Growing up, Sue knew she wanted to do something in the medical profession. She remembers how her mom was prone to headaches and, as a youngster, Sue would give her mom head massages to ease the pain.

Later on, due to her father’s career in mining, Sue got the chance to work with injured miners. This really excited her - she loved being able to nurse people back to health and witnessing the positivity that they showed in the process. It was during this time that Sue knew she would choose physiotherapy as her career

During her years of practising physiotherapy, Sue noticed that pain and healing are complex phenomena. She wanted to help and empower people to find their own ‘healer within’ through focussing on factors like lifestyle habits and ways of thinking. This desire springboarded her career as a life coach and birthed The Energy Incubator in 2016. 

In this interview, Sue shares a powerful story of working with prison inmates and one particular incident that stood out to her.

Sue became a professional member of the PSASA in October 2020.

This podcast is hosted by Charles Hsuan.

When Bruce Wade was a child, his mother made him a Batsuit, and the superhero avatar stuck with him, given the similarities between Bruce Wayne and Bruce Wade.

In any good comic book storyline, there is a conflict between the superhero and the villain. However, in business, the strongest “villain'' is not a slow economy, government red tape, or even Covid. It’s the person in the mirror. It’s your own self-doubt.

Bruce believes that business is an adventure and he loves being businesses’ Business Strategy Adventurer. He sees this role not as simply a walk or model; rather, he helps business owners develop a strategy to overcome their lack of growth, develop new products and services, and ultimately build a strategy of freedom to overcome barriers.

He first heard of the PSA while gatecrashing a speaker's showcase event whom he looked up to. That event opened doors, and since joining in 2019 he experienced the wisdom and knowledge of other speakers and wished to do the same for new members. In October 2020, Bruce became a Professional Member of the PSA.

This episode of In My Own Words is presented by Charles Hsuan.

At the age of 9, Ian Hatton wanted to be on the radio because “pictures are better when they are on the radio”. He was also drawn to public speaking and wanted a stage of his own one day.

Ian spent 19 years in IT, ending with a nearly 5-year stint in marketing at Microsoft South Africa - which led him to a chance encounter with Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer!

Many consider Ian to be the “Morpheus Genius” because while he isn’t necessarily the hero himself, he is the one who raises up the hero - he is the builder of heroes and believes in others even when everyone else disbelieves.

Ian is the current virtual chapter president for PSASA.

This podcast was hosted by Charles Hsuan.

Ross Saunders grew up around older cousins who worked on computers a lot, and it planted a seed in young Ross’s mind.

At the age of 16, Ross started his computer repair business and rode around the neighbourhood fixing computers for small businesses.

In 2013, Ross was a victim of identity theft, which inspired him to become a crusader for data protection and information security. Ross also served as the National President of PSASA (Apr 2019 – Mar 2020).

If you want to be ahead of the curve on data security and prepare your organization for POPIA, contact Ross.

This podcast was hosted by Charles Hsuan.

May your curiosity always be stronger than fears-Nikki Bush

As a Human Potential and Parenting Expert, Nikki empowers individuals, families and teams in business and education to win at work, home and life.

She is a founding member of the PSASA and holds the international Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) designation, and was inducted into the Speakers Hall of Fame in 2019 – the first woman in South Africa to ever receive it.

The podcast was interviewed by Charles Hsuan of Flying Kite