Raizor's Edge: Recent Episodes
Raizor's Edge
Allon Raiz speaks and lectures to audiences and business schools across the globe. His organisation, Raizcorp, has spent the past two decades incubating over 13 000 entrepreneurial businesses. His exposure to thousands of entrepreneurial journeys, as well as his own, has resulted in an unmatched depth of experience in the field of entrepreneurship. Raizor’s Edge is devoted to entrepreneurs at various stages of their journeys who may use these conversations as a catalyst to solving a problem, as an affirmation of a strategy or for more insight and additional knowledge. Each discussion is a no sugar-coated ode to entrepreneurs; each expresses the entrepreneurial journey as it is – warts and all!
New ideas. New gadgets. New opportunities. For some entrepreneurs, starting is exhilarating. Finishing? Not so much.
Meet the Eternal Child: the entrepreneur who thrives on ideas, possibilities and freedom, but struggles with discipline, follow-through and accountability. Find out why this archetype often stalls at scale, what separates delegation from abdication and how to become the entrepreneur your business needs.
Landing one massive client sounds like the entrepreneurial dream. But what if chasing "the big one" is the very thing holding your business back?
Meet the Big Deal Hunter: an entrepreneur so consumed with landing the next game-changing contract that they overlook the smaller opportunities that keep a business healthy.
Find out why big deals rarely rescue struggling businesses, how ego and fantasy can cloud judgement, and why the strongest companies are built one right-sized opportunity at a time.
Some entrepreneurs see selling as "selling out". The result? They create exceptional work but struggle to build exceptional businesses.
In this episode, we look at the Struggling Artist archetype – the entrepreneur who values the purity of their work but resists the commercial realities of building a business. You'll discover why fear of rejection often disguises itself as principle, and why commercial success doesn't have to come at the expense of creativity.
If you're waiting for customers to discover you or convinced that "people just don't get it", you may be the Struggling Artist without realising it.
The underdog story is one of the most powerful narratives in business. Small entrepreneur versus giant corporate. David versus Goliath. The problem? Too many entrepreneurs build their entire strategy around it.
In this episode, we explore the David archetype and the hidden dangers of competing on price and personal service. What feels like a competitive advantage in the early days can quickly become the reason growth stalls.
If you're exhausted, your margins are shrinking, or your clients seem to need more and more of you, you may be playing the role of David without even realising it.
You've built your critical competencies. You've invested in your core competencies. Now what? In this episode, Allon Raiz introduces scale competencies: the capabilities that remove friction and prevent growth from stalling. From legal support and supplier capacity to due diligence and operational readiness, he explains how successful businesses anticipate bottlenecks before they appear. Because scaling isn't just about growing faster - it's about building ahead of demand.
Core competencies become far more powerful when they work together. In this episode, Allon Raiz explains the concept of the “flywheel effect” and why core competencies should reinforce each other over time. When built correctly, each competency creates energy for the next, making the business stronger, more efficient and harder to compete against.
Trying to be everything to everyone is the fastest way to lose your competitive edge. In this episode, Allon Raiz explains why core competencies must be limited to three or four – and why anything more dilutes your ability to compete.
He also challenges one of the biggest traps entrepreneurs fall into: mistaking effort, service, or pricing for true differentiation. Because if your advantage can be copied overnight, it was never an advantage to begin with.
If your core competency only works in one product, it’s not a core competency – it’s a feature. In this episode, Allon Raiz explains why real competitive advantage must stretch across multiple products, categories and even markets.
From shifting your thinking below the product level to securing better returns on your investment, this conversation shows how core competencies become the engine that drives expansion. Because the real question isn’t “What are we selling?” – it’s “What can we build next using what we’ve already mastered?”
You can’t execute strategy without structure. In this episode, Allon Raiz explains why core competencies must show up as departments or functions, even if you’re a team of one.
Through powerful analogies and real-world examples, he shows how creating structure builds momentum, systems and clarity long before you scale. It’s what turns a strategic idea into something practical – something that can be built, measured and improved over time.
Whether you’re a solo founder or scaling a team, the principle is the same: build the function first, then grow into it. Because without structure, your strategy stays theoretical and your differentiation never gets traction.
You say you want to be the best in the world at something but what are you willing to sacrifice for it? In this episode, Allon Raiz breaks down rule number three of core competencies: if you’re serious about it, you need to invest in it – with money, time and focus. And this isn’t a once-off, it’s an ongoing commitment to building assets, developing capability and reshaping your business around what truly differentiates you.
If something is truly core to your business, why would you hand it to someone else? In this episode, Allon Raiz explains why outsourcing a core competency is a contradiction in terms. Real core competencies aren’t just differentiators – they are machines that continuously produce differentiation. And those machines must live inside your business.
From Apple’s design philosophy to the hidden value buyers look for when acquiring a company, this conversation unpacks why control, institutional knowledge and technical depth are critical to building a business that can evolve, compete and ultimately scale.
Critical competencies keep your business alive but core competencies make it distinct. This episode introduces the first rule of core: you must aim to be best in the world at something – not as ambition, but as strategy. You’ll also hear why differentiation cannot come from sales or marketing alone, and what it really takes to build a strength competitors can’t replicate.
Distribution isn’t just trucks and warehouses – it’s how customers access, experience and trust your product. In this episode, Allon Raiz explains why distribution is the make-or-break competency when it comes to scaling a business.
Through practical examples and sharp questioning, Allon reframes distribution as a strategic problem-solving discipline that touches product, marketing, sales, brand, trust and support. Because growth isn’t just about making more – it’s about being available, accessible and credible in every market you enter. If you can’t solve the distribution problem, you can’t scale.
Marketing creates awareness. Sales creates movement. This episode explains why sales is the engine that powers learning, confidence and cash flow inside a growing business. You’ll find out why bringing in orders does more than just generate revenue – it sharpens roles, clarifies complexity and forgives early mistakes. A clear, practical look at why selling is non-negotiable for any business that wants to scale.
You can have an exceptional product – but if nobody knows about it, nothing happens. This episode explores why world-class marketing, sales and distribution are the non-negotiable foundation of any scaling business. Find out why founders must fall in love with marketing, why differentiation cannot come from these competencies alone, and how building the right internal capacity shifts your business from hopeful to truly scalable.
Most businesses don’t fail to scale because of market size or ambition – they fail because the operating system that got them here can’t take them further. In this episode, you’ll hear how relationship-driven growth creates hidden bottlenecks, why early employees often become obstacles later, and how “just adding people” leads to a fragile organisation. The conversation introduces the shift from reacting to immediate demand to consciously designing the operating system your future business will rely on. A sharp, relatable foundation for understanding why competencies matter – and what must change before growth can truly happen.
Liking your business partner is great. Living in each other’s pockets? Not so much. In this final episode, Allon Raiz unpacks why overfamiliarity can quietly destroy a partnership — and how keeping a little distance keeps the relationship (and the business) healthy. From redundant systems to bringing “new information” into your shared space, this conversation redefines what closeness should look like in business. Because strong partnerships aren’t built on constant togetherness — they’re built on mutual respect, fresh perspective, and room to grow.
As your business scales, everything changes – fast. New challenges appear overnight, roles blur, and suddenly you’re both leading areas you don’t fully understand. This episode looks at how rapid growth can strain even the strongest partnerships, and why kindness, trust and clear protocols are essential to surviving the chaos. If you’re scaling up and feeling the cracks, this is your guide to growing your business... without breaking your partnership.
Should partners earn the same salary? It sounds fair — until one’s working 14-hour days and the other’s golfing by noon. In this episode, Allon Raiz tackles the emotional landmine of partner compensation and why salary gaps can quietly poison a partnership. From risk to role to real value, you’ll learn how to approach this loaded conversation before it blows up your business.
Feel-good vision statements don’t build businesses—sharp ones do. In this episode, Allon Raiz tears into the myth of the “collaborative vision” and reveals how trying to please your partner could leave your team totally lost. You’ll learn how dominant partners should lead the visioning process, how ego ruins alignment, and why co-created dreams often go nowhere. This one’s a wake-up call.
When it comes to decisions, partnerships either move forward – or grind to a halt. In this episode, we look at one of the most dangerous traps in a partnership: unclear decision-making authority. Allon Raiz explains why some decisions must be made by the dominant partner (regardless of equity), why others should fall to domain experts, and how ego and politics can quietly kill momentum. If you’ve ever struggled with 50/50 deadlocks or post-mortem “I told you so’s,” this one’s for you.
Just because you talk every day doesn’t mean you’re aligned. In this episode of The Partnership Equation, Allon Raiz explains why successful partnerships run on rhythm – not randomness. From weekly ops check-ins to strategy deep dives, Allon unpacks the power of purposeful, agenda-driven meetings that move your business forward. You’ll learn how to separate signal from noise, why cadence matters more than frequency, and how a well-run meeting can be the secret weapon of your partnership. If you're still relying on “quick chats” and hallway updates, it’s time to level up.
Can two very different people build something extraordinary together? In this episode, we look at why the best partnerships are built on difference – not similarity. From skills and personalities to decision-making styles, the tension between opposing strengths can be where the magic happens… if you learn to celebrate it. With personal stories, hard-earned lessons and a brilliant lotto ticket metaphor, this episode sets the tone for a smarter, more intentional approach to business partnerships.
The earlier your kids hear business terms, the more they'll naturally start thinking like entrepreneurs. In this final episode, we look at how to bring entrepreneurship into everyday moments: from dinner table chats and boardroom-style family meetings, to mall visits, news articles and school projects. Whether you're an entrepreneur or just want to raise one, this episode gives you the tools to immerse your child in the language and concepts of business – without making it feel like a business bootcamp.
Do you step in too quickly to “help” your child? You might be holding them back. In episode 5, Allon Raiz and Charné De Gouveia explore how independence and initiative are forged, not born. Learn how to stop directing and start guiding, giving your child the space to think, decide, fail and try again.
From letting them forget their lunch (yes, really!) to asking better questions instead of handing out answers, this episode is packed with powerful insights on how to raise resourceful, self-starting kids. Because entrepreneurs don’t wait to be told what to do – they figure it out.
What separates confident kids from those who shut down at the first sign of failure? In episode 4 of Raising Young Entrepreneurs, Allon Raiz and Radley principal Charné De Gouveia reveal the secret: it’s not just confidence – it’s the deeper foundation of self-worth and self-esteem. Find out how to nurture belief, bravery and bounce-back ability in your child. From mirror talk and daily affirmations to handling tryouts, teasing and setbacks, this episode is filled with real stories and practical tools for helping your child grow into a grounded, resilient entrepreneur.
Because when kids know they matter, they show up like they do.
Networking isn't just for adults in suits – it starts in the playground. In this episode, Allon Raiz and Charné De Gouveia explore how young kids can begin building meaningful relationships, learning everything from how to introduce themselves and listen with intent, to following up and staying connected. Discover why storytelling, empathy, and even joke-telling matter, and how parents can help their children build authentic connections – not just rack up contacts. This one’s about growing confidence, character, and conversations that count.
If your child thinks a card swipe is where money comes from, it’s time for a reality check. In this episode of Raising Young Entrepreneurs, Allon Raiz and Charné De Gouveia share how to build financial literacy from as early as age three. From piggy banks and tuckshop budgets to the all-important difference between earning and making money, this episode delivers hands-on strategies for raising money-smart kids. This is essential listening for any parent who wants to set their child up for long-term financial confidence – and entrepreneurial success.
Think your child just “isn’t the creative type”? or “is not good at Maths”? That kind of thinking could be what’s holding them back. In the first episode of the Raising Young Entrepreneurs series, Allon Raiz is joined by Radley Primary School principal Charné De Gouveia to explore the real secret to unlocking a child’s potential: fostering a growth mindset. Learn how your everyday language, attitude toward failure, and even your praise could either be building resilience – or reinforcing limits. Packed with practical parenting examples and mindset-flipping tips, this episode is your first tool for raising kids who believe they can learn anything. Because they can.
In the final episode of this series, Allon Raiz talks about the kind of support that transforms average sales teams into high-performing ones, and outlines the tools, systems and mindsets that empower salespeople to win again and again. Think proposal templates, structured pricing, confident presentations and knowing when to step in for the complex close. This isn’t hand-holding – it’s performance acceleration. If you’re serious about sales, this is how you stay in the game. Listen Now
You’ve trained them. You’ve set targets. But managing a sales team? That’s a whole other challenge. In this episode, Allon Raiz lays out the tools and rhythms that keep your sales team focused, honest and hungry. Think weekly sales meetings, CRM accountability, one-on-one coaching, and the reason courage – not conflict avoidance – is your greatest asset. If you're feeling overwhelmed by chaos and underwhelmed by results, this is the episode you’ve been waiting for. Listen Now
Training your sales team is one thing. Knowing they actually absorbed the training? That’s another story. In this episode, Allon Raiz shares how one cringe-worthy sales call turned into a total rethink of how Raizcorp assesses new hires. From open-book quizzes to final exams, he unpacks a rigorous process that does more than test knowledge - it builds culture. Want a team that takes their role (and your business) seriously? Press play. Listen Now
Think sales training ends with product knowledge? Think again. In this episode, Allon Raiz outlines what every salesperson needs to know to succeed – from your company’s story and industry landscape to role-specific rhythms and real-world selling techniques. Learn how to structure content that evolves with your business and equips your team to handle any client in any context. If you’re serious about building a sales force that delivers, start here. Listen Now
Hiring a sales team? Great. Tossing them a product brochure and hoping for the best? Not so great. In this episode, Allon Raiz reveals why proper sales training is the key to scaling your business. From open-book quizzes to shadowing and assessments, he breaks down a structured approach that turns salespeople into power sellers. Because if your team isn’t as good as (or better than) you, you’re setting them up to fail. Want to build a sales team that actually sells? Tune in to find out how. Listen Now
Becoming a champion means mastering the delicate balance between perseverance and flexibility. Champions are relentlessly stubborn in honing their purpose, creating structure and building support to stay on track. But true success lies in their ability to remain flexible - embracing personal growth, regulating stress and maintaining hope along the way. Listen to the last episode in this series to discover how to strike this powerful balance and think like a champion! Raizor's Edge podcasts
Champions don’t just conquer challenges – they find joy in the process. In this episode, we explore how reflecting on your struggles builds strength and fills your resilience toolbox for the next big test. We’ll also reveal the power of authentically celebrating small wins and how embracing both the highs and lows creates a truly fulfilling journey. Raizor's Edge podcasts
A champion’s journey is one of unshakeable self-reliance and knowing when to build the right support ecosystem. In this episode, we share the tools champions use to navigate life's toughest moments – and reveal why mentors, coaches and experts are critical to spark the growth they can’t achieve alone. Raizor's Edge podcasts
Self-doubt can feel paralysing, pulling you into a spiral of uncertainty and fear. But what if the key to building self-belief lies in embracing that doubt rather than denying its existence? In this thought-provoking episode, we look at how confronting and accepting failures and weaknesses, you can transform self-doubt into a stepping stone toward self-belief. Raizor's Edge podcasts
Fundamental to a champion’s success is having a burning desire cultivated by their plan, vision and actions. But even more crucial is being detached – having the ability to embrace the outcome, whether it is positive or negative, and continue with the journey. Listen to the episode to find out how the paradox works... Raizor's Edge podcasts
Champions, explains Toni Gaddie, have the ability to look inside themselves and look far into the future at the same time – they have both insight and foresight. They have the ability to edit their thoughts and behaviours in the present to ensure they move toward the successful person they want to be in the future. Listen now and start thinking like a champion! Raizor's Edge podcasts
Are you setting your sales team up to thrive – or fail? In this episode, Allon Raiz dives into the overlooked art of crafting effective sales contracts. With over two decades of experience, he’s found that most businesses are missing the mark. Tune in to learn why input, sales and retention targets need to be in writing and how the right contract can keep both your salespeople and your business on track. Listen Now
Think incentives drive success? Think again! Poorly-designed incentives can actually damage your organisation and drive away your best salespeople. In this episode, Allon Raiz discusses how to find the right basic/commission balance, the rule of thumb when setting targets and the secret formula for creating a commission structure that works for everyone. Listen Now
Want to keep your best salespeople? Give them a future beyond the next sale - turn your sales team into growth-driven entrepreneurs by building a business for them within your business. This episode reveals the secret to keeping top talent by creating an environment where they can thrive and grow their income. Listen Now
Are you setting your sales team up for success - or failure? There's a crucial step entrepreneurs often skip when hiring a new team: defining (and clearly documenting!) the markets. In this episode, you'll learn how to properly equip your new sales team with the tools and insights they need to hit the ground running. Listen Now
Just because your business is selling something, explains Allon Raiz, doesn’t mean that you have a product to sell. You might think, “Of course I do”, but so often that product lives in the mind of the entrepreneur; it hasn't been put into words or described anywhere – it hasn’t been codified. One of the most important elements of building a sales team is making sure they actually have something to sell. Here's how to do exactly that... Listen Now
Nobody likes facing rejection, which is why Allon Raiz says so many entrepreneurs abdicate the sales role in their business to someone else as soon as they can. But, he explains, this often leads to disaster because rejection is actually the most important part of building a business – here’s why… Podcasts by Allon Raiz · Listen Now
Do you love the feeling of ticking tasks off a list? Allon Raiz does too – and there’s a psychological reason it's so motivating. In this episode, Allon shares his personal system for managing tasks and projects and explains how you can do the same to help you stay on top of your workload and feel rewarded for your hard work. Listen Now >
As entrepreneurs, what do we do when we lose? We double down on our efforts in pursuing new opportunities. But, when we win, we tend to do a glory lap and take our foot off the pedal. In this episode, Allon Raiz says that we should do the same thing whether we win or lose: harness the energy from the victory/loss and use it to double down on our efforts. Here’s why… Listen Now >
Think of an entrepreneur, someone who started in a garage with constrained resources (even if it’s a metaphorical one). It's undeniable that their struggle gives them credibility – they’re seen as resilient, self-made success stories. But internal credibility, how you perceive your deservedness, is just as important. Allon Raiz explains why ... Listen Now >
If you find yourself stuck in an entrepreneurial funk where every move you make seems to take you backwards, ask yourself one simple question, “If I had to start again, what would I have?” Answering that question from two very different perspectives might just be the catalyst you need. How does this self-motivation technique work? Listen to the episode to find out! Listen Now >
Have you ever had something that initially felt like terrible news turn out to be the best thing that could have happened? That’s what Allon Raiz discusses in this episode, saying that asking one simple question – “If this were a good thing, why?” – can help you establish the good that can come from the situation and use it to your advantage. Listen Now >
Both positive and negative situations are temporary and one way to keep that in perspective is to see each week as a boxing round; in any given week, you might win or lose on points, take a knockout or give one. In this episode, you’ll learn how to review your week, learn from it, take that energy and prepare for the next one. Listen Now >
Often, entrepreneurs focus on what has gone wrong because, let’s be honest, there can be a lot of failures and falls on the entrepreneurial journey. As a result, they lose focus on the things that have gone right and that, explains Allon Raiz in this episode, is why you need success lists: to deliberately take you into a different state where you’re forced to write down the successes you’ve achieved daily, weekly and monthly. Listen Now >
In the fourth and final step in Allon Raiz' famous shower routine, you move from "seeing" your vision to FEELING it – imagine how you'll feel in the exact moment that you open that email confirming the deal is going ahead or seeing the number you want on your bank balance, and that's the "rockstar" feeling you carry with you throughout the day.
Click on the link to listen to episode four, The power of “I am”. Listen Now >
In this episode, Allon Raiz discusses the importance of the third step in his shower routine: "I will". This is when you lock in your targets, almost commanding yourself to move forward and achieve them, and tap into your "why" - a powerful combination that creates momentum and serves as a reminder of your determination. Listen Now >
In this episode, Allon Raiz describes the pivotal second step in his motivational shower routine: I can. This is where you remind yourself that you have the ability to achieve what you’ve set out to do and create a mental plan on how to do it – it helps you build up a level of confidence and that’s what creates the forward movement in your mind. Listen Now >
In this podcast, Allon Raiz shares the self-motivation technique he has been practising in the shower every morning for the past 30 years. He says it’s what opens the door to success for him every day – and it could do the same for you. Listen Now >
Allon Raiz recently chatted to Kaya FM’s Gugulethu Mfuphi and revealed the five things that ALL successful entrepreneurs do.
You often hear entrepreneurs talking about leaving a legacy but what exactly do they mean by this? Amassing a fortune to hand down to future generations of their family? Having a hospital wing named after them? In the final episode of the 20 Lessons Over 20 Years podcast series, Allon Raiz talks about the entirely different kind of legacy that he wishes to leave to his children . . . Listen Now > · www.raizcorp.com
Is succession planning only for large corporate companies? Not according to Allon Raiz who, in this episode of 20 Lessons Over 20 Years, advocates for early thinking about succession in entrepreneurial businesses. Having a succession plan in place not only makes your business more attractive to investors, it also helps to mitigate any potential crises in terms of leadership and management. Allon discusses supporting your middle management in terms of succession to increase your business’s performance and value. Listen Now > · www.raizcorp.com
So many entrepreneurs fall prey to the intoxication of complacency . . . They win their biggest deal ever. They overtake a competitor. They believe that they’ve made it – and then they take their foot off the pedal. The beginning of the end. In this episode of 20 Lessons Over 20 Years, Allon Raiz talks about two rules he has created to combat any chance of succumbing to complacency himself. Listen Now > · www.raizcorp.com
Whether you’re the CEO or a staff member, tightly holding on to knowledge and relationships effectively means career stagnation and eventually becoming a constraint in the business. In this episode, Allon Raiz discusses how you should be building a culture in which you encourage your management to delegate projects, processes and knowledge to other team members. Listen Now > · www.raizcorp.com
Without rhythmic, well-designed meetings, there is no order and no predictability and a very high probability of misalignment across the organisation. In this episode of 20 Lessons Over 20 Years, Allon Raiz discusses why meetings – done correctly – are actually one of the most important tools entrepreneurs have to drive strategy and communication. Listen Now >
In the whirlwind of starting a new business, the original vision tends to get lost for a while but, in Allon Raiz’ experience, if entrepreneurs don’t rekindle their relationship with their vision within two years of the startup grind, the business is far less likely to thrive. But, a word of caution, a vision statement is not the same thing as a vision. Allon has gone on record as saying the vision statement is a gross generalisation of a business direction and has little value in directing the business or inspiring the team. If you want to understand how to build a compelling vision, listen to this episode for some important lessons. Listen Now > · www.raizcorp.com
A common mistake entrepreneurs make as their businesses start to grow is confusing the concepts of delegation and abdication. In this episode of 20 Lessons Over 20 Years, Allon Raiz explains why knowing the difference can make all the difference.
Do you find yourself agreeing to a dramatic price drop to gain a client? Or caving in when a certain staff member demands a salary hike? In episode 13, Allon Raiz talks about the stark difference between the success rates of entrepreneurs who develop boundaries when dealing with staff and clients compared to those who don’t. Listen Now > · www.raizcorp.com
“Process sets you free” goes the saying. In episode 12 of the 20 Lessons Over 20 Years podcast series, Allon Raiz sets out to convince his listeners that process does indeed set entrepreneurs free to scale their businesses and make a profit. Even if you’re a startup, you definitely want to take note of this advice! Listen Now > · www.raizcorp.com
An investor is always going to probe the amount of money you’re asking them to invest. They want to make sure you’ve correctly gauged what you need to scale your business and that you’re not going to come back to them in six months or a year to ask for more. In the 52nd and final episode of The Successful Pitch podcast series, Allon Raiz talks about how you should respond when a potential investor asks what you would do with way more money than you’ve asked for in your pitch. Listen Now >
In business, every time you win over a new client, you are displacing a competitor. You have created an “enemy” simply because you have competed. This may seem fairly obvious but, in his more than two decades of working with entrepreneurs, Allon Raiz has encountered a large percentage of business owners who are afraid to compete. So, what is his advice around developing a competitive mindset
An increase in the size of the market could present your company with an opportunity to take advantage of favourable market conditions. Conversely, a declining market could pose a serious threat to your business. During your pitch, potential investors will want to see if you are prepared for both scenarios. Remember, there are opportunities in declining markets as well! In episode 51 of The Successful Pitch podcast series, Allon Raiz explores market growth and decline as it relates to your investor pitch. Listen Now >
In a pitch, you have to be able to communicate your vision for your business to your potential investor. You need to strike a balance between being too aspirational and unrealistic and not having any growth plans at all. Investors always strive to get a good return on their investment. They are looking to scale startup businesses but are also aware of the risks that startups face. You need to effectively communicate your growth plans and how you intend to mitigate the risks that are associated with growth. In episode 50 of The Successful Pitch podcast series, Allon Raiz offers his advice on how to go about answering the question, “Where do you see yourself in five years’ time?” Listen Now >
Investors want to make sure you are aware of all the risks that may affect your business – which you may not have mentioned during your actual pitch. They need to know you’ve considered all possible risks and they especially want to know which are the ones that give you sleepless nights. When answering this question, you need to be honest. In episode 49 of The Successful Pitch podcast series, Allon Raiz offers his advice on answering this challenging question. Listen Now >
Dealing with competition is an inevitable part of business. It’s simply a fact that when your business begins to thrive, new competitors will emerge and they will want a piece of the market pie. You need to show your potential investors during your pitch that you have strategies in place to build defensive “moats” to keep the competition at bay. In episode 48 of The Successful Pitch, Allon Raiz explains the term “moats” and helps you prepare for questions about handling your competitors. Listen Now >
As entrepreneurs, we never stop making hiring mistakes. There are many reasons a hire could be bad for your organisation. Join Allon Raiz for episode 10 of the 20 Lessons Over 20 Years podcast series two find out what the two biggest reasons are behind hiring mistakes. He also shares some important pointers on staff recruitment processes that every entrepreneur needs to know. Listen Now >
Do you have a plan in place if anything happens to you, the business founder? This may be an uncomfortable question but one you should definitely be prepared for when you’re pitching to potential investors. Investors will want to know that you have thoroughly thought through how your business will continue operating in your absence and that you have put solid plans in place. In episode 47 of The Successful Pitch series Allon Raiz offers his advice on how you should approach answering this question during your pitch. Listen Now >
When you’re delivering an investor pitch, it’s vital to show your potential investors that you are aware of who your indirect competitors are. These are businesses who may entice your target audience to spend their hard-earned money elsewhere, even if it’s on a different product or service. Knowing your indirect competitors can help you strategise and stay ahead. In episode 46 of The Successful Pitch series, Allon Raiz offers some insights on dealing with this often-neglected aspect of running a business. Listen Now >
It’s important for you to be able to show potential investors that parties who are doing business with you have given you some form of commitment. Investors always try to mitigate their risk so if you can produce letters of intent during your pitch, it will increase your chances of getting funding. Allon Raiz talks about the importance of letters of intent in episode 45 of The Success Pitch podcast series.
Who would be your first ten staff hires? By asking this question, investors want to establish if you have a thorough understanding of the operational requirements of the various functions in your growing business and the respective roles that must be filled. Listen to episode 44 of The Successful Pitch series to hear Allon Raiz’ advice on how to answer this question during your pitch.
Attracting and retaining the right calibre of staff is a fundamental component of scaling a business. It’s vital to invest in the right people by hiring top talent with expandable and diverse skill sets. A growing business also needs a staff complement to match its increasing operational demands. Be prepared to answer the question of how you will attract and maintain skills as your business expands. Tune in to episode 43 of The Successful Pitch series where Allon Raiz will highlight the important points to mention when answering questions about your team during your pitch.
An early quandary that most startup entrepreneurs have to face is getting the size of their business premises right and, if they’re renting the space, the duration of the lease. If you’re strapped for cash, you obviously don’t want to be paying for unnecessary space. At the same, though, when you start growing you may have to find new premises which may mean incurring penalties to terminate your current lease agreement early.
In episode 9 of the 20 Lessons Over 20 Years podcast series, Allon Raiz talks about how to balance your current needs with your future needs when it comes to the size of your business premises. Listen Now >
No company is immune to business risks. They impact your business in several ways and can pose a serious threat to the very existence of your organisation. It’s imperative to address these risks during your pitch and indicate to investors how you plan to mitigate against and minimise them. Investors want to see that you have a thorough understanding of the main risks that have the potential to affect your business. Join Allon Raiz for episode 42 of The Successful Pitch series for some insights into this topic. Listen Now >
When starting your business, it’s advisable to raise enough capital to sustain you throughout the growth phase . . . But, in some cases, it’s better to start with less capital. That’s because the growth phase will be a learning curve during which making mistakes will be unavoidable – and minimising the mistakes and their associated costs will be important. Your investors will want to see if you can strike a balance between the learning curve and its cost. So, what is the minimum amount of funding you would need to achieve this balance? Tune in to episode 41 of The Successful Pitch podcast series in which Allon Raiz explains the concept of MVF or minimum viable funding. Listen Now >
In business, a return on investment is a by-product of margin profitability. Investors want a business with the potential to achieve increased profitability, a business that can identify areas in their operations that can be leveraged to achieve bigger margins.
During your pitch, you need to be prepared to answer questions on how you plan to increase your margins and provide practical examples to support your reasoning. Tune in to episode 40 of The Successful Pitch series where Allon Raiz will explore this aspect of a successful investor pitch. Listen Now >
As an entrepreneur, you should expect investors to pose the following question during your pitch: “What do you need the money for, and how are you going to spend it?”
This is a crucial question, and it needs a well-articulated response that clearly outlines your projected expenditure over a specific time frame.
Investors always want to minimise risk; they are looking for an entrepreneur who displays good cashflow management skills and who will use the funds wisely. Join Allon Raiz for episode 39 of The Successful Pitch series, where he will take you through how to handle this defining moment of your pitch. Listen Now >
Your financial statements provide detailed information regarding the financial health of your business. Too many entrepreneurs fail to produce accurate and timely financial statements, which has a negative impact on the growth of their businesses.
As an entrepreneur, you need to consider the quality aspect of your financials: are they complete, accurate, and logical? These will not just appear; they are the result of strong financial discipline.
Join Allon Raiz for episode 8 of 20 Lessons Over 20 Years to learn more about the importance of producing accurate financial statements for your business. Listen Now >
Investors always strive to get the highest possible return on their investment; they want to gauge if their investment will be worthwhile, how lucrative your business is and if it has growth potential. The financial performance of your business will be scrutinised in terms of capital requirements and profitability.
You should expect the following question: “When are we going to be paid back?”
You need to be thoroughly prepared for this inevitable question and provide figures that will back up your argument.
Listen to episode 38 of The Successful Pitch series where Allon Raiz will take you through this critical question and guide you on how to structure a well-thought-out and comprehensive answer during your pitch. Listen Now >
Every single business known to man has competition and to deny this is a fatal mistake. The question investors want you to answer is “What is your plan for dealing with competitors?” Investor’s want to know that you have thought this answer through in a strategic, realistic way. Join Allon in episode 37 of The Successful Pitch for some dos and don’ts when giving this answer. Listen Now >
Your break-even threshold is a pivotal point in your pitch. Surprisingly, investors don’t want this number given to them in terms of revenue, they would much prefer this figure in terms of units sold. Listen to Allon explain why in episode 36 of The Successful Pitch. Listen Now >
As much as investors want their return on investment, they also want this return to transpire in a certain timeline – and this timeline varies from investor to investor. In this episode of The Successful Pitch, Allon prepares you for the question, “Who will buy my equity when I am ready to exit?” Join him for episode 35 as he walks you through laying out potential future buyers in a well-constructed way. Listen Now >
Another question to be prepared for is the inevitable, “What’s in it for me?” Your investor isn’t in the investing game to give money away freely. You are one of three or four potential investments. This month.
Join Allon in episode 34 of The Successful Pitch to gain some insight into balancing why the return-on-investment opportunities far outweigh the potential risks – and how to prove you can be believed. Listen Now >
In episode 7 of 20 Lessons Over 20 Years, Allon Raiz discusses how too many entrepreneurs hand over the responsibility of their finances to an external accountant and, in effect, abdicate their responsibility when it comes to their business numbers. It is a trap that he, too, fell into when starting his entrepreneurial journey – right up until he ran out of money! The bank wouldn’t extend his overdraft, and his investors wouldn’t provide more funding. Only when he learned to embrace his finances was he able to turn things around. Listen Now >
Join Allon Raiz in episode 33 of The Successful Pitch. Over the next 20 episodes, Allon will take you through some common questions investors ask and what they are looking for in your answers.
This week’s question is “who else is doing something similar to you in the world?” Tune in to find out why it’s important to answer this on a global scale and which direction an investor wants you to take when you answer. Listen Now >
Pitching is a serious business, and you definitely want to put your best foot forward. But it’s important to remember to be a human – smile, make an appropriate joke, show how approachable you are. If you are enjoying yourself, your investor will too. It’s not all fun and games though. Listen to Allon in episode 32 of The Successful Pitch to learn how to balance the serious side of pitching with a warm, engaging nature. Listen Now >
The highest pressure-point of a pitch is the last sentence. Should you end on a comment, a statement or an ask? If your investor is left thinking there is more to the pitch, you know you’ve ended on a weak, fluffy note. Listen to Allon in episode 31 of The Successful Pitch to find out how to go out with a strong ending. Listen Now >
Investors come in all shapes and sizes but one thing they all have in common is that they are impatient. Start your pitch off with a bang to avoid losing their interest. Help them frame the rest of your pitch around a schema or model. Listen to Allon explain all the benefits of presenting the important stuff upfront in episode 30 of The Successful Pitch. Listen Now >
In the startup years, the adage “the customer is king” remains fresh and deliberate in your mind. They are, of course, the king (or queen) and you are here to serve.
This is the ideal narrative but every business at some point in the journey attracts a client who is abusive. It’s an important experience and a rite of passage, and how you manage this first abusive relationship will determine your business journey going forward.
As an entrepreneur, you have two main directives. The first is to provide value to your clients, and the second is to receive value from your clients.
Understanding the power differential and perhaps even sensing your desperation, some clients will take advantage of and squeeze the relationship to such an extent that it creates massive value for them and little or no value for you. The bottom line is that it’s hard to say no to a client, especially if they are your biggest.
This rite of passage is the time for entrepreneurs to develop a sense of boundaries. When you understand the dual directive and deeply believe that you deserve to be paid for the value you provide, the idea of losing a client who doesn’t respect – or pay – you becomes easier to accept.
Join Allon Raiz for episode 6 of 20 Lessons Over 20 Years to hear how to respectfully, but assertively, deal with abusive clients Listen Now >
Pitches should be taken seriously and preparing for a pitch is vital. Because most investors ask a handful of similar questions, it’s easy to anticipate what might be asked and overprepare your answers. The mistake made here is jumping in to answer before the investor has finished asking and sounding overly rehearsed. Join Allon Raiz in episode 29 of The Successful Pitch where he explains why a look of surprise might be in your favour. Listen Now >
The worst words you could ever use in a pitch are words that make you sound uncertain – especially during the Q&A section. They immediately convey to your investor that you are unsure and lack confidence in the knowledge surrounding your business, and the future of it. So, what do you do when you really don’t know the answer? Join Allon in episode 28 of The Successful Pitch to find out how to field these difficult questions. Listen Now >
Good investors are trained to listen and listen well. Any contradictions between your pitch deck and your voiceover have the potential to blow you out of the water. Contradictions invite hard-to-answer questions, come across as mistakes and make the investor question the validity of your entire pitch. Listen to Allon Raiz in episode 27 of The Successful Pitch where he provides two ways to mitigate these contradictions. Listen Now >
No two audiences are the same, but they all have the same question: “What’s in it for me?” And the answer to this question will be different for each person. For this reason, it’s important to tweak your pitch to your particular audience whenever you get up in front of someone different. Join Allon Raiz for episode 26 of his Raizor’s Edge podcast series, The Successful Pitch to understand what your audience feels if you do not tailor your pitch to address their unique concerns. Listen Now >
The typical pattern in many small businesses is that they start with a monthly revenue line that is relatively flat and a similar-looking profit line (or rather a lack-of-profit line), along with a cash-flow line that points 45 degrees downhill.
As the business starts gaining a little traction and more deals come in, at some point, there will be an exponential increase in deal sizes. Often, the increase in deal size somehow triggers a signal to the entrepreneur that they have now hit the big time, that the struggle is over, and their success is imminent. The entrepreneur might let ego and complacency creep in at this point. The entrepreneur may start exhibiting typical behaviour consistent with a false start.
Are you perhaps susceptible to a false start? Join Allon Raiz in episode five of his podcast series 20 Lessons Over 20 Years to determine what you can do to give yourself the best chance of long-term success in business. Listen Now >
As an entrepreneur, you tend to become so embedded in your business that you forget that the nuances you know offhand are not as obvious or understandable to the outside world. It’s important to keep this in mind when pitching. Join Allon Raiz for episode 25 of The Successful Pitch where he explains how to mitigate this problem by using a common reference point or schema.
An investor wants to know that he or she is investing in something worthwhile that is actually solving a problem. Demonstrate this by using storytelling in your pitch to express the problem statement. Use a real-life client example and sprinkle in the size of the market that would be willing to pay to solve this problem – but don’t overstate the problem or the market size. Join Allon Raiz in episode 24 of The Successful Pitch to learn more.
If you use technical words and complicated statistics in your pitch, you’ll increase your probability of closing an investment. Not at all! In fact, doing this increases the risk of investors asking you questions you may not have answers to . . . if you don’t lose them in a sea of boredom first. Listen to Allon Raiz in episode 23 of The Successful Pitch where he explains a better technique to use when pitching.
In this age of information overload, people are accustomed to receiving information in small chunks. Your potential investor is no different. He or she would prefer concise and visual information in order to make an informed decision quickly. Listen to episode 22 of The Successful Pitch to find out why it’s important to cull the word count and use pictures in your pitch instead. Listen Now >
After you’ve presented your shiny, well-polished pitch to your potential investor, the logical thing to do is show them the next steps. Join Allon Raiz for episode 21 of his Raizor’s Edge podcast series, The Successful Pitch, to find out how to ask for what you want. Listen Now >
The business world is notorious for generating trendy concepts, phrases and buzzwords that become part of the general business lexicon – despite a common lack of understanding of what they actually mean. Best of breed, paradigm shifts, disruption, technology stack are just a few such buzzwords.
A more recent example is “pivot”. This word is used to describe everything from starting something completely new to a minor iteration and everything in between. Everyone these days seems to be happily “pivoting” – in whatever form their change of direction may take.
In its truest sense, a pivot is a significant change in strategic direction – the words ”significant” and “strategic” being key. A minor modification to your product, service or strategy is just that – an iteration or an upgrade. It would be a stretch to call it, as too many do, a pivot. But the most concerning interpretation is when an entrepreneur completely changes their business through a brand-new product or service and calls that “to pivot”.
Join Allon Raiz for episode four of his 20 Lessons Over 20 Years podcast series to understand pivoting, and why you need to pause before you pivot. www.raizcorp.com
Investors will ask crucial, probing questions about your business during or after your pitch. Interrupting them (because you think you know the answer) before they’ve finished the question is not only rude, it also speaks to your inability to listen. Listen to episode 20 of The Successful Pitch as Allon explains why it’s always better to listen, pause, then answer. www.raizcorp.com
In a high-pressure pitch context, the passion you feel for your product or service can be lost in a sea of nerves. The natural, excited tone you would convey in any other scenario becomes stiff and rigid and is sure to bore your investor. Join Allon for episode 19 where he explains why you need to do everything you can to calm your nerves when delivering your all-important pitch. Listen Now >
You only have one chance to get this pitch right. Anything can go wrong on Pitch Day – faulty equipment, a corrupted presentation, a dead clicker battery, etc and then your chance vanishes; you blew it. A great entrepreneur always has a plan B and, just in case, a plan C. Listen to episode 18 of The Successful Pitch to find out if your backup plans are up to scratch. Listen Now
Technical gremlins have an uncanny way of sneaking into presentations uninvited. Faulty or glitchy equipment is frustrating for you and your audience. Join Allon for episode 17 of The Successful Pitch for a few tidbits of advice to mitigate potential technical problems. Listen More ->
Using your keyboard to click to the next slide is distracting for both you and your audience. Walking across the room to do this breaks your pitch rhythm. You lose your audience and it gives you an air of being unprepared and unprofessional. Join Allon for episode 16 of The Successful Pitch where he explains why learning how to use a clicker in your presentation is a game changer. www.raizcorp.com
There are two funding rules of thumb that too few startup entrepreneurs are aware of. One: The timeframe you predict you’ll break even is normally double in reality. Two: The funding you predict you need will turn out to be four times more than what you thought. These rules have massive implications for any business’s ability to survive the initial months and years of its existence. Common forms of startup funding are personal savings and credit card facilities. This is followed by the three Fs – friends, fools and family – and finally, you try the banks and investors. We present a magnificent j-curve of our three-year forecast while trying to convince them to part with their money. Because it’s embarrassing to approach family and friends for funding, we feel compelled to present the lowest possible amount we need to borrow with the quickest possible payback period. And so, when our “sure thing” doesn’t pan out in the way our Excel spreadsheet said it would, we find it difficult to go back to our “financiers” to either delay repayment or ask for more money. A vicious cycle has begun that few small businesses will live through. Join Allon Raiz for episode 3 of his 20 lessons over 20 years podcast series where he talks about the correct way to finance a business. www.raizcorp.com
If an investor simply wanted you to read a slide deck, they wouldn’t need you to be in the room. The point of a pitch presentation is to give you an opportunity to talk about your business naturally and in your own voice. Join Allon Raiz for episode 15 of his Raizor’s Edge podcast series, The Successful Pitch to understand more about what it communicates to your audience when you read your slides verbatim. www.raizcorp.com
What do you do if an investor invites you to pitch but doesn’t provide a templatised slide deck? First off, don’t overdo it with the slides, information overload is a big mistake. Join Allon Raiz for episode 14 of The Successful Pitch where he talks about why it’s important to cull the information you provide in a pitch. www.raizcorp.com
Dress counts. What you decide to wear to a pitch tells your investor how capable you are of reading the company culture and, by extension, the market. But the “what-to-wear” decision can be fraught with emotion and nuance. How do you dress to show your potential investor respect but also reflect your personality? In episode 13, Allon shares a general rule of thumb. Listen now. www.raizcorp.com
Many would-be entrepreneurs make the assumption that if a problem can be solved by a product or service, it amounts to a sustainable business. A cold toilet seat in the middle of winter is a problem that many people would love solved. However, there is a miniscule subset of people who would be prepared to pay for the installation and running costs of an electrically heated toilet seat for their home or office. Aspiring entrepreneurs erroneously view a market as a function of a perceived problem without considering whether people would be prepared to pay for the cost of solving that problem. Listen to episode two of 20 lessons over 20 years where Allon Raiz discusses the importance of taking time to honestly assess the market size, the ability of that market to pay the right price, and the right time to enter the market. www.raizcorp.com
The more complicated your business model, the more vulnerable you are to risk. Investors prefer simple models because the risk decreases with less working parts to the model. Listen to Allon Raiz in episode 12 of The Successful Pitch where he breaks this down with an excellent example. www.raizcorp.com
Investors need to understand how much of the addressable market your business could potentially win but this number needs to be presented realistically. Taking into consideration that competitors will respond as soon as you enter the market, what is the best way to present your business’s market potential to an investor? Find out more in episode 11 of The Successful Pitch.
Maybe. I think so. Probably. Using these words in your pitch indicates doubt in yourself, your abilities and your business. Uncertain words immediately raise red flags in an investor’s mind. Conversely, overconfidence will set off the same flags. So how do you find a balance that will ensure investor buy-in? Join Allon Raiz for episode ten of his The Successful Pitch podcast series where he talks about crafting the perfect pitch vocabulary.
It is important to understand that a spray-and-pray approach to finding an investor does not work. It’s important to create a profile of what you are looking for in an investor and what you want from them before putting yourself out there. Join Allon in episode nine of The Successful Pitch to find out how to research and choose the ideal investor for your business.
No matter what business you’re in, a potential investor will want to know how you make money. Can you explain this process in detail from start to finish? Do you understand where you could push to make money and where you might be losing money? In episode eight, Allon explains why your answer to this question could make or break your pitch.
Anyone who has started a business recently or is about to start a business should ask themselves the serious question: Am I really an entrepreneur? At its core the question does not refer to the skills of an entrepreneur but rather to their characteristics. Statistics show that 96% of businesses do not see their tenth year (in fact, most do not even see their third year) but 100% of people who start a business believe that they will be successful, and most think of themselves as entrepreneurial. Listen to episode one of 20 lessons over 20 years where Allon Raiz discusses what it takes to survive as an entrepreneur.
Investors are more likely to invest into a business with high margins. Why? Because higher margins provide a buffer for the mistakes a startup is bound to make. A business with low margins poses a higher risk because new businesses can’t always offset low margins with higher volumes. In this scenario, how do you mitigate your risk and entice your investor? Allon Raiz explains how in episode seven of his podcast series, The Successful Pitch.
As the business owner, choosing what to pay yourself is no easy decision. And what you do decide to pay yourself speaks volumes to your potential investors. Join Allon in episode six of the Raizor’s Edge podcast series, The Successful Pitch, to find out what you’re communicating about your balance of risk.
When entering the market, no competitor is going to roll over and let you take their market share. Do you know who your competition is and how they will respond to your arrival or growth? How you will respond is crucial to an investor’s decision to invest in your business or not. Join Allon Raiz in episode five of his Raizor’s Edge podcast series, The Successful Pitch, where he expands on this train of thought.
The job of an investor is to look out for all possible risks associated with a potential investment. If you are not upfront about the risks your business may have, the investor assumes you haven’t thought about your business realistically – nothing is risk free. www.raizcorp.com
In episode three of the Raizor’s Edge podcast series, The Successful Pitch, Allon stresses the importance of making sure you can show the investor that you and your team understand the risks associated with actually executing your business model.
Episode two of the Raizor’s Edge podcast series, The Successful Pitch, is about gaining insight from questions investors ask you, and the subconscious messaging you give off when you pay attention and take notes. Raizor's Edge Podcast
Bombarding your investors with numbers straight off the bat is a sure-fire way to lose their interest. In the first episode of the Raizor’s Edge podcast series, The Successful Pitch, Allon chats about the importance of starting your pitch the right way. Explore more
The world is a chaotic place, a paradox of beauty and pain. The happy parts are easy and don’t require much thought, but when a bad situation comes along (and it will), are you ready to face the turmoil? It’s in the tough situations that we have to make the decision as to whether or not we’re going to take control of the situation or let the situation take control of us. An entrepreneur who blames his environment, will fail. But the entrepreneur who takes control of how they respond and react to the situation, they have the best chance of business survival. Join Allon, Kumaran and Mark in episode four of the Deep Dive podcast series and they discuss the psychology of winning when the environment sucks. Listen now.
As the CEO of an organisation, you will at some point need to hand over some of the reigns to other leaders within your business. Sharing the load can be scary, but it is a necessary step in scaling your business. These leaders come with their own personality, own ideas, may be more experienced than you, or perhaps just starting on their own leadership journey. How do you manage these relationships effectively? How do you guide them on their leadership journey while maintaining the company culture? How do you ensure the bigger picture of your vision filters down strategically? If you are brave enough on your journey in learning to lead your leaders, you may end up changing the face of your business forever.
Join Allon Raiz in the final instalment of his Small Business Leadership podcast as he discusses how to shift your mindset when leading leaders.
Listen now.
Congratulations! Your business is doing well and you’re growing every day. You’ve decided to employ more people to fill in competency gaps, but . . . are you about to hit the ‘valley of death’? Every growing business hits three tripwires as it begins to scale – three points when a leader will realise he or she has bitten off more than they can chew. At each of these points, a leader has a very important decision to make: learn and grow with the organisation, or keep the status quo and crumble. These necessary shifts for growth can leave even the most confident leader feeling incompetent and overwhelmed. In episode five of his Small Business Leadership podcast series, Allon discusses the changing dynamics of leading others as an organisation scales. Listen in to hear if any of these scenarios are your current reality. Explore more ->
As a small business leader do you know your why, your purpose for existence? Do you have a vision? Do you have a distinct strategy to reach that vision? Many entrepreneurs start out with grand visions for their business but as time goes on this vision gets lost as the focus shifts to short-term monthly survival. Without purpose in your business, your why is hard to answer. Without your why, your vision is not clear and your strategic path cannot be plotted. With no strategy in place to reach your vision, you cannot anticipate what could go wrong (and things will go wrong!) Have you thought out your plan B, C and D? Are you aware of the resources realistically available to you? Can you respond to your changing environment quickly and efficiently, or are your employee’s losing confidence in you as a leader? Smaller businesses feel the ripples of the environment more than bigger businesses and need to be more responsive to self-correct swiftly. Join Allon as he discusses why it is so important to have a clear strategy about the path we lead others along.
In episode 3, Allon discusses the importance of self-leadership as a successful entrepreneurial leader. He details four focus areas that one needs to understand before trying to lead others. One – Self-awareness: understand your own biases and what clouds your judgement. Understand your strengths and weaknesses and surround yourself with people you trust to fill the gaps. Two – Self-improvement: Great! Now you know where to improve, so do it! Create a plan of action and seek out critique and feedback. Three – Self-motivation: In seeking motivation, entrepreneurs need to look internally and not externally – Allon shares his unique way of motivating himself. Four- Self-discipline wraps up these four concepts and pulls together how with clear thinking, entrepreneurs can easily say no an opportunity that does not actually serve them. The success to every leader, is self-leadership.
In this episode, Allon discusses the difference between leadership and management and what each of the two roles entails. He explains why, as an entrepreneur, you should always be leading and managing simultaneously. Allon offers practical examples to illustrate how to differentiate between the two, and discusses the other side of leadership and management – criticism. Listen to more >>
Do you know how to make good decisions when the systems you rely on for help become unstable or unreliable? During extreme change, entrepreneurs are often faced with making quick decisions with little information. In this episode of the Navigating Extreme Change podcast series, Allon Raiz explores how you can take a step back and focus on asking the right questions to help make these critical decisions. JOIN THE COMMUNITY →
As your business grows and faces more and more challenges, you should grow and learn with it. In this introductory episode of the Small Business Leadership podcast series, Allon Raiz offers context around leadership in a small business and sets the stages for the episodes to follow. Explore our series ->
The first time you experience anything new it could be seen as extreme change – it’s the first time you are dealing with all the consequences of that experience. In zooming out of a situation, cycles of change can be identified. Join Allon Raiz as he discusses anticipating these cycles to prepare for change, and in doing so, looking for ways we can view and understand these situations and behavioural responses differently. JOIN THE COMMUNITY →
The word “pivot” has been one of the most widely used – and perhaps abused – business words during the COVID-19 pandemic. Everyone these days seems to be “pivoting”. But are they really pivoting or are they just starting again? Episode three of our #DeepDive series unpacks whether businesses should be pivoting, starting again or continuing their current businesses with minor modifications. And, when the pandemic is over, will everyone have to pivot again? Mark Levy, Kumaran Padayachee and Allon Raiz offer insights into this topic so that you can decide for yourself.
Scenario planning is an effective tool to bring order to a chaotic situation and gives the entrepreneur a rational basis on which to make high quality decisions when others are panicking. More Podcasts Here →
In times of crisis, it’s even more important for entrepreneurs to make business decisions that are measured and considered, and to prime their businesses to both take advantage of opportunities and mitigate risks. During this #NavigatingExtremeChange podcast episode, Allon Raiz discusses how entrepreneurs can build a decision-making matrix to help them assess all potential opportunities clearly and objectively. Join The Community →
Now that you have your employee, how do you get them up to speed and effective as quickly as possible? During this seventh and final episode of our #AvoidingHiringMistakes podcast series, Allon shares how he and the team at Raizcorp deploy 90 days of intensive training to do exactly this. He also shares insights into how we can structure our training in a way that will yield similar results. Don’t miss this massively informative conversation. Raizcorp Podcast Page →
Hiring does not have to be such a guessing game. As an entrepreneur, you can put metrics into place to help you make better decisions. In this #AvoidingHiringMistakes podcast episode, Allon Raiz talks through hiring and management metrics you can easily implement in your business to get better results from your hiring process. More Podcasts Here →
Less experienced entrepreneurs who haven’t had the privilege of being burned by previous mistakes tend to make very common recruitment errors, says Raizcorp CEO Allon Raiz in this episode of our #AvoidingHiringMistakes podcast series. By deliberately designing a recruitment process, you are less likely to make some of these mistakes and more likely to be successful in hiring suitable staff while also reducing the likelihood of your new recruit leaving too soon. Allon talks us through how to think through the design of your recruitment process. Join The Community →
In this episode of our Raizor’s Edge podcast series #AvoidingHiringMistakes, Allon Raiz discusses all the factors that resource-starved small businesses need to take into account when considering appropriate remuneration for their staff. Raizcorp Podcast Page →
In this #AvoidingHiringMistakes podcast series, Raizcorp CEO Allon Raiz discusses the evolution of his relationship with the formal job description and why it is such an important tool for the scaling entrepreneur. To illustrate, he takes listeners through the process that Raizcorp uses when creating a new job description or revisiting an old one. His view is that descriptions must be as full and comprehensive as possible, and include qualifications, characteristics and skills. Creating this type of job description not only helps the entrepreneur to think through exactly what type of role is needed, it also informs the training of the employee. More Podcasts Here →
As entrepreneurs, we shouldn’t allow our egos to dictate the number of people we employ. Hiring for the sake of hiring or because we have a problem right now can come with costs relating to profit, efficiency and unnecessary complexity – costs that most businesses simply can’t afford. In this episode, Allon Raiz urges entrepreneurs to take time to explore and consider multiple options before making the decision to create a new role. Allon explores those options with the listener. Join The Community →
In the first episode of our #AvoidingHiringMistakes podcast series, Allon Raiz advises entrepreneurs to be very conscious and deliberate when hiring new people. Too many entrepreneurs make the decision to hire too lightly without considering the huge cost in terms of time, money and other pressures, not to mention the additional costs should the new employee turn out to be a big mistake. Raizcorp Podcast Page →
COVID or any other event that brings massive amounts of change can be hard to deal with. During this #EntrepreneursAsk podcast, Allon addresses this and helps us consider how we might harness change rather than think we need to avoid it. Join The Community →
Do you subscribe to the whole idea of "fake it until you make it"? Allon weighs in on this approach to life, business and entrepreneurship in this final instalment of our #52MeditationsForEntrepreneurs podcast series. Join The Community →
"No man is an island" is a truism. No entrepreneur is an island either, and it is vital for us to find the support we need to keep our energy high and our eye on the prize. During the 51st episode of our #52MeditationsForEntrepreneurs podcast series, Allon shares his experiences and insights when dancing with doubt and the emotional turmoil that accompanies the entrepreneurial journey. More Podcasts Here →
When was the last time you went on an ego trip? We all do this from time to time but Allon helps us understand why it’s so important to avoid these moments as much as possible because our ego's addictive qualities are highly destructive. Listen to the example Allon shares during the 50th episode of our #52MeditationsForEntrepreneurs podcast series. Raizcorp Podcast Page →
How do we deal with a lying employee, a dishonest client, or a betrayal from a business partner? During this meditation, Allon helps us navigate the thoughts and feelings we might experience as we encounter these moments. Join The Community →
We all hate rejection but are there any benefits to it? Allon says yes, and in this 48th meditation of our #52MeditationsForEntrepreneurs series, he helps us to change our understanding of and reaction to rejection. More Podcasts Here →
Have you ever been, or are you currently, frustrated with how long it takes your employees to execute on your strategy, the pace at which your suppliers deliver, or the general lack of momentum in your business? Allon knows that feeling well and shares important insights in this 47th meditation to help us balance our desires and the realities of the market. Find Out More →
During episode 46 of our #52MeditationsForEntrepreneurs podcast series, we consider what you can do when you hit "a wall", when it all becomes too much to bear. This meditation is for every entrepreneur who has ever felt exhausted, at the end of their tether and is ready to give up. Raizcorp Podcast Page →
Flow exists everywhere – from nature to global markets – and it includes the entrepreneurial journey. Allon helps us to identify and take advantage of this universal phenomenon during the 45th episode of our #52MeditationsForEntrepreneurs podcast series. Join The Community →
During this "espresso shot of all meditations", Allon offers us a tool with which to energise ourselves and also develop a deep appreciation for what we have. This is the 44th episode of our #52MeditationsForEntrepreneurs podcast series. Listen via Google Podcasts →
During this 43rd episode of our #52MeditationsForEntrepreneurs podcast series, Allon points to a phenomenon that all entrepreneurs, especially pioneering ones, must learn to deal with. More Podcasts Here →
What is the essence of entrepreneurial success? Do you know how to harness it? Are you able to track your progress within it? Allon challenges us in this 42nd episode of our #52MeditationsForEntrepreneurs podcast series. Join The Community →
During this meditation, we're challenged by Allon to use all our experiences to lift us, drive us forward, and raise the level of our business's performance. Listen here to find out how. This is the 41st episode of Raizcorp’s podcast series, #52MeditationsForEntrepreneurs. Find Out More →
Have you ever been tempted to give it all up and follow an easier path? This is the important question Allon is asking us in this 40th episode of our #52MeditationsForEntrepreneurs podcast series. Get The Book →
In this episode of Raizcorp’s podcast series, #52MeditationsForEntrepreneurs, Allon helps us to identify what we need to do when we are surrounded by naysayers and darkness. Raizcorp Podcast Page →
In this meditation, we're urged to look inward and fortify ourselves against the day when failure strikes and we feel the desire to quit. This is the 38th episode of Raizcorp’s podcast series, #52MeditationsForEntrepreneurs. More Podcasts Here →
During this 37th episode of our #52MeditationsForEntrepreneurs podcast series, Allon helps us to reconsider how we face moments in our journeys where doubt creeps in and confidence is lost. Find Out More →
Do you truly believe you have the right to success and to wealth? This is one of the important questions Allon asks us in this 36th episode of our #52MeditationsForEntrepreneurs podcast series. Get The Book →
In this episode of Raizcorp’s podcast series, #52MeditationsForEntrepreneurs, Allon helps us reflect on the power we have as entrepreneurs and the choice we must make every day to use this power to do good or to not. Join The Community →
Do you see both sides of the entrepreneurial journey? This is the important question Allon is asking us in this 34th episode of our #52MeditationsForEntrepreneurs podcast series. More Podcasts Here →
In this meditation, we're empowered by Allon as he assists us to confront and work through the fears that so many of us face during our entrepreneurial journeys. This is the 33rd episode of Raizcorp’s podcast series, #52MeditationsForEntrepreneurs. Raizcorp Podcast Page →
Have you ever wondered why you need to do a business plan? Perhaps you’ve wanted to brush over or even ignore some details? And then there is Allon Raiz who has written an entire book called “Lose the business plan.” Listen to this important #EntrepreneursAsk podcast to find out what he means and the real value of a business planning and modelling document. More Podcasts Here →
In this episode of Raizcorp’s podcast series, #52MeditationsForEntrepreneurs, Allon pushes us to look beyond the moment – especially if it is tough – and patiently consider and be open to the positive opportunities that can come out of these negative experiences. Get The Book →
How do you really feel about success? Allon challenges us to carefully consider our conscious and subconscious feelings towards success in this 31st episode of our #52MeditationsForEntrepreneurs podcast series. More Podcasts Here →
In this episode of our #52MeditationsForEntrepreneurs podcast series, we explore the power of vision. Allon invites us to examine how thoroughly we see and believe our own vision, and how we can articulate it. Find Out More →
No one likes to be challenged – especially not entrepreneurs. But what opportunities can challenge uncover? During the 29th episode of our #52MeditationsForEntrepreneurs podcast series, Allon explores this topic, offering his perspectives and experience when it comes to having one’s beliefs challenged. Join The Community →
In this episode of Raizcorp’s podcast series, #52MeditationsForEntrepreneurs, Allon helps us refocus and realign our efforts by helping us realign who we are accountable to. Raizcorp Podcast Page →
What is the relationship between your vision and your ability to bring that vision into reality? Allon Raiz describes this often subconscious process in this 27th episode of our #52MeditationsForEntrepreneurs podcast series. More Podcasts Here →
In this meditation, we're challenged by Allon as he describes an unavoidable, threefold requirement for entrepreneurial success. Listen here to find out what this is and how it impacts your journey. This is the 26th episode of Raizcorp’s podcast series, #52MeditationsForEntrepreneurs. Get The Book →
During this episode, Gareth and Allon consider the first article in Allon's lockdown series, Get to Rational Quickly. Their discussion is filled with practical lessons and insights, as well as a real example of what can happen when an entrepreneur’s rational brain is activated while their competitor remains in a state of panic and uncertainty. More Podcasts Here →
In this episode of Raizcorp’s podcast series, #52MeditationsForEntrepreneurs, we're challenged by Allon to look up, to look around, and to look within and without as we search for solutions to challenges. Join The Community →
In episode 24 of Raizcorp’s 52 Meditations for Entrepreneurs, Allon Raiz discusses the importance of asking different questions when facing new challenges. It’s equally important, though, to avoid the same patterns of thinking when you try to answer these questions. Find Out More →
Great ideas are only as good as the nurturing process that turns them into reality. Allon Raiz talks about why a certain level of discipline is required for creative thinking in episode 23 of #52MeditationsForEntrepreneurs podcast series. More Podcasts Here →
During episode 22 of Raizcorp’s podcast series, 52 Meditations for Entrepreneurs, Allon discusses resistance and how we must develop an appetite for it as our entrepreneurial journey will be filled with it. Raizcorp Podcast Page →
Episode 21 of Raizcorp’s podcast series, 52 Meditations for Entrepreneurs, sees Allon sharing how he has approached uncertain times in such a way that it reduces anxiety and increases decision making confidence. Listen via Google Podcasts →
Episode 20 of Raizcorp’s podcast series, 52 Meditations for Entrepreneurs, helps us understand that success is a fleeting moment and ongoing success is rarely enjoyed without modesty. Get The Book →
In this episode of Raizcorp’s podcast series, 52 Meditations for Entrepreneurs, we're guided towards the understanding that the more we listen, the greater our success will be - from increased sales to better employee engagement. More Podcasts Here →
In episode 18 of Raizcorp’s podcast series, 52 Meditations for Entrepreneurs, Allon helps us to muster the strength and courage we have within to open new opportunities - even if they lay on the other side of adversity. Join The Community →
Episode 14 of Raizcorp’s podcast series, 52 Meditations for Entrepreneurs, is a challenge from Allon to change the way we see our worst customer and unlock the benefits of this change. Get The Book →
During episode 16 of Raizcorp’s podcast series, 52 Meditations for Entrepreneurs, Allon discusses the power of "fake it until you make it", while also highlighting the difference between acting successful and fooling one's self and others. Find Out More →
In episode 15 of Raizcorp’s podcast series, 52 Meditations for Entrepreneurs, Allon helps us with a big issue that many of us deal with - perfectionism. Join The Community →
With the COVID-19 lockdown in full swing and the full impact of the pandemic still weeks away from being fully realised, we have a small window to prepare our businesses for the fallout and a new-normal. This second instalment of #EntrepreneursAsk will help you look up and out towards coming opportunities. Join The Community →
Episode 14 of Raizcorp’s podcast series, 52 Meditations for Entrepreneurs, sees Allon inviting us to examine our current actions against the question: Am I being prudent or am I actually procrastinating? Get The Book →
During episode 13 of Raizcorp’s podcast series, 52 Meditations for Entrepreneurs, Allon discusses putting aside our possibly more instinctive tendency to try control, and embracing the path of flexibility and trust. Join The Community →
COVID-19 is upon us and with it comes unavoidable worry and even panic. We as leaders in our businesses need to find a way to see this crisis differently, and Allon helps us to do exactly that in this instalment of #EntrepreneursAsk. Ask Your Question →
In episode 12 of Raizcorp’s podcast series, 52 Meditations for Entrepreneurs, Allon asks us to examine who we allow into our lives, our teams, and even our business' front doors - our clients. Find Out More →
Episode 11 of Raizcorp’s podcast series, 52 Meditations for Entrepreneurs, is where Allon reminds us that we need to ensure our value is properly understood. Get The Book →
Sales has come a long way since fast-talking, high charisma, door-to-door salesmen. To be a great salesperson and to hire a great sales team an understanding of modern sales is essential. This BONUS #DeepDiveSeries podcast offers some excellent insights and resources to get you up to speed. Attend An Event →
In episode 10 of Raizcorp’s podcast series, 52 Meditations for Entrepreneurs, Allon helps us consider the power of our decisions and that our desired future might be just one decision away from being a reality. Join The Community →
Episode 9 of Raizcorp’s podcast series, 52 Meditations for Entrepreneurs, sees Allon discussing how values can assist you to remain consistent and deliver a superior product or service, no matter the distractions. Find Out More →
In episode 8 of Raizcorp’s podcast series, 52 Meditations for Entrepreneurs, Allon discusses detail and how attention to detail can enhance your entrepreneurial experience. Join The Community →
Episode 7 of Raizcorp’s podcast series, 52 Meditations for Entrepreneurs focuses on why entrepreneurs should constantly be creating value. Get The Book →
Episode 6 of Raizcorp’s podcast series, 52 Meditations for Entrepreneurs sees Allon discussing why entrepreneurs should be bold warriors who don’t fear change or challenge. Find Out More →
In episode 5 of Raizcorp’s podcast series, 52 Meditations for Entrepreneurs, Allon discusses how your vision evolves and is refined over time. Join The Community →
Episode 4 of Raizcorp’s podcast series, 52 Meditations for Entrepreneurs, examines the importance of appreciating all that we have. Get The Book →
In episode 3 of Raizcorp’s podcast series, 52 Meditations for Entrepreneurs, explores how sometimes things that seem unrelated get us closer to achieving our destinies. Find Out More →
Episode 2 of Raizcorp’s podcast series, 52 Meditations for Entrepreneurs, is about silencing the voices in our heads that want to see us fail. Join The Community →
In the first episode of Raizcorp’s podcast series, 52 Meditations for Entrepreneurs, Allon chats about the mental order required for clarity of vision. Get The Book →
Are you about to hire your first employee and are feeling nervous? Or perhaps you've done some hiring in the past and it didn't work out like you had hoped? You're not alone! These are feelings, mistakes, and concerns that Allon and his team have seen and experienced time and time again. During this #DeepDiveSeries conversation, Allon, Kumaran, and Mark share insights, lessons, and experiences that will aid you in your efforts to hire for growth. Raizcorp Podcast Page →
On a scale of 1 to 10, how good would you say your current business strategy is? How often are you reviewing and updating it? And when was the last time you decided it needed to be reset … given some Ctrl + Alt + Del treatment? This candid conversation reveals how even experienced entrepreneurs can struggle with business strategy, and offers all entrepreneurs lessons and points of reflection as we consider how to further grow our businesses. Join The Community →
Why does Allon place such emphasis on optimism when he looks for entrepreneurs to back? What does optimism enable? How do we maximise its value? This discussion both debunks common misconceptions and reveals amazing opportunities – if we choose to embrace this important characteristic. Raizcorp Podcast Page →
How curious are you? Are you curious about the future of your industry? About how you’re going to stay ahead of the game? About how you can take advantage of opportunities or mitigate risks? Allon talks about curiosity as an essential characteristic for successful entrepreneurs, and why he won’t invest in an entrepreneur who isn’t always reading more and asking more questions. Raizcorp Podcast Page →
Do you believe you have a superior product or service but other companies keep on winning the business you're competing for? Are you being left behind or threatened by evolutions in technology? Why are you losing market share? This podcast will help you rediscover your competitive edge by asking hard questions about the value you offer. Join The Community →
Do you really understand control? To what extent does our relationship with control stifle business growth? How do we effectively maintain quality of output if we relinquish control? And what are the extreme versions or expressions of control we need to avoid? The relationship with control is so important that Allon and his team measure it – along with 26 other characteristics – as part of their entrepreneur selection criteria. Raizcorp Podcast Page →
Why does Allon talk about a rocket ship when he is asked about flexibility? And how did what this rocket ship symbolise contribute to Allon and his executive team turning down a R200 million deal? This conversation takes us way beyond the usual humdrum we've all heard 100 times before to the depths and opportunities found within flex-ability. You won't see yourself or your business in the same way after this podcast - go grab your pen and notebook, and press that play button. Join The Community →
What is perseverance really? Is it just a cliched expression, or can it be explained in definitive terms that allow for us to get our hands around and into it, tear it apart, and then rebuild it in a way that works for us individually? Allon knows it is the latter. Listen to this podcast discussion to find out how to move your personal journey with perseverance (and everything it influences) to a conscious level. Find Out More →