In this episode of Smart Business Growth, we explore why managing your energy is far more powerful than obsessing over time management.

Despite billions of time management tools, apps and hacks available, most people still feel overwhelmed, busy and out of control. Procrastination is high, focus is low, and many of us spend our days reacting rather than working on what truly matters. So why isn’t time management working?

The answer lies in energy.

Rather than managing every minute of the day, this episode invites you to shift perspective and focus on how you show up to the time you have. Because while time stays the same, your energy does not, and that directly affects your focus, productivity, decision making and impact.

Using simple metaphors like an energy bank account and a battery, this conversation explains how energy is constantly being deposited and withdrawn throughout the day. When energy is high, tasks take less time and feel easier. When energy is depleted, even simple work becomes hard and draining.

You will be guided through the Energy Edge framework, a practical structure designed to help you audit and intentionally manage your energy. The framework covers four key areas:

• Sleep, water and movement as the foundation
• Body and mind consumption, including what you eat, drink, watch and listen to
• Boundaries and drainers, identifying what quietly depletes your energy
• Joy and gainers, the activities and connections that restore and uplift you

You will be encouraged to rate yourself in each area, notice where your energy is leaking, and identify small, realistic changes, not big overhauls, that can make a meaningful difference.

This episode is especially valuable for business owners, leaders and professionals who feel stuck in the “busy trap” and want to improve their return on effort, not just their output.

Your takeaway challenge is simple:
->>> Remove one energy drainer and add one energy gainer this week.

Small shifts done consistently create sustainable results.

Learn more about Nicky at nickymiklos.com

Grab The Growth Code™ here!

Get your a copy of Healthy Hustle: The New Blueprint to Thrive in Business & Life at www.healthyhustle.com.au

Connect: LinkedIn | Instagram

Contact: 0403 191 404 | hello@nickymiklos.com

Music by Jules Miklos-Woodley

Keywords:
Networking, business growth, relationship building, sales strategies, transformational leadership, core four, reciprocity, intentional networking, client nurturing, personal branding

Summary:
In this conversation, Janine Garner explores the transformative power of networking for business growth. She emphasises moving away from transactional networking and instead building genuine, meaningful relationships. Janine introduces the concept of the “core four” groups in your network: promoters, pit crew, teachers, and butt kickers.

She shares practical strategies for effective networking, including the TAD process (Thank, Ask, Do) and “light touch” networking to maintain connections without being overwhelming. The discussion also covers how sales is evolving, the importance of being intentional in networking, and the role of reciprocity in creating lasting connections.

Key Takeaways:

• Networking is about building genuine relationships, not just transactions.
• Identify the core four groups in your network: promoters, pit crew, teachers, and butt kickers.
• Intentional networking requires effort, focus, and strategy.
• A “no” is often just a “not now”; adjusting your approach can create opportunities.
• The TAD process (Thank, Ask, Do) can enhance your networking results.
• Light touch networking helps maintain connections without pressure.
• Showing genuine care and curiosity fosters trust and stronger relationships.
• Reciprocity is essential—give without expecting anything in return.
• Understanding your clients’ challenges allows you to offer better solutions.
• Networking is a transfer of humanity, not just information.

Learn more about Nicky at nickymiklos.com

Grab The Growth Code™ here!

Get your a copy of Healthy Hustle: The New Blueprint to Thrive in Business & Life at www.healthyhustle.com.au

Connect: LinkedIn | Instagram

Contact: 0403 191 404 | hello@nickymiklos.com

Music by Jules Miklos-Woodley

It’s 2026, and Nicky is kicking things off with a truth bomb. That whole “best year yet” mantra? It’s tired. In this episode, she calls BS on the hype, the unrealistic expectations, and the pressure that rides in on the New Year’s resolution wave.

If you’re craving something deeper than empty motivation and big energy pushes that fizzle out by February, this one’s for you.

In this episode, you’ll explore:

• Why “new year, new me” is more marketing than meaning
• The difference between sustainable change and sugar-hit hype
• How to tap into your own rhythm, whether you need to push or pause
• A practical two-part approach Nicky uses with her clients (and herself) to set up the year: Vision Planning and Commercial Clarity
• Why choosing a word for the year can be more powerful than a list of resolutions

This episode is your permission slip to stop buying into the pressure and start creating a business and life that feels aligned, achievable and sustainable.

Forget best year yet. Build your most intentional year yet.

Check out this pod ep to go deeper into connection with vision. What Smart Growth Really Means (and Why Now Is the Time to Course Correct)

Learn more about Nicky at nickymiklos.com

Grab The Growth Code™ here!

Get your a copy of Healthy Hustle: The New Blueprint to Thrive in Business & Life at www.healthyhustle.com.au

Connect: LinkedIn | Instagram

Contact: 0403 191 404 | hello@nickymiklos.com

Music by Jules Miklos-Woodley

In this final episode of the year, Nicky unpacks the challenge so many high-performing business owners and leaders face – how the heck do we actually switch off for a holiday?

Whether you're gearing up for a well-earned break or finding yourself sprinting to the finish line, this episode is a must-listen before you hit "out of office." Nicky offers a real, no-fluff look at why true rest requires more than a few beach days or a change of scenery – it requires a conscious transition of energy.

You’ll learn:

• Why rest can feel so damn hard when you’re used to going full tilt
• How to avoid turning your holidays into “sick leave in disguise”
• The power of embracing boredom for deeper creativity and clarity
• A practical breakdown of the “Energy Edge” – a framework to shift gears intentionally
• The small, 1% shifts that help you reset without guilt or overwhelm

This episode isn’t just about the holidays. It’s about reclaiming your energy, setting boundaries that stick, and bringing more joy back into both business and life.

Because smart business growth starts with you – healthy, energised and in your zone.

Check out the 4-Part Healthy Hustle Framework poddy ep here

Learn more about Nicky at nickymiklos.com

Grab The Growth Code™ here!

Get your a copy of Healthy Hustle: The New Blueprint to Thrive in Business & Life at www.healthyhustle.com.au

Connect: LinkedIn | Instagram

Contact: 0403 191 404 | hello@nickymiklos.com

Music by Jules Miklos-Woodley

This week Nicky's joined by one of Australia's leading LinkedIn strategists, Karen Tisdell, as they delve into a question every sales leader and business owner feels: can LinkedIn really be a sales engine, not just a networking afterthought?

Spoiler: yes. But only if you’re using it with strategy, not just scrolling.

In this value-packed episode, we unpack:

• Common mistakes salespeople make on LinkedIn
• What to write (and what not to) in your profile headline
• The three content buckets that actually move the sales needle
• How “bridging statements” and “collecting yeses” can shift a no to a yes
• Karen’s practical, repeatable process for turning cold connections into warm leads

If you want to use LinkedIn as more than a digital CV (and actually turn your activity into conversations that lead to clients) this one’s a must-listen.

Connect with Karen on LinkedIn here.

Learn more about Nicky at nickymiklos.com

Grab The Growth Code™ here!

Get your a copy of Healthy Hustle: The New Blueprint to Thrive in Business & Life at www.healthyhustle.com.au

Connect: LinkedIn | Instagram

Contact: 0403 191 404 | hello@nickymiklos.com

Music by Jules Miklos-Woodley

In this episode, Nicky unpacks the how to keep your hustle healthy ... not just in theory, but in practice.

Using a powerful metaphor of the palm tree (strong roots, flexible in the wind), Nicky introduces her Healthy Hustle Framework, a four-part blueprint to help leaders, founders and high-performing humans stay anchored during chaos without losing momentum. Whether you're deep in team leadership, sales pressure or juggling life admin, this episode breaks down the what, how, when and why behind sustainable success.

Expect self-assessment prompts, and a practical reset so you can stop spinning and start leading with intention.

This is your permission slip to ditch the firefighting and build your grounded growth plan.

Learn more about Nicky at nickymiklos.com

Grab The Growth Code™ here!

Get your a copy of Healthy Hustle: The New Blueprint to Thrive in Business & Life at www.healthyhustle.com.au

Connect: LinkedIn | Instagram

Contact: 0403 191 404 | hello@nickymiklos.com

Music by Jules Miklos-Woodley

As we charge into the final weeks of the year, the pressure mounts – targets, team, client events, and life logistics all collide in the seasonal chaos.

In this episode, Nicky shares 7 powerful, practical strategies you can implement right now to create more ease, more space, and more momentum ... not just for this month, but for your December, January, and February self. This isn’t about pushing through; it’s about pausing with purpose.

From proactive client engagement and strategic calendar planning to personal rituals that anchor your energy, you’ll learn how to move beyond survival mode and into smart, sustainable action.

Your future success doesn’t start next year. It starts today.

So grab your calendar and let’s start laying the foundation for a reset that actually works.

Learn more about Nicky at nickymiklos.com

Grab The Growth Code™ here!

Get your a copy of Healthy Hustle: The New Blueprint to Thrive in Business & Life at www.healthyhustle.com.au

Connect: LinkedIn | Instagram

Contact: 0403 191 404 | hello@nickymiklos.com

Music by Jules Miklos-Woodley