Thinking of starting a business, but everyone says you'll fail? That might be the best thing that ever happens to you.

In this episode, we unpack how Ben Handler went from being made redundant in a corporate job to building one of Australia's most innovative real estate businesses - and later scaling an online education empire.

This episode explores Ben Handler's remarkable journey from corporate redundancy to co-founding Cohen Handler, Australia's pioneering buyer's agency, which revolutionised how property is purchased.

Despite having no sales training and every real estate agent telling him buyers would never pay for representation, Ben helped build a 70-person company across multiple offices, before exiting to create his current venture - an online education business helping people transition careers and become successful buyer's agents.

You'll hear firsthand how Ben tackled starting a buyer's agency in a market that barely knew what it was - scaling it with zero marketing experience, and building the foundational skills needed to succeed as a founder in Australia.

We explore the critical mindset shifts required for entrepreneurial success, stress management frameworks for founders, and why most people fail at transforming their careers.

Whether you're interested in starting a buyer’s agency, building an online coaching business, or growing a recruitment company with a one-to-many model - this episode is packed with practical advice, inspiration, and tactical lessons for real-world entrepreneurship.

Key moments:

00:03:30 The "wrong vehicle" concept and leaving corporate
00:08:00 Starting despite everyone saying you'll fail
00:16:10 Partnership challenges and growing apart
00:21:50 Transitioning from workaholic to lifestyle focus
00:29:00 Why people fail at career transformation
00:32:50 Building teams and the art of delegation
00:42:40 Moving from service business to scalable products
00:48:30 The stress filter system for founders
00:57:10 Trusting your gut on big decisions

We also dive into topics like scaling service-based businesses, achieving work-life balance as a founder, and creating digital leverage so you can build income and impact without burning out.

This is a must-listen for anyone in real estate, recruitment, or considering a career change in Australia.

-

👉Connect with Ben Handler

https://buyersagentinstitute.com.au/
https://www.instagram.com/benjaminhandler

-

👉Connect with us

https://www.instagram.com/twoblokesonebusiness
https://www.linkedin.com/company/two-blokes-one-business-podcast

-

Adam Powell & Harvey Rivers are the founders of the specialist recruitment agency, Harwell Consulting.

Harwell Consulting are renowned for finding the top talent within the Construction, Accountancy & Finance & Labour Hire sectors.

Their award-winning concierge approach is helping companies attract exceptional talent to their team.

👉Want help finding exceptional talent for your business?

Get in touch with Adam, Harvey, and the team at Harwell Consulting: https://www.harwellconsulting.com.au/

Starting a career that pays $53,000 in commission for just four weeks of work might sound impossible - but in recruitment, it's absolutely achievable when you know what you're doing.

This episode dives deep into the world of recruitment with Adam and Harvey, who've built multiple seven-figure recruitment agencies from scratch.

Whether you're considering a career change or wondering if recruitment is a good career, this episode gives you everything you need to decide if it's for you.

You'll discover why recruitment is about more than just filling jobs - it's about changing lives, building businesses, and creating genuine impact for both job seekers and employers.

From understanding the difference between permanent and temporary recruitment to learning why the industry is shifting toward boutique recruitment specialists - this conversation reveals the insider secrets of a profession that can offer unlimited earning potential.

The discussion covers practical elements like the recruitment commission structure that can generate life-changing income, and why having industry experience before entering recruitment can be your golden ticket to building a successful recruitment business.

Plus, the lads unpack real stories that show how recruiters change lives - not only through helping people find new roles, but by creating financial freedom and opportunity for themselves and others.

Key Points

00:01:00 What is recruitment and why it exists
00:08:00 Different types of recruitment explained
00:15:30 Retained vs contingent recruitment models
00:22:20 Why recruitment isn't HR
00:27:00 Personal transformation through recruitment
00:37:30 The adrenaline rush of successful placements
00:47:00 Feeling like an expert in your field
00:51:40 Essential traits for recruitment success
00:59:00 Commission structures and earning potential

Ready to discover if recruitment could be your path to financial freedom and career fulfilment? This episode reveals everything you need to know about entering one of the most rewarding yet misunderstood professions.

-

👉Connect with us

https://www.instagram.com/twoblokesonebusiness
https://www.linkedin.com/company/two-blokes-one-business-podcast

-

Adam Powell & Harvey Rivers are the founders of the specialist recruitment agency, Harwell Consulting.

Harwell Consulting are renowned for finding the top talent within the Construction, Accountancy & Finance & Labour Hire sectors.

Their award-winning concierge approach is helping companies attract exceptional talent to their team.

👉Want help finding exceptional talent for your business?

Get in touch with Adam, Harvey, and the team at Harwell Consulting: https://www.harwellconsulting.com.au/

Former NRL Titans player Matt Srama joins us on Two Blokes One Business to share critical mindset shifts and high-performance habits for entrepreneurs.

These tips helped him transition from professional sports star to a successful entrepreneur on the Gold Coast.

Matt reveals how his background as an elite athlete gave him the discipline, resilience, and consistency needed to build and scale The Srama Group.

And he also shares practical strategies for business success, including:

✅Managing energy as a business owner (instead of just time)

✅The importance of outsourcing low-dollar productive tasks to buy back your time

✅ Creating systems and processes that allow for scalable business operations

✅The psychological challenges of shifting identities from athlete to entrepreneur

This episode is loaded with actionable advice for founders and solopreneurs - from someone who successfully navigated the transition from athlete to entrepreneur.

Key moments:

00:02:00 Managing energy in business
00:03:40 Intensity versus long hours
00:05:20 Time blocking
00:08:10 Business as the infinite game versus sport
00:11:20 Investing in an executive assistant and house manager
00:15:00 Overcoming working-class guilt
00:19:20 Identify energy-sapping tasks
00:25:30 Lessons from professional sport
00:30:00 Handle harsh feedback
00:33:00 Building discipline and resilience
00:40:10 Detaching personal identity
00:47:40 Structure gives freedom
00:52:40 Three keys to scaling a business

Whether you're an entrepreneur looking to scale, a business owner seeking work-life integration, or simply want to manage your energy better to avoid burnout - Matt's insights are a game-changer for building a sustainable and high-performance business.

-

👉Connect With Matt Srama

https://www.instagram.com/matt_srama/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-srama-b8647b1ba

https://www.thesramagroup.com/

-

👉Connect with us

https://www.instagram.com/twoblokesonebusiness
https://www.linkedin.com/company/two-blokes-one-business-podcast

-

Adam Powell & Harvey Rivers are the founders of the specialist recruitment agency, Harwell Consulting.

Harwell Consulting are renowned for finding the top talent within the Construction, Accountancy & Finance & Labour Hire sectors.

Their award-winning concierge approach is helping companies attract exceptional talent to their team.

👉Want help finding exceptional talent for your business?

Get in touch with Adam, Harvey, and the team at Harwell Consulting: https://www.harwellconsulting.com.au/

Leveraging AI and recruitment technology has transformed our business - and it could revolutionise yours too.

With AI adoption in business exploding, you might be wondering, “What does this mean for my career, my team, or my company’s future?”

In this episode, we break down how we’ve harnessed AI tools and tech stacks to build a successful recruitment agency in record time. We dive into specific technologies that have redefined our workflow - from a CRM system powered by AI to an AI meeting assistant that captures every detail.

You'll hear how ChatGPT has streamlined our content creation and business planning.

And what tools helped Adam achieve an impressive $177,000 in billings in a single month - a huge milestone for any million-dollar biller in recruitment.

This conversation goes beyond recruitment, touching on the broader impact of AI across industries - including what CFOs, small business owners, and business leaders need to know to stay ahead.

We also open up about how we balance high performance across all areas of life, and reflect on key decisions that shaped our entrepreneurial journey.

Key Points

00:01:30 Harwell rebranding
00:04:50 Marathon training
00:06:30 Adam's record-breaking billing period
00:09:10 Business technology spending
00:12:30 Use tech to outperform larger competitors
00:16:10 Recruiters opportunity for AI
00:18:00 The John Lennon story
00:24:00 Harwell's tech stack
00:37:10 AI for blind spots and opportunities
00:40:20 The future of human connection
00:45:40 Recruitment industry shifts
00:50:30 AI job overhaul
00:52:20 Education system changes
00:56:40 Q&A

Ready to discover how AI could transform your business and career? Listen now and learn how to stay ahead in the AI revolution.

-

👉Connect with us

https://www.instagram.com/twoblokesonebusiness
https://www.linkedin.com/company/two-blokes-one-business-podcast

-

Adam Powell & Harvey Rivers are the founders of the specialist recruitment agency, Harwell Consulting.

Harwell Consulting are renowned for finding the top talent within the Construction, Accountancy & Finance & Labour Hire sectors.

Their award-winning concierge approach is helping companies attract exceptional talent to their team.

👉Want help finding exceptional talent for your business?

Get in touch with Adam, Harvey, and the team at Harwell Consulting: https://www.harwellconsulting.com.au/

Most people think building a high-performing culture is about fancy mission statements or core values on the wall - but in reality, building a culture is about much more.

It's about the behaviours you demonstrate in critical moments every single day.

In this episode of Two Blokes One Business, we share leadership Insights from Behavioural Scientist and founder of Pragmatic Thinking, Darren Hill

Darren has helped transform some of Australia's biggest brands, including Pepsi, McDonald's, and Suncorp.

Darren shares his fascinating journey from meat worker to behavioural scientist - and reveals why great leaders understand that business is fundamentally human.

Darren unpacks the psychology behind lasting behaviour change, including why willpower alone isn’t enough.

You’ll come away from this episode with practical insights on how to build authentic cultures.

We also explore the rapidly evolving world of AI - with Darren offering a refreshingly balanced perspective on how businesses should approach this transformative technology.

Key moments:

00:02:10 Power of Narrative
00:05:20 Exceptional Behaviour
00:08:40 Story Over Numbers
00:12:20 Live An Escape-Free Life
00:18:30 Environment & Willpower
00:25:30 Luck Meets Determination
00:36:20 Moments Define Culture
00:43:40 Core Values
00:59:30 Timeless Business Principles
01:12:30 AI's Future Impact

Listen now to discover how you can apply these powerful behavioural insights to transform your leadership approach and build a culture that brings out the best in your team.

-

Connect With Darren:

https://www.darrenhill.com.au/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/fromdarrenhill/

-

👉Connect with us

https://www.instagram.com/twoblokesonebusiness
https://www.linkedin.com/company/two-blokes-one-business-podcast

-

Adam Powell & Harvey Rivers are the founders of the specialist recruitment agency, Harwell Consulting.

Harwell Consulting are renowned for finding the top talent within the Construction, Accountancy & Finance & Labour Hire sectors.

Their award-winning concierge approach is helping companies attract exceptional talent to their team.

👉Want help finding exceptional talent for your business?

Get in touch with Adam, Harvey, and the team at Harwell Consulting: https://www.harwellconsulting.com.au/

After experiencing the brutal culture of professional football and building a business from scratch - we've identified exactly what makes A-players different (and why most people never make the cut).

Join us for another episode of Two Blokes One Business as we share the hidden formula behind A-player performance that nobody talks about.

From the brutal lessons learned in professional football to the counterintuitive truth about failure.

We reveal how Olympic-level discipline, ruthless self-ownership, and strategic lifestyle choices create an unfair advantage in business and life.

We also go into the three pillars of A-player status that allow you to unlock your full potential.

Tune in to discover:

✅ The counterintuitive reason top performers embrace discomfort

✅ How routine becomes your superpower… even if you think you hate structure

✅ Why the "everything is your fault" mindset gives you total control over your success

✅Alcohol's impact on performance (including Jack Delosa's stance on drinking and A-player status)

✅ The truth about morning routines - and why 4 AM might be your secret weapon

✅ Why comparison might be secretly sabotaging your success

Key Moments:

00:02:40 - Reported to Queensland Labor Authority
00:08:50 - Lifestyle Habits for Peak Performance
00:13:20 - Mental Health and Physical Exercise Connection
00:19:00 - Pressure and Professional Football Lessons
00:26:10 - Alcohol's Impact on A-Player Performance
00:40:10 - Everything Is Your Fault: Ownership Mindset
00:50:00 - Creating the Right Environment for A-Players
00:57:15 - The Three Pillars of A-Player Success

Hit play now to discover the lifestyle habits, mental frameworks, and environment shifts that separate elite performers from everyone else.

-

👉Connect with us

https://www.instagram.com/twoblokesonebusiness
https://www.linkedin.com/company/two-blokes-one-business-podcast

-

Adam Powell & Harvey Rivers are the founders of the specialist recruitment agency, Harwell Consulting.

Harwell Consulting are renowned for finding the top talent within the Construction, Accountancy & Finance & Labour Hire sectors.

Their award-winning concierge approach is helping companies attract exceptional talent to their team.

👉Want help finding exceptional talent for your business?

Get in touch with Adam, Harvey, and the team at Harwell Consulting: https://www.harwellconsulting.com.au/

There are people out there who’ve quit their job and are earning $30K+ a month with just a laptop and a set of specific skills.

The high-ticket sales industry is creating unprecedented income opportunities for people willing to master specialised remote selling skills.

Special guests and power couple Kris Cochrane and Sharni Campbell join us to reveal how their business helps people transition into this lucrative field - whether they're experienced salespeople or complete beginners looking to escape the traditional 9-5.

This episode provides a breakdown of what high-ticket sales actually involves: selling premium products ($2K-$100K) through online marketing channels to inbound leads.

Kris shares his own journey from fitness business failure to discovering high-ticket sales - where a single phone call could earn him more than 10 hours of personal training work.

Beyond the business model, Kris and Sharni offer invaluable insights on what makes top sales performers different.

They also discuss their unique experience as life AND business partners, including how they structured their company roles to maximise their strengths.

Key moments:

00:00:30 Context Switching Challenge
00:08:00 Playing To Strengths
00:13:30 What Is Remote Sales?
00:18:40 The High-Ticket Sales Lifestyle
00:23:30 Rock Bottom
00:35:20 An Interesting Talent Retention Strategy
00:46:30 Bali Digital Nomads
00:52:10 $75K Monthly Success Story
00:58:40 Top Performer Psychology

Listen now to discover how high-ticket closing is giving people location freedom and income potential that far exceeds most traditional careers - regardless of their current experience level.

-

👉About Kris & Sharni

Sharni Campbell and Kris Cochrane are life and business partners who co-founded Remote Sales Institute and Beyond Closers. Sharni built a six-figure business by 25 and brings 7+ years of hiring experience to match businesses with top closers and help students land remote roles. Kris has sold over $10 million in high-ticket offers, trained 500+ sales pros, and built an 8-figure remote sales team. Together, they help people thrive in remote sales and stand out in today’s market.

-

👉Connect with Sharni & Kris

https://remotesalesinstitute.com/
https://beyondclosers.com/
https://www.instagram.com/kriscochrane/
https://www.instagram.com/sharni_campbell/

-

👉Connect with us

https://www.instagram.com/twoblokesonebusiness
https://www.linkedin.com/company/two-blokes-one-business-podcast

-

Adam Powell & Harvey Rivers are the founders of the specialist recruitment agency, Harwell Consulting.

Harwell Consulting are renowned for finding the top talent within the Construction, Accountancy & Finance & Labour Hire sectors.

Their award-winning concierge approach is helping companies attract exceptional talent to their team.

👉Want help finding exceptional talent for your business?

Get in touch with Adam, Harvey, and the team at Harwell Consulting: https://www.harwellconsulting.com.au/

Behind every successful sale, relationship, and negotiation lies the same fundamental skill that 95% of people have never been taught - structured human communication.

This powerful conversation with Ryan Tuckwood, founder of Swish Sales Coaching, reveals how masterful communication can transform every interaction in your life.

For Ryan, what began as sales training has evolved into something much more profound - a system for human connection that works across all relationships and situations.

Drawing from experiences training everyone from receptionists to CEOs, and insights gained from meeting billionaires on Richard Branson’s Necker Island - he breaks down exactly how to structure conversations for maximum impact.

The episode dives deep into why traditional approaches fail and what actually works, including:

✅ The 10-step "Negotiation Ladder" that transforms ordinary conversations into powerful persuasion opportunities

✅ Why discovery questions must follow a specific sequence to create psychological gaps that motivate action

✅ How "threading value" throughout conversations rather than stacking it at the beginning or end creates natural momentum toward decisions without resistance

✅ Subtle shifts in language that can completely transform how others perceive and respond to you.

Whether you're in a sales-based role, an entrepreneur, or simply want to communicate more effectively with the people in your life - you'll walk away with concrete techniques you can implement immediately.

Key moments:

00:01:38 Communication impacts all life areas
00:03:56 Training evolved beyond sales teams
00:07:35 Life-changing Necker Island experience
00:13:55 Preparation is everything
00:21:37 Discovery questions
00:28:31 Language shifts
00:35:21 Rapport threading
00:43:04 CFO communication techniques
00:49:13 Resolving high-stress conflicts
00:53:56 Lessons from sales legends
00:58:31 No-pitch event vision
01:07:35 The power of regret avoidance

Listen now to discover why mastering these skills can create the ultimate freedom in both business and life.

-

👉About Ryan Tuckwood:

Ryan Tuckwood is recognised as Australia's number 1 sales coach. He’s known for his "Sell With Integrity & Sell Honestly" approach - and has coached thousands of businesses and individuals. Ryan is also a Shark Tank Australia success story, securing investment from 3 Sharks in 2018.

👉Connect With Ryan Tuckwood:

https://www.swishsalescoaching.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-tuckwood/
https://www.instagram.com/ryantuckwoodofficial/

👉Free SWISH Facebook Community For Exclusive Content And Training:

-

👉Connect with us

https://www.instagram.com/twoblokesonebusiness
https://www.linkedin.com/company/two-blokes-one-business-podcast

-

Adam Powell & Harvey Rivers are the founders of the specialist recruitment agency, Harwell Consulting.

Harwell Consulting are renowned for finding the top talent within the Construction, Accountancy & Finance & Labour Hire sectors.

Their award-winning concierge approach is helping companies attract exceptional talent to their team.

👉Want help finding exceptional talent for your business?

Get in touch with Adam, Harvey, and the team at Harwell Consulting: https://www.harwellconsulting.com.au/