It’s refreshing to hear the raw and honest truth about what it really takes to build a successful business. In this episode of The Thriving Business Podcast, host Kate De Jong sits down with serial entrepreneur and systems wizard Eddie Zhang, founder of Zhamatix, to unpack his rollercoaster journey from a disillusioned corporate worker to a five-times business founder.

From selling viral charcoal masks to launching a lean consultancy that “supercharges productivity” for small businesses and SMEs, Eddie shares real stories, raw lessons, and honest truths that every business owner can benefit from. What we loved was his honesty around the business failures he’s made, and how he’s learned from those to create a thriving consulting enterprise here in Subiaco, WA — Zhamatix.

Eddie observed that scaling businesses is tough, especially when technology, people, and processes don’t play nicely together. Many SMEs don’t have in-house expertise to navigate a digital transformation, “leaving them stuck in a cycle of manual tasks, wasted time, and dissatisfied employees and annoyed customers as a result”. And this is where Zhamatix steps in to help businesses implement systems that are “smart, seamless and slick”. They’re practical, innovative and future-proof – “the kind that make a real impact.”

If you’ve ever hit a wall in your entrepreneurial journey, or wondered how to bounce back from failure with more fire and wisdom, this episode can give you some key insights from someone who’s built a successful business from the ground up. We hope you benefit from Eddie’s wisdom and the key lessons he’s learned along the way.

Highlights

Eddie shares his stories of:

• A bold first leap into creative services straight out of school in Singapore.
• Building custom fishing rods for niche Aussie markets.
• Riding the e-commerce wave with viral beauty products.
• The rise (and fall) of Fidgety Australia.
• The birth of Zhamatix, a consultancy that’s breaking the rules in the best way.

Hard Lessons That Hit Home
From failed partnerships and knockoff competitors to ego clashes and emotional decision-making, Eddie doesn’t hold back on the mistakes he made—and the growth that came from them.

What Makes Matics Different
Eddie explains how his consultancy strips out the red tape to deliver fast, functional, and fun process improvements for organisations craving real change.

What’s Next
Eddie teases not one—but three—new projects in the pipeline, including a product-based business, a subscription model, and a secret fashion venture. Did we mention he’s a “serial entrepreneur”?!

To learn more about Zhamatix, go to https://www.zhamatix.com/

Listen now. Learn more. Grow faster!

Connect with the Hosts:

Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business

Website: https://katedejong.com/

Instagram: katedejong.inspiredbusiness

Email: kate@katedejong.com

Sam Morris | The Business Implementor

Website: https://thebusinessimplementor.com/

Instagram: sammorris.businesscoach

Email: sam@thebusinessimplementor.com

• Global credibility expert and executive coach
• Two-time TEDx speaker
• Author of 65+ books
• Publisher of 750+ books through four different publishing companies
• Has started 20+ companies
• Former board member of a NASDAQ firm
• 38 years in Silicon Valley, 36 years married, father to a 26-year-old son

• Mitchell views books as valuable assets that open doors for speaking, consulting, and coaching
• Books serve three purposes:
  1. A thought leadership piece (even if people don't read it)
  2. A way for clients to understand your step-by-step process
  3. Forces you to think about the world differently

• After seeing book publishing becoming democratised, Mitchell explored what authors really wanted: Credibility
• Conducted interviews with 500 thought leaders between 2019-2020 on credibility
• Created a new definition: "Credibility is the quality in which you're trusted, known, and liked"
• Identified 10 values of credibility, with integrity being the only value that appears twice
  • External integrity: what you say to the world
  • Internal integrity: how you actually act

• Having clarity about who you serve and how you help them is crucial for effective marketing
• A well-articulated CPOP helps you stand out and attract the right clients
• Consistency in showing up with credibility builds trust and reputation
• Focus on building authentic connections rather than chasing numbers
• Accountability partners help ensure you stay focused on your purpose

• Mitchell's website: mitchelllevy.com
• Social Compliment: socialcompliment.com
• Mitchell's TEDx talk: "We're Losing Our Humanity, I'm Tired of Watching It Happen"

In our latest episode of the Thriving Business Podcast, Kate was honoured to sit down with James Bryden, Emotional Intelligence (EQ) expert and creator of the ‘Wisdumb’ Model. In our humble opinion, ‘Wisdumb’ is the greatest gift you can give yourself, your business and the people in your life — and in this episode we discuss how you can cultivate it.

After a career as a footballer, eventually becoming Head Coach of an Indonesian soccer team and reaching ‘celebrity status’ in South East Asia, James then went on to become a business owner. After experiencing a devastating bankruptcy, James had to dig deep to learn more about himself and how to develop and manage others. He embarked on a mission to understand the role of self-awareness and emotional intelligence in developing people, both individually and in team environments, to create thriving workplace cultures, develop and retain good employees, and boost overall productivity and business profitability.

James shares some great nuggest of wisdom that we know you’ll enjoy! If you want to achieve higher levels of fulfilment and success in business and life, don’t miss this episode.

Highlights:

• A dive into James' background and his lifelong learning journey—from his struggles in school to becoming a leader in Emotional Intelligence (EQ).
• James shares the power of the Harrison Assessment and how it’s helped countless businesses to better understand their teams and unlock staff potential.
• Understanding how individuals display different behaviours in the workplace that impact team dynamics and productivity.
• Why a positive workplace culture is crucial for employee retention and overall business success, and the key elements to creating psychological safety so all can thrive.
• James reveals his new "WisDumb Model" and its incredible potential in reshaping business culture.
• The key to fostering loyalty and reducing turnover in today’s competitive work environment.
  
  
  

To get a copy of James’ eBook THE WISDUMB WAY, go to this link: https://productivitycoach.com.au/ebook/the-wisdumb-way/

If you found today’s episode insightful, don’t forget to subscribe to the Thriving Business Podcast so you never miss an episode!

Want to hear more from James? Drop us a comment or leave a review with your thoughts. Tune in now!