 |
Business By The BayAuthor: Ajay Saini
San Francisco Bay Area has given the world some of the greatest business success stories. Business By The Bay is established to share the wisdom and experience of the business leaders. The purpose is to talk about challenges and possible solutions that will help business owners to get better. The show is sponsored by Payroll Vault. Payroll Vault is a boutique-style local payroll service provider for small businesses. Payroll Vault fully handles the payroll tasks and take over complex payroll activity from the business owners so that they can focus on what they do the best running their companies. Language: en-us Genres: Business, Management Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
Listen Now...
Finding your voice in business with John Maybury
Episode 13
Thursday, 19 February, 2026
John Maybury, a New Zealand–based communication coach and former radio broadcaster who now helps small business owners in New Zealand and the U.S. speak with clarity, confidence, and impact.John shares his deeply personal journey from growing up around entertainers and dreaming of a career in broadcasting, to developing a severe stutter at age 11 that shook his confidence. Through years of theater, voice training, and persistence, he overcame his stutter and eventually worked for a decade in radio as an announcer, voice artist, and newsreader. His experience shaped his mission: to help others find their voice, because he had to find his.The conversation explores a key challenge many small business owners face: they struggle to clearly articulate the problems they solve. John notes that most business owners cannot succinctly describe their value in a way that resonates. He emphasizes that effective communication starts with identifying specific client problems, stated simply and clearly, and then sharing short, outcome-focused success stories. Instead of explaining “how” they fix problems, business owners should focus on the results they deliver.John outlines three core content pillars for service-based businesses:Personal stories to build connection and trust.Client success stories to demonstrate proven results.Educational insights to show depth of expertise.He explains that people buy from people, especially in service businesses. So it is essential to build “know, like, and trust” with people.The discussion also covers practical growth tools for small business owners: public speaking, video content, and podcasts. John suggests that podcasts can be used strategically, not necessarily to build a massive audience, but as a relationship-building tool by interviewing ideal clients.When hiring a communication coach, John advises business owners to look beyond credentials and focus on fit. Follow potential coaches online, observe their style, and schedule conversations. Results matter, but so does connection.John describes his coaching approach as authentic, direct, and fun. He uses baseline assessments, focuses on the biggest areas for improvement, and emphasizes practice, rehearsal, and storytelling over technical jargon.The key takeaway: Confidence comes from doing. Clear messaging drives conversions. And communication, when done well, becomes a powerful growth engine for small businesses.
