The Quiet Operator

Mark didn't plan on building a digital agency. A back injury pushed him into it.Forced away from traditional work and stuck at home with a laptop, he stumbled into Google Ads. What started as a way to make a living became the foundation of Zen10, a digital agency he has spent more than a decade building.Today, Zen10 operates on two fronts: serving direct clients while also running a wholesale division that delivers Google Ads and Meta campaign management for agencies across Australia.Alongside his business partner Dylan, Mark has maintained a true 50/50 partnership for more than fifteen years without a major conflict, a rarity in business.But the biggest challenge of his career may be unfolding right now.The rise of AI is rapidly changing the very services agencies like his were built on. While it creates efficiencies inside his business, it also puts powerful tools directly into the hands of clients. Websites can now be built in minutes, campaign management is becoming increasingly automated, and much of the manual work marketers once charged for is disappearing.In this conversation, we unpack how Zen10's wholesale model works, the lessons from a fifteen-year business partnership, and why Mark is actively deploying AI agents inside his own company with the goal of making parts of his own role redundant within the next three months.

In just a few years, Shaun went from cabinet maker to property developer. Since then, he's taken what he's learned and built Property Portfolio Solutions, helping everyday investors use duplex developments to grow their wealth.We get into how the duplex model works, why banks are often willing to back it, and how developers can create equity throughout the process. Shaun also shares the mistakes he sees investors make when they try to tackle developments on their own.We talk about dealing with councils, builders and approvals across different states. We also cover what it's been like running the business solo after his accountant business partner retired, and why the right people around you can make or break a development project.

In this short clip, Shaun explains why the profitability of a development often comes down to the skill and experience of the person running it. The same project can be highly profitable in the right hands, or lose money in the wrong ones.

Elena Fensom started in the finance at 19 years of age. Now almost 2 decades later, she's the powerhouse behind Babo Finance.In this episode of The Quiet Operator, Elena shares the journey from employee to business owner, building and leading a team, the realities of scaling a service business, and the burnout that forced her to completely rethink the way she worked.We discuss building systems and processes, managing offshore staff, creating a culture that delivers exceptional client experiences, balancing business ownership with raising a young family, and why many business owners wait too long to ask for help.One of the most powerful parts of this conversation is Elena's honesty about burnout, the warning signs she ignored, and the lessons she learned during recovery.If you're a business owner, entrepreneur, mortgage broker or anyone trying to balance growth, family and wellbeing, there's a lot to take away from this conversation.🎙️ The Quiet OperatorReal conversations with people quietly building businesses, creating opportunities and navigating the realities of entrepreneurship.

He couldn't afford petrol to get to work. He showed up anyway.Yehya Chakouf who started his apprenticeship as an auto electrician on $300 a week, worked until midnight doing jobs on the side, and bought his first property at 22, on a $21.50 an hour wage. Today he runs his own auto electrical business specialising in heavy vehicles, mobile cranes and commercial fleet and owns three investment properties before the age of 30.No wealthy family behind him. No head start. Just hard work, delayed gratification and a mindset that most people twice his age haven't figured out yet.In this episode of The Quiet Operator podcast, Nathan sits down with Yehya to unpack how he got here, and what young Australians who want to build wealth can learn from his story.They cover:→ How a random TAFE placement turned into a career and then a business→ Why specialising in one niche — heavy vehicles and cranes — changed everything→ What it actually feels like to work 20 hour days as an apprentice→ How he saved a deposit on $21.50 an hour when everyone said it was impossible→ Why trading time for money will never build real wealth→ The mindset shift that separates people who get ahead from those who don't→ What it's like to get called out at midnight to fix a broken down truck→ Why working for yourself can pay three times more than staying on wages→ His next move — employees, growth and building the business furtherThis one is for anyone grinding through the early years and wondering if it's worth it.It is. This episode proves it.🔔 Subscribe for more conversations with real operators building real businesses.

Only 1 in 3 businesses listed for sale actually sell. So what separates the ones that do?In this episode of The Quiet Operator podcast, Nathan sits down with Paul Smith to unpack the full process of buying and selling a business from the point of view of a business broker.Paul brings 10 years of experience as a broker, plus his own journey as a business owner, giving him a rare perspective from both sides of the table.They cover:→ Why most businesses fail to sell (and what to do about it)→ The biggest mistake sellers make before going to market→ Why you should NEVER tell your staff you're selling until contracts are signed→ How financials can make or break a deal→ The truth about business valuation — and why buyers won't pay for potential→ What makes a business actually sellable vs. just a job with your name on it→ How to prepare your business for sale 12–24 months in advance→ The industries worth buying into right nowWhether you're thinking about selling, looking to buy, or just want to build a business that's actually worth something one day this episode is essential listening.

In this episode of The Quiet Operator Podcast, Nathan Massie sits down with Matt Klein to learn about asset finance broking and why one of the most overlooked but highly profitable industries in the finance world.Matt shares his journey from working blue-collar jobs as a removalist and forklift driver to building a successful business financing trucks, heavy machinery, agricultural equipment, and commercial assets for growing Australian businesses.The conversation dives into:What asset finance brokers actually doHow referral-based businesses scaleWhy relationships matter more than marketingGoing from blue collar to self-employedBuilding trust with accountants & mortgage brokersHigh-margin service businessesLifestyle flexibility & working remotelyMatt also explains how strong communication, transparency, and long-term thinking have helped him build a thriving referral network and recurring client base, all without relying on flashy marketing or expensive offices.If you're interested in business, finance, entrepreneurship, sales, networking, or creating more freedom through a service-based business, this episode provides a practical look into an industry most people never hear about.

In this episode of The Quiet Operator Podcast, Nathan Massie sits down with Krish Amin, founder and director of Arrow Property, to discuss what it really takes to build a modern property management business in your 20s.Krish shares how he transitioned from employee to business owner, why traditional property management models are falling behind, and how technology, systems, and accountability are changing the experience for landlords and tenants alike.The conversation dives into:Building a business youngProperty management behind the scenesMulti-tenancy and rooming house investingRental guarantees and “skin in the game”The stress of entrepreneurshipTime freedom vs employmentWhy adaptability matters more than experienceLessons from managing landlords, tenants, and teamsAdvice for young people wanting to start a businessIf you’re interested in property, entrepreneurship, investing, or building freedom through business, this episode delivers practical insights and real-world experience from someone building fast in a competitive industry.