Episode Details

Selling and managing money are non-negotiable skills for business growth—and Joyce’s story is proof that you can learn to be comfortable with both.

If you’ve ever hesitated to ask for money, struggled with pricing, or felt uncertain about managing your business finances, this episode is for you.

Today on Money Secrets, we’re joined by Joyce Watts, founder of Tot Hot or Not and Bright Smart, and a digital powerhouse in the media and marketing world. Joyce has built Melbourne and Victoria’s biggest family travel site while also running a successful digital consultancy.

In this conversation, Joyce opens up about her journey from sole trader to company owner, how she learned to embrace financial clarity, and the challenges of selling—even when she knows her work delivers real value. She shares the mindset shifts that helped her scale, the power of clear financial goals, and why selling is a skill every business owner needs to master (even if it feels icky at first).

If you’ve ever put off sales calls, avoided looking at your numbers, or questioned how to scale your income, Joyce’s story will show you that clarity and confidence in money change everything. 

Hit play now—because the more we talk about money, the easier it gets. 🎧

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We’ve come so far as a society in many ways, but money is one of the areas where progress hasn’t been enough. If we want to tip the scales in favour of marginalised people, it starts with understanding the secret: money in small business.

In this podcast, Money Secrets, host Fiona (Fi) Johnston—Chartered Accountant, small business advocate, and impact enthusiast—dives into the conversations we need to have about money. The secrets that once stayed behind closed doors (or on the golf course) are finally out in the open.

Fi’s mission? To get more money into the hands of good people, like you. She believes small businesses have the power to change the world, and the key to making a bigger impact is to make—and manage—more money.

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 Key Learnings from Joyce’s Story

• Money Mindset Matters: Joyce always talked about money but didn’t realise the impact of her own money story until she dug deeper. Recognising it gave her clarity—not just in business, but in life.

• Revenue vs. Take-Home Pay: Moving from a sole trader to a company meant a complete shift in how Joyce managed her money and paid herself. Understanding how to sustain a business while paying yourself well is key to long-term success.

• Sales Calls Feel Icky—But They’re Necessary: Even for someone as confident as Joyce, making sales calls can feel uncomfortable. But pushing through that discomfort brings results.

• Clarity Creates Confidence: Knowing where money is coming in and where it’s going out has completely changed Joyce’s relationship with finances—both in business and at home.

• Money Is Just an Exchange of Value: Joyce’s biggest mindset shift? Money isn’t emotional—it’s simply an exchange for the work and value you provide.
  
  

Joyce from Tot Hot or Not and Bright Smart:

Joyce’s passion (and mission in life) is to help your family have more fun together! Welcome to TOT: HOT OR NOT, Melbourne’s biggest family travel blog with ideas and inspiration to help you