In this roundtable discussion episode of Adversity To Prosperity, Neale Lewis and I were joined by systems and processes experts from manufacturing and construction to talk about how they use effective systems and processes to build highly efficient, productive and lean businesses...For this mini-series I&apos;ve teamed up with business coach extraordinaire and scaleup expert, Neale Lewis and we&apos;ll be tackling the many challenges for business owners and entrepreneurs brought about by the Coronavirus.Neale has vast business experience, working alongside some of the top business minds in the world such as Verne Harnish, working with a variety of high performance business leaders, executives and entrepreneurs and going in deep behind the scenes of multi-million pound businesses across a wide variety of sectors, helping them to achieve their most ambitious big hairy audacious goals.Neale shares PLENTY of actionable, practical and extremely sound business strategies, tactics and insights that could see you coming out of the other end of this approaching storm in a stronger position.So, get your pen and paper or your Evernote ready and let&apos;s dive in!

The Truth About Business

Adversity To Prosperity - Episode #7 Manufacturing & Construction Special

Welcome to episode 43 and in this week’s brilliant business interview you’ll discover the following three business insights; 1) Which famous Rocky quote is just of true of business as it is of boxing.2) Why a trade like bricklaying can literally take you anywhere in the world if you want it.3) And why it’s not always about what a successful business can do for you, but what it enables you to do for others.In today’s episode, I talk business with Ian Hodgkinson.After being inspired by his father in his younger years, Ian finished school at 15 and wasted no time in getting involved in the building trade with aspirations of one day being able to build his own house.For the next two years he immersed himself in his work, perfecting his skills and mastering his craft when at the age of 18, as well as being one of the youngest ever lecturers at South East Derbyshire College, he decided to go it alone and became a self-employed builder.Over the next three decades, Ian and his team worked hard to build an incredibly successful business which is on track to build 180 houses this year, has many impressive one-off projects under its belt, has been a regular feature on reality TV shows like DIY SOS and scrap kings and has also been involved in some fantastic charity projects that have made a real difference to the community. As Ian so poetically puts it, this is the story of the bricklayer who got to meet the Queen.This was another brilliant interview with an inspirational entrepreneur who demonstrates what can happen when you work hard, have a positive attitude and take full advantage of the opportunities that life presents. You know, success leaves footprints...So, let’s take a walk with a businessman that will leave a lasting legacy not just with the houses he builds, but with the opportunities he creates for the people within his business and the communities he serves – Ian Hodgkinson.

T.A.B #43 Ian Hodgkinson - It's Not About How Hard You Hit. But How Much You Can Get Hit & Keep Moving Forward.

In this episode of Advertsity To Prosperity, Neale and I continue our conversation around how businesses and entrepreneurs can make the most of the lockdown. This week we talk all things systems and processes as Neale and I talk about the benefits of having your business running off the back of a series of slick, efficient and well crafted systems and processes to bring about extraordinary results and super consistency....For this mini-series I&apos;ve teamed up with business coach extraordinaire and scaleup expert, Neale Lewis and we&apos;ll be tackling the many challenges for business owners and entrepreneurs brought about by the Coronavirus.Neale has vast business experience, working alongside some of the top business minds in the world such as Verne Harnish, working with a variety of high performance business leaders, executives and entrepreneurs and going in deep behind the scenes of multi-million pound businesses across a wide variety of sectors, helping them to achieve their most ambitious big hairy audacious goals.Neale shares PLENTY of actionable, practical and extremely sound business strategies, tactics and insights that could see you coming out of the other end of this approaching storm in a stronger position.So, get your pen and paper or your Evernote ready and let&apos;s dive in!

Adversity To Prosperity - Episode #6 - Systems & Processes With Neale Lewis

Welcome to episode 41 and in this week’s brilliant business interview you’ll discover the following three leadership and success insights;1) A veteran tip that will lead to more productive and engaged 1-2-1’s with your team2) Why businesses should talk regularly to their teams about their professional, personal and financial goals. 3) Why hiring from within the business isn’t always the right thing to do when you’re in growth mode.So, stay tuned for all of that and so much more on this week’s episode of the truth about business!In today’s episode, I talk business and leadership lessons with Dwight Strayer.Dwight had a passion for computers from a young age and followed his love for IT into his first employed role where he joined as employee number four at a company which bought and resold used computer hardware.It wasn’t long before he was asked to be a part of a five man team to launch a small IT services business called Service Express, where he joined the business as one of their very first field service engineers. Fast forward 32 years and Dwight is now the Chief Operations Officer of a thriving IT business by the name of service express, having been instrumental in helping the organisation to achieve huge success over the years being recognised as one of the very best in the industry with a passionate, engaged team of over 400 people and an expected turnover this year of more $150,000,000!This was a brilliant interview with a passionate, ambitious and inspiring business leader who really delivers the playbook on how to carve yourself a super successful career and how to become an extraordinary leader of people who will give it everything they’ve got and go the extra mile.Dwight really epitomises what can happen when you’re prepared to put in the work and not care who gets the credit for it whilst also having a deep-rooted passion for helping others to be all they can be in life You know, success leaves footprints...So, let’s take a walk with the brilliant COO and passionate leader of service express, Dwight Strayer.

T.A.B #41 Dwight Strayer - You Can Have Everything You Want In Life If You'll Just Help Other People Get What They Want

For this special episode of Adversity To Prosperity, and a real highlight of my podcasting journey so far, once again I team up with scale-up expert and high growth business coach Neale Lewis to provide great content and thought provoking ideas to help entrepreneurs, leaders and business owners to successfully make it through the lockdown.This week, I was truly humbled to also be joined by seven briliant entrepreneurs who have all featured as guests on "The Truth About Business" and they once again joined me to talk candidly about their own businesses and provide some amazing insights to help the wider business community. With such a fantastic calibre and esteemed group of business owners representing a variety of industries and coming in all shapes and sizes, I knew that this was going to be a rountable discussion that packed a punch - but the results far outweighed my own high expectations.For anybody who is feeling the pinch of the lockdown and is struggling to see how they can make it through the other side, this conversation right here is what you need to hear. I want to give a massive "thank you" to this week&apos;s guests including my co-host Neale Lewis who has been instrumental in putting this series together.And if you enjoy, please give these guys and gals a follow and drop them a note to let them know what you thought!So, joining us on this one was:Sean Price @ Velez Managed ServicesJim Thorp @ JT EthosFrancesca Tricarico @ Future Cloud AccountingLee Marples @ Think3Stephen Goddard & Philip Brooks-Stevenson @ KuKu ConnectDean Jackson @ HUUB DesignKevin Huffington @ Central Health NetworkThe main topics we cover in this hour long mastermind include what other businesses have done to deal with the lockdown so far, what they&apos;re plans are to see out the next few weeks and how they&apos;re going to gear up for when the restrictions are lifted and we can get back to business as usual.So, get your pen and paper ready or your Evernote fired up, click play below and let&apos;s dive in!

Adversity To Prosperity - Episode #5 Entrepreneur Roundtable

In this week’s episode of The Truth About Business, I was joined by Neale Lewis and a panel of outstanding charity experts from seven brilliant organisations to discuss the challenges and opportunities that are faced by non-profit enterprises across the UK and beyond...This is the first time I&apos;ve published a "charity" episode having focused so far on traditional "for-profit" businesses. But as you&apos;ll discover from this brilliant interview with a panel of passionate representatives, they are the very definition of "entrepreneurs".Resourcefulness, creativity and creating income from nothing is what our guests on this episode have to deal with on a daily basis, and that was before they were hit by the huge challenges and uncertainty brought about about by the lockdown.The guests featured on this week&apos;s show are:Neale Lewis of Neale Lewis AssociatesWill Turner at Derby County Community TrustTracy Harrison at Safe & SoundScott Lea at Treetops HospiceAndrew Jackson at Upbeat CommunitiesRachel Hayward at Annabel&apos;s AngelsPhil Leigh at Faiths4ChangeMatt Thomas at Brawl For A CauseThis was a brilliant roundtable discussion where we covered many topics with that hopes that other charities out there will be able to take note of some useful ideas, mindsets and thoughts to help them get through the next few weeks and come back from the lockdown in the strongest possible position - many of which could easily crossover into the traditional "businesses" arena.So, click play and get ready for a special episode of "The Truth About Business"...

T.A.B #39 Charity Roundtable – How Charities Can Adapt To Survive The Lockdown With A Special Panel Of Non-Profit Experts

In this episode of Advertsity To Prosperity, Neale and I continue our conversation around how businesses and entrepreneurs can make the most of the lockdown. This week we talk about what businesses and entrepreneurs can be doing right now to give themselves the best possible chance of coming out of this situation stronger than ever by really taking a deep dive in to the marketing materials and sales processes you have (or don&apos;t!)For this mini-series I&apos;ve teamed up with business coach extraordinaire and scaleup expert, Neale Lewis and we&apos;ll be tackling the many challenges for business owners and entrepreneurs brought about by the Coronavirus.Neale has vast business experience, working alongside some of the top business minds in the world such as Verne Harnish, working with a variety of high performance business leaders, executives and entrepreneurs and going in deep behind the scenes of multi-million pound businesses across a wide variety of sectors, helping them to achieve their most ambitious big hairy audacious goals.In this third episode, we take a look at more key areas that business owners should be focusing their attention on as we get settled in to the UK "lockdown" and really begin to feel the effects of a drastic drop in business activity.Neale shares PLENTY of actionable, practical and extremely sound business strategies, tactics and insights that could see you coming out of the other end of this approaching storm in a stronger position.So, get your pen and paper or your Evernote ready and let&apos;s dive in!

Adversity To Prosperity - Episode #4 With Neale Lewis

Welcome to episode #37 and in this week’s brilliant business interview you’ll discover the following three golden entrepreneurial insights;1) Why daring to dream and believing that nothing is impossible unlocks a whole new level of possibility and opportunity.2) The importance of making calculated, data backed decisions and not just going with your gut.3) The downsides of working with the wrong venture capital partners and the devastating effect it can have on your business...In today’s episode, I talk business with Graham MulhollandGraham started his first business at the age of 23 after he had just missed out on qualifying for the Olympic Canoeing Team.Armed with nothing but a phone and a huge amount of self-belief, Graham stayed true to the high performance disciplines from the world of elite sport that had been drilled into him over the prior years and hit the ground running, operating from his parent&apos;s house where he was still living at the time.Graham and his team grew EPM Technology to impressive heights, supplying specialist composite materials to three quarters of Formula One teams and being involved in amazing projects like the Aston Martin DBS for Daniel Craig in Casino Royale and building the world’s largest free standing LED screen for a U2 world tour.But then in 2017, things took a turn for the unexpected and Graham was escorted off the premises of the business that he had poured his heart and soul into by security, for what he expected would be permanently.But in a further twist of events, two years later Graham managed to take back control, completely turned around what had become a failing business and the team at what is now the Mulholland Group is daring to dream again with some mind-blowing projects underway which could be absolute game-changers for the region.This was another brilliant, candid interview with a truly inspirational entrepreneur who doesn’t hold back and shows what you can achieve when you truly believe that anything is possible and you dare to dream BIG.You know, success leaves footprints...So, let’s take a walk with a super successful entrepreneur and all round inspiration, Graham Mulholland!Click "play" and get ready for "The Truth About Business"......

T.A.B #37 Graham Mulholland - Why We Should All Dare To Dream & Understand That Nothing Is Impossible.

In this episode of Advertsity To Prosperity, Neale and I continue our conversation around how businesses and entrepreneurs can make the most of the lockdown. This week we cover Neale&apos;s SWT exercise, we share some brilliant examples of companies that have pivoted and how we all have a great opportunity to "Spring Clean" our businesses - from marketing strategy to sales scripts. For this mini-series I&apos;ve teamed up with business coach extraordinaire and scaleup expert, Neale Lewis and we&apos;ll be tackling the many challenges for business owners and entrepreneurs brought about by the Coronavirus.Neale has vast business experience, working alongside some of the top business minds in the world such as Verne Harnish, working with a variety of high performance business leaders, executives and entrepreneurs and going in deep behind the scenes of multi-million pound businesses across a wide variety of sectors, helping them to achieve their most ambitious big hairy audacious goals.In this third episode, we take a look at more key areas that business owners should be focusing their attention on as we get settled in to the UK "lockdown" and really begin to feel the effects of a drastic drop in business activity.Neale shares PLENTY of actionable, practical and extremely sound business strategies, tactics and insights that could see you coming out of the other end of this approaching storm in a stronger position.So, get your pen and paper or your Evernote ready and let&apos;s dive in!

Adversity To Prosperity - Episode #3 With Neale Lewis

Welcome to episode #35 and in this week’s brilliant business interview you’ll discover the following three golden entrepreneurial insights;1) How to break into a fiercely competitive global market as a newcomer even with all the odds seemingly stacked against you.2) Why taking a risk and hiring people for the business you want to become can be a total game changer and spark exponential growth. 3) The dangers of spreading yourself too thin and why you should always play to your strengths. So, stay tuned for all of that and so much more on this week’s episode of the truth about business!In today’s episode, I talk business with Dean Jackson.Dean’s first venture into entrepreneurship, and a sign of things to come, was at the age of 19 when he followed his passion and together with a business partner opened The Derby Runner, a specialist running shop which although Dean left a couple of years later, is still going strong today.In today’s episode, I talk business with Dean Jackson.Dean’s first venture into entrepreneurship and a sign of things to come was at the age of 19 when he followed his passion and together with a business partner opened the Derby runner, a specialist running shop which although Dean left after a couple of years later, is still going strong today.Dean then spent the next three decades honing his craft, working inside the performance and sport trade. Working alongside some of the finest brands on the planet and meeting some of the world’s best athletes, Dean built for himself an incredible list of contacts and a deep knowledge of the industry that few others possessed.When he parted ways from his last employed position, he decided that it was time to play to his strengths. Out of sheer desperation to be able to pay the mortgage and provide for his family, he stacked as many of the odds in his favour as he could and launched a brand-new sportswear brand in a fiercely competitive market with huge marketing budgets, from his garage. That brand was HUUB and since turning over half a million pounds in his first 9 months of trading, Dean and his team have built the business into a worldwide brand that is synonymous with a variety of performance sports and boasts global sporting icons such as the Brownlee bothers, Henri Schoeman and Ricahrd Varga amongst its huge roster of brand ambassadors.This was another brilliant, candid interview with a truly inspirational entrepreneur who shows that if you have a dream and you have the drive, obsession and determination to make it happen, anything is possible. You know, success leaves footprints...So, let’s take a walk with a true legend of Derby business, a high performance entrepreneur and athlete himself and owner of HUUB, Dean Jackson. Click play and get ready for The Truth About Business...

T.A.B #35 Dean Jackson - How To Build An Elite, Global Sports & Performance Brand From Your Garage.

For this mini-series I&apos;ve teamed up with business coach extraordinaire and scaleup expert, Neale Lewis and we&apos;ll be tackling the many challenges for business owners and entrepreneurs brought about by the Coronavirus.Neale has vast business experience, working alongside some of the top business minds in the world such as Verne Harnish, working with a variety of high performance business leaders, executives and entrepreneurs and going in deep behind the scenes of multi-million pound businesses across a wide variety of sectors, helping them to achieve their most ambitious big hairy audacious goals.In this second episode, we take a look at two more key areas that business owners should be focusing their attention on as we get settled in to the UK "lockdown" and really begin to feel the effects of a drastic drop in business activity.Neale shares PLENTY of actionable, practical and extremely sound business strategies, tactics and insights that could see you coming out of the other end of this approaching storm in a stronger position.So, get your pen and paper or your Evernote ready and let&apos;s dive in!

Adversity To Prosperity - Episode #2 With Neale Lewis

Welcome to episode #34 and in this week’s brilliant business interview you’ll discover the following three entrepreneurial insights;1) Why having strong competition for a new product or service can be a benefit.2) How using the power of FOMO (fear of missing out) can help to drive sales.3) The importance of working on the right thing at the right time in your business and how to find it.So, stay tuned for all of that and so much more on this week’s episode of the truth about business! In today’s episode, I talk business with Bertie Cordingley.Bertie’s first venture into the world of entrepreneurship was when he was just fourteen years old. Armed with a bucket and sponge, he took to the streets and cleaned cars. After a few years of travelling the world and experiencing both sides of the self-employed and employed coin through a variety of roles, it was on a car journey to an interview that he would come up with an idea that would change the rest of his life.It took him two years to turn that idea into reality and finally in 2006 after giving up everything to follow his dream, Bertie launched one of the very first takeaway ordering platforms in the UK. It’s name, was fillmybelly. Over the next seven years, through sheer hard-work, determination and an unwavering belief in his concept, Bertie and the team grew fillmybelly into the third biggest takeaway site in the UK until it was acquired by Just Eat where he occupied key senior positions for three years.Since then, Bertie has kept himself busy by becoming an Angel investor, consulting, managing and mentoring many other entrepreneurs to build successful businesses.This was another brilliant interview with an inspirational entrepreneur who shares an honest look behind the scenes of what it really takes to build a successful business and what can happen when you decide to give up everything to follow your dreams.You know, success leaves footprints...So, let’s take a walk with a born entrepreneur and industry revolutioniser, Bertie Cordingley. Click play and get ready for "The Truth About Business"!...

T.A.B #34 Bertie Cordingley - Tell Everyone About Your Business, Be Yourself And Don't Be Afraid To Fail.

For this mini-series I&apos;ve teamed up with business coach extraordinaire and scaleup expert, Neale Lewis and we&apos;ll be tackling the many challenges for business owners and entrepreneurs brought about by the Coronavirus.Neale has vast business experience, working alongside some of the top business minds in the world such as Verne Harnish, working with a variety of high performance business leaders, executives and entrepreneurs and going in deep behind the scenes of multi-million pound businesses across a wide variety of sectors, helping them to achieve their most ambitious big hairy audacious goals.In this first episode, we take a look at the two key areas that business owners should be focusing their attention on as we get used to the UK "lockdown" and really begin to feel the effects of a drastic drop in business activity.Neale shares PLENTY of actionable, practical and extremely sound business strategies, tactics and insights that could see you coming out of the other end of this approaching storm in a stronger position.So, get your pen and paper or your Evernote ready and let&apos;s dive in!

Adversity To Prosperity - Episode #1 With Neale Lewis

Welcome to episode 32 and in this week’s brilliant business interview you’ll discover the following three entrepreneurial insights;1) Why, with the right attitude and mindset, devastating events can turn out to be blessings in disguise – even if it doesn’t feel like it at the time.2) The power of having honest conversations with your business partners and what can happen if you let things fester and go unsaid.3) The importance of crafting time to work on your own business, as well as your clients’.So, stay tuned for all of that and so much more on this week’s episode of the truth about business!In today’s episode, I talk business with the four entrepreneurs at Think3.After all four had built a great relationship working together in a previous business, they were all faced with the challenge of being made redundant at the same time as the company went into administration.Determined not to let that get the better of them and with a total belief in their own ability, they decided to unite, took the plunge and launched a business together. That Business is Think3, a forward-thinking creative design agency in Derby and the team has just celebrated its one year anniversary. After a brilliant first year of being in business, they’ve not only broken through that initial 12 month barrier where 20% of new businesses fail, they’ve done it in style – doubling the size of the team and continuing to grow from strength to strength.But it’s not been without it’s challenges, both as individuals and as a team.In this episode, we take a fresh and really candid look into what it’s like being in business not just for the first time, but as a group of four friends who decided to risk it all and become the masters of their own destiny. This interview was recorded before the business community had really started to feel the impact of the Corona virus. With many difficult decisions currently being made and so many worlds being turned upside-down, this episode is a brilliant, real-life example of turning a negative situation into a huge opportunity that turns out to be a blessing in disguise.You know, success leaves footprints...So, let’s take a walk with four passionate, enthusiastic and inspiring business owners - this is the story of Think3.Click "play" and get ready for "The Truth About Business"......

T.A.B #32 Think3 - Turning A Devastating Situation Into A Once-In-A-Lifetime Opportunity & Never Looking Back.

Welcome to episode 31 and in this week’s brilliant business interview you’ll discover the following three entrepreneurial insights;1) The power of focusing on one social media platform when building your presence, but the risks that also come with putting all of your eggs in one basket.2) The consequences of being an extremely driven entrepreneur and why taking some time out to reflect, refocus and relaunch is essential.3) Why you must be “obsessed” to build a great brand and business.So, stay tuned for all of that and so much more on this week’s episode of the truth about business!In today’s episode, I talk business with Wade Smith.After not really knowing in which direction he wanted to take his life, Wade found himself on a marketing apprenticeship where he earned just enough money to get by.Desperate to be able to provide for himself and his partner Megan, they borrowed £10 from their Grandad to make a batch of 12 doughnuts that they sold to a friend through Facebook for £10.And the rest, as they say, is history.Today, Doughnotts has become a confectionary sensation that has swept through the Midlands, with four stunning locations and a social media presence of over 100,000 followers. Wade and Megan have turned that borrowed £10 into a £1.6 million business empire and this is the story of how it all began.This was an honest, raw and real insider look into what it takes to build a successful business including all of the trappings that come with it, but also the sacrifices, hardships and unexpected challenges that the team at Doughnotts have battled through to become the business they are todayYou know, success leaves footprints...So, let’s take a walk with the Co-founder of Doughnotts and master baker extraordinaire, Wade Smith.Click play and get ready for "The Truth About Business!"

T.A.B #31 Wade Smith - Work Hard, Prepare To Make Sacrifices And Have A Great Story To Share.

Through my blog and podcast, I interview real-life business champions and entrepreneurs to share their experiences, failures, triumphs, setbacks, habits and tactics so that you can stay inspired, motivated and fast-track your own business growth! Success leaves footprints, let's take a walk...

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The Truth About Business

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