Ambitious Lifestyle Business podcast

In today's episode we are joined by David Aggiss and Tom Boulden of Three Sixty Mortgages who are based in Plymouth. During this podcast we discuss, priorities making them and keeping them, how to obtain and maintain healthy business partnerships, what happens when someone wants to exit a partnership, shareholders, and much more. For links to everything we talk about, including the video recording of the episode and transcription of everything we talked about, head over to the show notes at bigidea.co.uk/podcast. And to watch the LIVE recording of each episode of the Ambitious. Lifestyle. Business. Podcast, join our Facebook Group for FREE - you can then watch our ugly mugs in glorious technicolour every month, as well as get BONUS in-between-isodes, and direct access to both of us to ask any questions about this, or any other episode.

First podcast of 2019 - New Year Special "Time above all else" "Looking at opportunities from a different perspective" "If I am saying yes to this, what am I saying no to? Something's got to give" Following on from John Lamerton interviewing Jason brockman, this episode sees the tables turned with the interviewer becoming the interviewee. This podcast talks about John's 2018's resolutions what were they? Did he keep them? What is in store for 2019? For links to everything we talk about, including the video recording of the episode and transcription of everything we talked about, head over to the show notes at bigidea.co.uk/podcast. And to watch the LIVE recording of each episode of the Ambitious. Lifestyle. Business. Podcast, join our Facebook Group for FREE - you can then watch our ugly mugs in glorious technicolour every month, as well as get BONUS in-between-isodes, and direct access to both of us to ask any questions about this, or any other episode.

"Committing to it, then figuring out how you are going to do it" "No real rational reasons just outside my comfort zone" In this Christmas episode you will hear from the two founders of Ambitious. Lifestyle. Business. Sit back and listen to John Lamerton interviewing Jason Brockman reflecting on the last 12 months of personal goal setting, overcoming obstacles, fundraising and business. For links to everything we talk about, including the video recording of the episode and transcription of everything we talked about, head over to the show notes at bigidea.co.uk/podcast. And to watch the LIVE recording of each episode of the Ambitious. Lifestyle. Business. Podcast, join our Facebook Group for FREE - you can then watch our ugly mugs in glorious technicolour every month, as well as get BONUS in-between-isodes, and direct access to both of us to ask any questions about this, or any other episode.

"I tell people how lucky I am but actually it took 16 years of hard work to get here." In today's episode, we're joined by Tracy Irwin, founder of TI Accountancy and TI Payroll. Tracy's business is based in the Lake District, but Tracy herself is not. She runs her empire from the sunny shores of Spain. Tracy shares with us the process she went through to extract herself from the day to day running of the business, ensuring that even though she may be more than a thousand miles away from her staff and clients, she remains in control. She also gives us a heads-up on the upcoming changes in the UK for "Making Tax Digital", ensuring that we all know what's coming, and what we need to do. For links to everything we talk about, including the video recording of the episode and transcription of everything we talked about, head over to the show notes at bigidea.co.uk/podcast. And to watch the LIVE recording of each episode of the Ambitious. Lifestyle. Business. Podcast, join our Facebook Group for FREE - you can then watch our ugly mugs in glorious technicolour every month, as well as get BONUS in-between-isodes, and direct access to both of us to ask any questions about this, or any other episode.

"A lot of people will tell you that print media is dead. And I think that they're absolutely wrong." Back in the 80's, Geoff Capes could rip a Yellow Pages in half with his bare hands. I reckon I could give it a go these days. Want to know why print media ISN'T dead? Why a leaflet doesn't have a front and a back? or what "massively powerful tool" is "underestimated and underutilised"? You're going to LOVE episode #45 of the ALB podcast then, with our guest Alan Marriott from The Property Press, where amongst other things, we talk about kiwi spirit, everyone else getting paid but you, the importance of "staying on the field", and why the people of Exeter don't watch their football team... For links to everything we talk about, including the video recording of the episode and transcription of everything we talked about, head over to the show notes at bigidea.co.uk/podcast. And to watch the LIVE recording of each episode of the Ambitious. Lifestyle. Business. Podcast, join our Facebook Group for FREE - you can then watch our ugly mugs in glorious technicolour every month, as well as get BONUS in-between-isodes, and direct access to both of us to ask any questions about this, or any other episode. "in relation to the Podcast – Elvis isn't dead – and neither is Print Media. By Alan Marriott. 8th Nov. 2018 We would like to inform all listeners that Alan Marriott as of the 1st November 2018 is no longer an active member or Director of Letterbox Productions Ltd publishing The Property Press paper. All information contained within this Podcast bares no relation to Letterbox Productions Ltd or its publications now or moving forward"

Everyone loves Black Friday, right? Especially today's guest Jon Monks. Last year, Jon managed to DOUBLE the previous year's Black Friday sales figures. But he managed to do so whilst working HALF as hard. So much so, that he left the office at 4pm, as there was nothing for him to do - the till was ringing all by itself! In this episode you'll discover: Why Jon calls himself the "conductor of the orchestra". How he persuades other people to increase his sales for him. Why Jon NEVER discounts (even on Black Friday!) How he merges his work and private life to enjoy BOTH more. How Jon struggled for almost two decades, before discovering a better way of working. And LOADS more gold. Jon has the following quote written on his office walls: "We have the products. We have the knowledge. We have the skill." In the next 47 minutes, Jon will share his knowledge with you, and YOU'LL have the skill too... For links to everything we talk about, including the video recording of the episode and transcription of everything we talked about, head over to the show notes at bigidea.co.uk/podcast. And to watch the LIVE recording of each episode of the Ambitious. Lifestyle. Business. Podcast, join our Facebook Group for FREE - you can then watch our ugly mugs in glorious technicolour every month, as well as get BONUS in-between-isodes, and direct access to both of us to ask any questions about this, or any other episode.

"And now, the end is near And so I face the final curtain..." That's right boys and girls, this is the FINAL EVER episode of the Big Idea Podcast! "Regrets, I've had a few But then again, too few to mention..." It's also the shortest episode we've ever recorded.. "Yes, there were times, I'm sure you knew When I bit off more than I could chew..." But don't panic - we're not going anywhere! We're simply getting a new name - the "Ambitious. Lifestyle. Business. Podcast." - we're also going to be dragging (Ed - you mean "inviting") some of our One Percenters onto the show to talk about how they've built (or are building) their own ambitious, lifestyle businesses. "But more, much more than this I did it my way..." (With apologies to Frank Sinatra!) For links to everything we talk about, including the video recording of the episode and transcription of everything we talked about, head over to the show notes at bigidea.co.uk/podcast. And to watch the LIVE recording of each episode of the Big Idea Podcast, join our Facebook Group for FREE - you can then watch our ugly mugs in glorious technicolour every month, as well as get BONUS in-between-isodes, and direct access to both of us to ask any questions about this, or any other episode.

Want to get more customers? Who come back more often? And spend more money? A subscription model could be the answer to your prayers - The likes of Amazon, Netflix, Graze, Naked Wines and Sky have all cottoned onto it - even the dear old Milkman is making a comeback, so isn't it about time you did the same? This episode is a brief overview of a Masterclass that we delivered for the One Percent Club, our very own subscription business! For links to everything we talk about, including the video recording of the episode and transcription of everything we talked about, head over to the show notes at bigidea.co.uk/podcast. And to watch the LIVE recording of each episode of the Big Idea Podcast, join our Facebook Group for FREE - you can then watch our ugly mugs in glorious technicolour every month, as well as get BONUS in-between-isodes, and direct access to both of us to ask any questions about this, or any other episode.

We tackle Fear of Failure in this month's episode, with lessons and advice from Warren Buffett, Charlie Munger and Scott Adams. We learn about the £100k risk that John and Jason are taking right now, and also tell you how John made £50k by playing Fifa... For links to everything we talk about, including the video recording of the episode and transcription of everything we talked about, head over to the show notes at bigidea.co.uk/podcast. And to watch the LIVE recording of each episode of the Big Idea Podcast, join our Facebook Group for FREE - you can then watch our ugly mugs in glorious technicolour every month, as well as get BONUS in-between-isodes, and direct access to both of us to ask any questions about this, or any other episode.

We "keep it simple, stupid" in this episode, with key takeaways and lessons from Elon Musk, Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger about the power of simplicity in business. For links to everything we talk about, including the video recording of the episode and transcription of everything we talked about, head over to the show notes at bigidea.co.uk/podcast. And to watch the LIVE recording of each episode of the Big Idea Podcast, join our Facebook Group for FREE - you can then watch our ugly mugs in glorious technicolour every month, as well as get BONUS in-between-isodes, and direct access to both of us to ask any questions about this, or any other episode.

You don't choose the level of your success. You choose your habits, and your habits dictate the level of your success. In this episode, we find out why you need to become the "King of Routine" in your business if you want to thrive. We look at what it takes to have "grit" with Angela Duckworth, and how to demonstrate "Extreme Ownership" courtesy of Jocko Willink and Leif Babin. For links to everything we talk about, including the video recording of the episode and transcription of everything we talked about, head over to the show notes at bigidea.co.uk/podcast. And to watch the LIVE recording of each episode of the Big Idea Podcast, join our Facebook Group for FREE - you can then watch our ugly mugs in glorious technicolour every month, as well as get BONUS in-between-isodes, and direct access to both of us to ask any questions about this, or any other episode.

It's the Easter edition of the Big Idea Podcast, so it's only natural that we talk about... Hot Cross Buns! Specifically, how Hot Cross Buns can teach you a thing or two about growing your business - especially if you think you only sell one "thing" and can't possibly branch out into other products or cross sell something similar to people who currently HATE what you sell. We talk about asset creation, and why EVERYBODY should be creating, building, buying and sweating assets on a weekly, if not daily basis. We give an insight into one of the latest assets in OUR arsenal - the audiobook recording of Big Ideas for Small Businesses, where John recently spent two days in the studio, recording an asset that will still be bringing in constant revenue 20 or 30 years from now. This month's Book of the Month was "The Rise and Fall... and rise again" by Gerald Ratner. It's a fascinating insight into the world of a man who had it all, the world at his feet, and then told one "crap" joke, and lost it all. More specifically, it's a great insight into how Gerald Ratner had everything taken away from him - apart from the knowledge between his ears, and his drive to succeed - and how he clawed his way back to become successful again. For links to everything we talk about, including the video recording of the episode and transcription of everything we talked about, head over to the show notes at bigidea.co.uk/podcast. And to watch the LIVE recording of each episode of the Big Idea Podcast, join our Facebook Group for FREE - you can then watch our ugly mugs in glorious technicolour every month, as well as get BONUS in-between-isodes, and direct access to both of us to ask any questions about this, or any other episode.

If you've been listening to the Big Idea Podcast for the last few months then you'll have heard me raving about today's guest for quite some time. Neville Wright is the founder of Kiddicare.com, a nursery retailer that Neville started with his wife Marilyn in 1974. But don't be fooled into thinking this is your usual "and then I made £100 million" story - we go deep into the early years of Neville's journey, focusing on how he took 37p and borrowed his Dad's ladder to go from "a beggar to chairman of the board" in over afternoon. Neville isn't a superhuman. He hasn't done anything that you or I couldn't do ourselves given a decent work ethic, some business acumen and 40 years ahead of us. If you're looking for the blueprint for almost guaranteed success, this is it. There's no gimmicks, no "gaming of the system", no hustling or cheating his way to win. Neville got to the very top of his industry by always looking for a win/win solution at every opportunity, and by really looking after his customers and his staff. We talk a lot about Neville's book "The Answer is Yes, now what is the question?", which I honestly believe is the best autobiography I've read in several years - it's inspirational, without the level of disconnect that the average man usually feels. If you want to succeed in business or marketing, then the answers you seek are in here - you just need to know "what is the question?" For links to everything we talk about, including the video recording of the episode and transcription of everything we talked about, head over to the show notes at bigidea.co.uk/podcast. And to watch the LIVE recording of each episode of the Big Idea Podcast, join our Facebook Group for FREE - you can then watch our ugly mugs in glorious technicolour every month, as well as get BONUS in-between-isodes, and direct access to both of us to ask any questions about this, or any other episode.

John's eight year old son is collecting mentors. Like just about every other 8 year old kid, he wants to be a famous YouTuber like DanTDM or Stampylonghead. But like John way back in 2000, he "knows that he knows nothing" - so he's been seeking out mentors. Other kids like him that are a little bit ahead of him in his Youtube journey, and who can help give him the blueprint to succeed. We review February's Book of the Month by Neville Wright, which earned rave reviews, and also introduced March's book of the month by Gerald Ratner, which having seen Gerald speak before should be very entertaining (and certainly not "crap!"). We delve into how and why accountability works for us, and show you how we've used it to publish a book, learn to play golf, and even get a lazy entrepreneur doing 100 press ups every day! Finally, we talk about public speaking - This is something that both John and Jason do quite a lot of these days. But it wasn't always the case, so we look into the secret behind confident public speaking. For links to everything we talk about, including the video recording of the episode and transcription of everything we talked about, head over to the show notes at bigidea.co.uk/podcast. And to watch the LIVE recording of each episode of the Big Idea Podcast, join our Facebook Group for FREE - you can then watch our ugly mugs in glorious technicolour every month, as well as get BONUS in-between-isodes, and direct access to both of us to ask any questions about this, or any other episode.

In this episode, we go Mystery Shopping with some of our clients, and encourage you to find out the TRUTH about what's going on in your business, rather than what "should" be happening. Our book of the month is "Principles" by Ray Dalio, and as always we've got loads of takeaways from it to help you grow your business. We evaluate risk vs reward from an investment, and business point of view - would you risk £6k to make £30k? How about giving free petrol away to potential customers, or giving them ALL their money back if you don't do what you say you're going to do? We look at how "real" businesses can implement squeeze pages and funnels into their marketing without coming across like a sleazy marketer! Finally, we talk about how we've built up some huge communities in our businesses - from 800 people in a Facebook group to 200,000 on a mailing list, and how you can swipe and deploy what we do. For links to everything we talk about, including the video recording of the episode and transcription of everything we talked about, head over to the show notes at bigidea.co.uk/podcast. And to watch the LIVE recording of each episode of the Big Idea Podcast, join our Facebook Group for FREE - you can then watch our ugly mugs in glorious technicolour every month, as well as get BONUS in-between-isodes, and direct access to both of us to ask any questions about this, or any other episode.

Our review of the year - key takeaways and favourite moments. Our resolutions and predictions for 2018. What we've learned from a year of podcasting. Our Book(s) of the Year For links to everything we talk about, including the video recording of the episode and transcription of everything we talked about, head over to the show notes at bigidea.co.uk/podcast. And to watch the LIVE recording of each episode of the Big Idea Podcast, join our Facebook Group for FREE - you can then watch our ugly mugs in glorious technicolour every month, as well as get BONUS in-between-isodes, and direct access to both of us to ask any questions about this, or any other episode.

John shows us what we can learn from Heston Blumenthal's restaurant "The Fat Duck" - in terms of customer experience, attention to detail, and pricing. We also look back at last month's book of the month "Money", by Rob Moore - a title that really polarised listeners, who seemed to either love it or hate it - Jason of course didn't read it as usual! We do a debrief from Black Friday - sharing what's worked, and what hasn't worked from our clients businesses - and our own. There's a crucial point in there too about not needing to wait a year to repeat a successful Black Friday campaign... Finally, we show you why it's really important not to just ask for feedback from your customers, but to actually LISTEN to what they're telling you too! For links to everything we talk about, including the video recording of the episode and transcription of everything we talked about, head over to the show notes at bigidea.co.uk/podcast. And to watch the LIVE recording of each episode of the Big Idea Podcast, join our Facebook Group for FREE - you can then watch our ugly mugs in glorious technicolour every month, as well as get BONUS in-between-isodes, and direct access to both of us to ask any questions about this, or any other episode.

In this episode: John tells us why he decided to switch from Apple, just two months before the launch of the iPhone X, and why he's already regretting it - this is more than just another "Apple v Android" war of words though - there's some real business lessons in there. This month's book of the month was "The Everything Store" by Brad Stone, which looks at the meteoric rise of Jeff Bezos, and Amazon.com, which leads John to the conclusion that "he's a bit of an evil b*****d really isn't he?" Jason once again tells us how simple running a successful business is - and it all comes down to doing "what you say you're going to do." John shares some of his strategies for curing overwhelm ("getting rid of your phone" is one of them, though that may simply related to his Samsung woes this month) John also tells us what he learnt meeting Charlie Mullins, the "millionaire plumber" from Pimlico Plumbers last month. For links to everything we talk about, including the video recording of the episode and transcription of everything we talked about, head over to the show notes at bigidea.co.uk/podcast. And to watch the LIVE recording of each episode of the Big Idea Podcast, join our Facebook Group for FREE - you can then watch our ugly mugs in glorious technicolour every month, as well as get BONUS in-between-isodes, and direct access to both of us to ask any questions about this, or any other episode.

Doors are open for the One Percent Club! We've got just 12 spaces for ambitious, lifestyle business owners to work more closely with John and Jason to grow their businesses. In this episode: We review "Shoe Dog", the memoirs of Phil Knight, the founder of Nike (and Jason gives us a memorable lesson in how to pronounce Nike "correctly"...) We look back on a very successful month of our "Bring me Sunshine" challenge - and how forcing ourselves to think positively on a daily basis has led to the habit of positive thinking coming much, much easier to us. It's Jason's turn for a rant this month - as he laments the lack of follow-up from several people he's had dealings with recently. John shares his simple 3-step process for "the ultimate marketing strategy" We look at the importance of giving value as part of a content marketing strategy. John looks forward to meeting Charlie Mullins, the "millionaire plumber" from Pimlico Plumbers later this month, and also manages to get in a dig at used car salesmen... For links to everything we talk about, including the video recording of the episode and transcription of everything we talked about, head over to the show notes at bigidea.co.uk/podcast. And to watch the LIVE recording of each episode of the Big Idea Podcast, join our Facebook Group for FREE - you can then watch our ugly mugs in glorious technicolour every month, as well as get BONUS in-between-isodes, and direct access to both of us to ask any questions about this, or any other episode.

John has a bit of a rant this month (just for a change!) - This time the focus of his rage are those "experts" who have never run a real business in their lives, yet charge people who DO run real businesses thousands of pounds for their "expertise". What's that got to do with "stuffing envelopes"? You'll have to listen to the podcast to find out... Also in this episode: John gets excited about a Direct Response advert in a football programme (only to get his hopes dashed spectacularly). John and Jason go all "Morecambe and Wise", and ask you to Bring Them Sunshine for the month of September. We look at why people don't think BIG enough when setting long term goals. For links to everything we talk about, including the video recording of the episode and transcription of everything we talked about, head over to the show notes at bigidea.co.uk/podcast. And to watch the LIVE recording of each episode of the Big Idea Podcast, join our Facebook Group for FREE - you can then watch our ugly mugs in glorious technicolour every month, as well as get BONUS in-between-isodes, and direct access to both of us to ask any questions about this, or any other episode.

In this Bumper Summer Special episode of the Big Idea Podcast, John and Jason discuss: ⭐ How to implement "Summer Mode" ⭐ The key ways to balance working from home during the school holidays ⭐ How to write a bestselling book. ⭐ More importantly... How to SELL a bestselling book. ⭐ How "getting off the treadmill" for 6 weeks could 10x your thinking. ⭐ Why EVERYONE needs to be the "Head of Marketing" for their business, even if you HATE marketing. ⭐ John's mind is blown by the "magic fairies" that work at Amazon ⭐ John and Jason discuss the marketing strategies for Donald Trump, Facebook, and the Catholic Church. For links to everything we talk about, including the video recording of the episode and transcription of everything we talked about, head over to the show notes at bigidea.co.uk/podcast. And to watch the LIVE recording of each episode of the Big Idea Podcast, join our Facebook Group for FREE - you can then watch our ugly mugs in glorious technicolour every Monday lunchtime, as well as get BONUS in-between-isodes, and direct access to both of us to ask any questions about this, or any other episode.

Welcome to the July episode of the Big Idea Podcast - summer is here! In this episode, John and Jason discuss: The launch strategy for John's new book "Big Ideas... for Small Businesses - Simple, practical tools and tactics to help your small business grow" How John crashed his car at 120mph (there may be some exaggeration in this statement.. John is a Marketer after all) How to increase your prices without losing all your customers. The time that "they" appeared on Have I Got News For You. How to deal with missing deadlines. What happened when the guys were interviewed by the local newspaper, and why YOU need to be doing PR. The importance of monitoring the effectiveness of your Marketing. Why you shouldn't devalue your small business with tiny pricing. For links to everything we talk about, including the video recording of the episode and transcription of everything we talked about, head over to the show notes at bigidea.co.uk/podcast. And to watch the LIVE recording of each episode of the Big Idea Podcast, join our Facebook Group for FREE - you can then watch our ugly mugs in glorious technicolour every Monday lunchtime, as well as get BONUS in-between-isodes, and direct access to both of us to ask any questions about this, or any other episode.

John and Jason have been devouring the 700+ pages of Tim Ferriss' epic MONSTER of a book "Tools of Titans" over the last few months, and have managed to fit no less than 14 of their key takeaways into a 40 minute podcast. From "keeping it simple" to intermittent fasting, "copywriting your flaws" to knowing what to say NO to - the hardest part was whittling literally hundreds of gems that we COULD have used down to just 14! For those not familiar with Tim Ferriss or Tools of Titans, Tim's the author of best-selling books like the Four Hour Workweek, Four Hour Chef, Four Hour Body, and host of the Tim Ferriss show - a weekly podcast where he interviews industry leaders, geniuses and billionaires. Guys like Tony Robbins, Triple H, Derek Sivers, Jamie Foxx, Scott Adams, Kevin Costner, Noah Kagan, Shay Carl, Edward Norton, Seth Rogen, Naval Ravikant, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Morgan Spurlock, Peter Thiel, and many more over 200+ epsiodes. Tools of Titans is the condensed version of those interviews. Yep, you read that correctly - the 700+ page book is the CONDENSED version. Trust me - you're never more than 4 pages away from your next "nugget" For links to everything we talk about, including the video recording of the episode and transcription of everything we talked about, head over to the show notes at bigidea.co.uk/podcast. And to watch the LIVE recording of each episode of the Big Idea Podcast, join our Facebook Group for FREE - you can then watch our ugly mugs in glorious technicolour every Monday lunchtime, as well as get BONUS in-between-isodes, and direct access to both of us to ask any questions about this, or any other episode.

We're working to rather a tight deadline at the moment, with John's new book "Big Ideas for Small Businesses" coming out on the 21st June. With that very deadline much in mind for the whole team at the moment, it's only natural that this week we talk about deadlines - how to set ambitious, yet realistic ones, as well as the effect that a good deadline can have on your own business, and how they can be deadly when deployed in your marketing. For links to everything we talk about, including the video recording of the episode and transcription of everything we talked about, head over to the show notes at bigidea.co.uk/podcast. And to watch the LIVE recording of each episode of the Big Idea Podcast, join our Facebook Group for FREE - you can then watch our ugly mugs in glorious technicolour every Monday lunchtime, as well as get BONUS in-between-isodes, and direct access to both of us to ask any questions about this, or any other episode.

For links to everything we talk about, including the video recording of the episode and transcription of everything we talked about, head over to the show notes at bigidea.co.uk/podcast. And to watch the LIVE recording of each episode of the Big Idea Podcast, join our Facebook Group for FREE - you can then watch our ugly mugs in glorious technicolour every Monday lunchtime, as well as get BONUS in-between-isodes, and direct access to both of us to ask any questions about this, or any other episode.

Find out what happens when John spends a few days in the company of Ryan Deiss and Gary Vaynerchuk. As well as the main lessons that John picked up from Ryan and Gary Vee, he also has a rant about trying to buy a jar of pesto, and a very important lesson about margins. For links to everything we talk about, including the video recording of the episode and transcription of everything we talked about, head over to the show notes at bigidea.co.uk/podcast. And to watch the LIVE recording of each episode of the Big Idea Podcast, join our Facebook Group for FREE - you can then watch our ugly mugs in glorious technicolour every Monday lunchtime, as well as get BONUS in-between-isodes, and direct access to both of us to ask any questions about this, or any other episode.

In this week's show Helen asks "What's the most effective form of marketing to reach my target audience which are schools and businesses looking to increase staff skills? I provide training to businesses and schools on supporting mental health and improving 'soft' people skills" Kane asks "I'm the general manager of a new restaurant in Blackpool, and want to make sure my launch is as successful as possible - how can I make the most of the launch?" John tells us how a school residential trip for his seven year-old re-affirmed his "why", and gets us all posing as Wonder Woman for two minutes in the name of science. Sophie asks "I have started my small business trying to sell handmade painted glasses and mugs through Etsy and also via Facebook. I would like to have some sales and be able to work from home and make a nice little business for myself. I have had no sales as yet but have been making items for friends and family as presents and gifts." - something John describes as "Kevin Costner Syndrome" For links to everything we talk about, including the video recording of the episode and transcription of everything we talked about, head over to the show notes at bigidea.co.uk/podcast. And to watch the LIVE recording of each episode of the Big Idea Podcast, join our Facebook Group for FREE - you can then watch our ugly mugs in glorious technicolour every Monday lunchtime, as well as get BONUS in-between-isodes, and direct access to both of us to ask any questions about this, or any other episode.

For links to everything we talk about, including the video recording of the episode and transcription of everything we talked about, head over to the show notes at bigidea.co.uk/podcast. And to watch the LIVE recording of each episode of the Big Idea Podcast, join our Facebook Group for FREE - you can then watch our ugly mugs in glorious technicolour every Monday lunchtime, as well as get BONUS in-between-isodes, and direct access to both of us to ask any questions about this, or any other episode.

For links to everything we talk about, including the video recording of the episode and transcription of everything we talked about, head over to the show notes at bigidea.co.uk/podcast. And to watch the LIVE recording of each episode of the Big Idea Podcast, join our Facebook Group for FREE - you can then watch our ugly mugs in glorious technicolour every Monday lunchtime, as well as get BONUS in-between-isodes, and direct access to both of us to ask any questions about this, or any other episode.

For links to everything we talk about, including the video recording of the episode and transcription of everything we talked about, head over to the show notes at bigidea.co.uk/podcast. And to watch the LIVE recording of each episode of the Big Idea Podcast, join our Facebook Group for FREE - you can then watch our ugly mugs in glorious technicolour every Monday lunchtime, as well as get BONUS in-between-isodes, and direct access to both of us to ask any questions about this, or any other episode.

For links to everything we talk about, including the video recording of the episode and transcription of everything we talked about, head over to the show notes at bigidea.co.uk/podcast. And to watch the LIVE recording of each episode of the Big Idea Podcast, join our Facebook Group for FREE - you can then watch our ugly mugs in glorious technicolour every Monday lunchtime, as well as get BONUS in-between-isodes, and direct access to both of us to ask any questions about this, or any other episode.

For links to everything we talk about, including the video recording of the episode and transcription of everything we talked about, head over to the show notes at bigidea.co.uk/podcast. And to watch the LIVE recording of each episode of the Big Idea Podcast, join our Facebook Group for FREE - you can then watch our ugly mugs in glorious technicolour every Monday lunchtime, as well as get BONUS in-between-isodes, and direct access to both of us to ask any questions about this, or any other episode.

"Your network equals your net worth" A cliche, for sure. But like many cliches, there's some truth to be had there - and that's been our experience of networking. There's no instant return, but the more quality we add to our network, the more success we've encountered. For this episode, we've roped in our very first guest. We were adamant from the start that we didn't want the Big Idea Podcast to be an endless procession of guests, leaving us asking the same banal, generic questions each week, but we will bring one in where they know a lot more about a subject than we do. And that's clearly the case for the "King of Networking" in Plymouth, Mike Turner. There's very few people in Plymouth who don't know who Mike is - on a recent visit to his office, we popped out for lunch which involved a 2 minute walk to a local cafe, during which at least 10 people said hello to Mike by name - that's the power of networking. Enjoy this episode - it's a long one, but a good one! For links to everything we talk about, including the video recording of the episode and transcription of everything we talked about, head over to the show notes at bigidea.co.uk/podcast. And to watch the LIVE recording of each episode of the Big Idea Podcast, join our Facebook Group for FREE - you can then watch our ugly mugs in glorious technicolour every Monday lunchtime, as well as get BONUS in-between-isodes, and direct access to both of us to ask any questions about this, or any other episode.

It's not your customers job to remember to do business with you - it's your job to remind them. And there's no better way to do that than to send them a printed newsletter in the post. In this week's episode, we'll show you exactly how to do that, as well as the mistakes and pitfalls to avoid when sending a printed newsletter. We also walk you through a selection of newsletters that we've either sent or received ourselves to give you some ideas about how you could implement a newsletter into your small business. Newsletters are the best retention tool I know, but they're also pretty good at cross-selling, up-selling and securing referrals if done correctly - which is without overtly selling! For links to everything we talk about, including the video recording of the episode and transcription of everything we talked about, head over to the show notes at bigidea.co.uk/podcast. And to watch the LIVE recording of each episode of the Big Idea Podcast, join our Facebook Group for FREE - you can then watch our ugly mugs in glorious technicolour every Monday lunchtime, as well as get BONUS in-between-isodes, and direct access to both of us to ask any questions about this, or any other episode.

All businesses dictate your lifestyle, it's up to you to design it. In this episode, John has a bit of a rant about Peter Jones from Dragons Den fame, and doesn't even mention his stupid stripy socks once (though the pinstripe suits get a bit of a bashing!) We show you that if your small business isn't currently giving you the lifestyle you want, that: 1. That's YOUR fault. 2. You CAN change things. 3. We can HELP. We look at what a lifestyle business actually is, and why it certainly doesn't mean small or unambitious. We see why NOT shooting for the moon can mean owning a less risky business, with an almost guaranteed level of success. And who wouldn't want to own a business that guarantees them success, whilst also giving them the lifestyle they want? Other than Peter Jones of course... For links to everything we talk about, including the video recording of the episode and transcription of everything we talked about, head over to the show notes at bigidea.co.uk/podcast. And to watch the LIVE recording of each episode of the Big Idea Podcast, join our Facebook Group for FREE - you can then watch our ugly mugs in glorious technicolour every Monday lunchtime, as well as get BONUS in-between-isodes, and direct access to both of us to ask any questions about this, or any other episode.

Grab the popcorn, and put your phone onto "silent" - we're off to the cinema! Well, actually, John and Jason have been to the cinema, and are back with their take on one of Hollywood's latest blockbusters. No, they haven't been watching 50 shades of Grey. No, they haven't given up talking about Marketing and small businesses, to go into film reviews. What they have done is taken some of the greatest lessons that YOU as a small business owner can take away from "The Founder", a movie all about the story of McDonalds. From humble beginnings as a single burger shack in California to the behemoth that we know today, The Founder chronicles Ray Kroc, and his transformation of a tiny owner-operated business into a corporate giant, and the world's largest land-owner. We'll talk once again about the importance of aligning your goals with your desire (and ensuring that your business partner's desires are the same as yours too!), and show why it's crucial to know your numbers. What business are McDonalds in? The answer might surprise you (unless you've read Rich Dad, Poor Dad, or seen the trailer!). Ray Kroc didn't take "no" for an answer, and we'll show why neither should you. We'll talk about the importance of being disruptive, optimisation of your systems & processes, and tell you how McDonalds ensured consistency of their product, and their brand, even when expanding to 65,000 restaurants around the world. And you won't want to miss John's biggest "take away" (even bigger than a Big Mac with large fries and a jumbo coke!) that EVERY small business owner needs to implement in their business if they don't want to suffer the same fate as the McDonalds brothers... If you can call walking away with a cheque for $3.6 million suffering... Oh bugger, I've just given away the ending. That's why we don't do film reviews... For links to everything we talk about, including the video recording of the episode and transcription of everything we talked about, head over to the show notes at bigidea.co.uk/podcast. And to watch the LIVE recording of each episode of the Big Idea Podcast, join our Facebook Group for FREE - you can then watch our ugly mugs in glorious technicolour every Monday lunchtime, as well as get BONUS in-between-isodes, and direct access to both of us to ask any questions about this, or any other episode.

In today's episode we expose the myth of "luck", and show you how "luck happens" - good and bad. We ban Rob from attending any future Plymouth Argyle matches, and demonstrate correlation versus causality using a pasty. We'll also show you to win raffles, and buy your house cheaper. We'll look at how everything is YOUR fault, and cure you of "excuseitis" once and for all. We hear about people who lost a million dollars, were born without arms and legs, and who were given a terminal cancer diagnosis (not the same person - that WOULD be unlucky!) - and how they each consider themselves to be lucky - mainly by creating their own luck. For links to everything we talk about, including the video recording of the episode and transcription of everything we talked about, head over to the show notes at bigidea.co.uk/podcast. And to watch the LIVE recording of each episode of the Big Idea Podcast, join our Facebook Group for FREE - you can then watch our ugly mugs in glorious technicolour every Monday lunchtime, as well as get BONUS in-between-isodes, and direct access to both of us to ask any questions about this, or any other episode.

Hiring your first member of staff is the leverage you need to stop owning a job, and start owning a business. In this episode, we'll dive into how to recruit good members of staff (tip: you won't find them at the Jobcentre!), how to go through the recruitment process effectively so that you weed out the crap, leaving yourself with the best of the best. What do you do once you've got a good member of staff? We look at how to actually KEEP them, and perhaps surprisingly, "pay them more money" doesn't get mentioned once. But everyone's got some horror stories about hiring staff gone wrong, and we're no exception - there's a good 20 people who have worked for us over the last 17 years, who no longer do - some left, some were made redundant, and one or two were sacked - if you're worried about firing employees, then this episode is worth a listen just for our war stories and tips on how to get rid of bad employees from your small business. For links to everything we talk about, including the video recording of the episode and transcription of everything we talked about, head over to the show notes at bigidea.co.uk/podcast. And to watch the LIVE recording of each episode of the Big Idea Podcast, join our Facebook Group for FREE - you can then watch our ugly mugs in glorious technicolour every Monday lunchtime, as well as get BONUS in-between-isodes, and direct access to both of us to ask any questions about this, or any other episode.

Ever wondered if the grass is greener on the other side? Not sure if you're in the right business for you? If so, then you're not alone - many small business owners don't actually choose their business - it chooses them! Many inherit a family business, or work with a partner or loved on who then leaves / dies. Others leave the "security" of a day job (often by being made redundant), only to start up as a self employed version of what they did to get a paycheck. In this episode we'll dive into why you don't HAVE to do what you've always done, and how to find something that you'd be happy to do for the rest of your life. For links to everything we talk about, including the video recording of the episode and transcription of everything we talked about, head over to the show notes at bigidea.co.uk/podcast. And to watch the LIVE recording of each episode of the Big Idea Podcast, join our Facebook Group for FREE - you can then watch our ugly mugs in glorious technicolour every Monday lunchtime, as well as get BONUS in-between-isodes, and direct access to both of us to ask any questions about this, or any other episode.

What are you afraid of? What keeps you awake at night? Public speaking? Picking up the phone? Closing a sale? Hiring staff? Firing staff? Doing the accounts? Dealing with technology? Running out of money? Clowns? Whatever it is, we've got a tactic to help you conquer your fears. It involves a hula hoop, eating beans on toast, and jumping out of an aeroplane at 15,000 feet. (thankfully WITH a parachute!) But if the thought of skydiving gets you trembling with fear, then we've got quite a few more sedate methods that you could implement in your life (or your small business) to increase your self confidence and expand your comfort zone. We tell you (AGAIN!) why reading the newspapers will only serve to make you more scared (that's their job!), and we tell you why talking to random strangers in the street (or at the gym like John does!) can help you build your self confidence, and be good for your business. For links to everything we talk about, including the video recording of the episode and transcription of everything we talked about, head over to the show notes at bigidea.co.uk/podcast. And to watch the LIVE recording of each episode of the Big Idea Podcast, join our Facebook Group for FREE - you can then watch our ugly mugs in glorious technicolour every Monday lunchtime, as well as get BONUS in-between-isodes, and direct access to both of us to ask any questions about this, or any other episode.

This week Jason is relegated to the subs bench, and instead John is joined by Rob Rowe, who works within the team here at Big Idea Media, looking after the marketing for our sports betting brands. Rob's a really switched on marketeer, with a strong passion for writing copy, and putting big sales campaigns together. He's worked for the likes of Skybet, NetBet, and Agora Publishing, so we're very pleased to have him as part of the Big Idea family. In this episode, John and Rob dissect a recent marketing campaign that was (in John's words) "the most successful campaign we've EVER run" - We'll give you a checklist of all the elements that you need to run a successful campaign in YOUR business, and give you real-world examples of exactly WHY this all came together so well. For links to everything we talk about, including the video recording of the episode and transcription of everything we talked about, head over to the show notes at bigidea.co.uk/podcast. And to watch the LIVE recording of each episode of the Big Idea Podcast, join our Facebook Group for FREE - you can then watch our ugly mugs in glorious technicolour every Monday lunchtime, as well as get BONUS in-between-isodes, and direct access to both of us to ask any questions about this, or any other episode.

Ah, "Multiple Streams of Income", the battle-cry of every MLM spammer since the early 2000's - but don't worry, we're not here to sell you a "lifestyle business" that will "change your life" by persuading you to sell stuff no-one wants to your friends and family, becoming a social pariah in the process. Nope, we're here to show you how Multiple Streams of Income works in the REAL world - how we've applied it to our businesses, and our investments. You'll hear how a profitable £300k a year businesses collapsed overnight because they DIDN'T have multiple income streams, and how this led to a BIG change in one of our businesses. You'll also hear more words of wisdom from Warren Buffett, talking about eggs, rivers, baskets, feet and hawks. Plus Jason's got a cracking tool of the week which we use in our businesses to devastating effect. For links to everything we talk about, including the video recording of the episode and transcription of everything we talked about, head over to the show notes at bigidea.co.uk/podcast. And to watch the LIVE recording of each episode of the Big Idea Podcast, join our Facebook Group for FREE - you can then watch our ugly mugs in glorious technicolour every Monday lunchtime, as well as get BONUS in-between-isodes, and direct access to both of us to ask any questions about this, or any other episode.

In today's episode, you can find out the ONE THING that really catapulted our businesses to super-success. It's something so simple that you'd almost overlook it, and think "it can't be that simple can it?" But that's the idea - it's a very simple thing, done well, on a daily basis, that will make all the difference over a long period of time. You'll find out why multi-tasking doesn't work, Jason manages to alienate the female population, and you'll find out why I blame Richard Branson. We'll get our boats going faster with an Olympic gold medal winner, put a man on the moon, and win a US election - all in 33 minutes! The only thing you won't achieve is Inbox Zero - but as you'll learn in this episode, that's NOT what you want anyway - we're aiming for Productivity Central! For links to everything we talk about, including the video recording of the episode and transcription of everything we talked about, head over to the show notes at bigidea.co.uk/podcast. And to watch the LIVE recording of each episode of the Big Idea Podcast, join our Facebook Group for FREE - you can then watch our ugly mugs in glorious technicolour every Monday lunchtime, as well as get BONUS in-between-isodes, and direct access to both of us to ask any questions about this, or any other episode.

Just about every story of success that you come across will have been as a result of these 5 magic ingredients coming together in perfect harmony. As a result, we now structure our businesses (and indeed our daily lives) around them. They are: GOALS DESIRE KNOWLEDGE ENVIRONMENT ACTION In this episode, we talk in-depth about each of the five ingredients and give you real examples of how they can help in your business and in your life. We've also covered GOALS (episode #5) and DESIRE (#2) in more depth in their own episodes, as well as touching on one element of ENVIRONMENT (be careful who you listen to) in Episode #1. We have quite a few book recommendations in this episode - for links to everything we talk about, including the video recording of the episode and transcription of everything we talked about, head over to the show notes at bigidea.co.uk/podcast. And to watch the LIVE recording of each episode of the Big Idea Podcast, join our Facebook Group for FREE - you can then watch our ugly mugs in glorious technicolour every Monday lunchtime, as well as get BONUS in-between-isodes, and direct access to both of us to ask any questions about this, or any other episode.

Change your ways in 90 days... In this episode we'll be showing you how to achieve more in the first 3 months of the year than most people do in 3 years, a MUCH more effective way than simply saying "I'm going to join the gym this year" or "I want to grow my business in 2017" We'll look at our strategy for hitting our 20 year plan (yep, TWENTY year plan!), our goals and how we keep ourselves on track. We cover why willpower doesn't work, John dusts off his Arnold Schwarzeneggar impression, and we get all accountable on you. We'll tell you why SMART goals are actually pretty dumb, and we shoot for the moon with Elon Musk. For links to everything we talk about, including the video recording of the episode and transcription of everything we talked about, head over to the show notes at bigidea.co.uk/podcast. And to watch the LIVE recording of each episode of the Big Idea Podcast, join our Facebook Group for FREE - you can then watch our ugly mugs in glorious technicolour every Monday lunchtime, as well as get BONUS in-between-isodes, and direct access to both of us to ask any questions about this, or any other episode.

How do you grow a small business and still have time for the family? Yes, we're talking about that great mythical beast - the Work / Life balance. And we'll tell you why it IS a myth - but don't get too stressed.. we'll show you some tactics and tools to make the "lack of balance" your friend - to accept the imbalance, and actually make it work in your favour. We talk about see-saws. A lot. Which is a great visual metaphor for an audio podcast. We make sure that you're achieving the right balance of Work AND Life that you actually want. For links to everything we talk about, including the video recording of the episode and transcription of everything we talked about, head over to the show notes at bigidea.co.uk/podcast. And to watch the LIVE recording of each episode of the Big Idea Podcast, join our Facebook Group for FREE - you can then watch our ugly mugs in glorious technicolour every Monday lunchtime, as well as get BONUS in-between-isodes, and direct access to both of us to ask any questions about this, or any other episode.

In this episode John gets to talk about his favourite subject, compounding. We find out about how our use of compounding has grown our business exponentially. So grab a coffee and find out 'How to Build a Snowman' There's liberal amounting of hero-worshipping Warren Buffett, including how he spent $2 Million buying a $57,000 house, and we show you how we used compounding to turn £100 into £120,000, £6,500 into half a million, and £500 into £700,000 a year. We detail how to use this with devastating effect in your business, and how you could create your own pension, which for £300 a month could net you a lump sum of almost £7 million (note the use of the would "could" there - we were playing with Compound Interest Calculators at the time!) For links to everything we talk about, including the video recording of the episode and transcription of everything we talked about, head over to the show notes at bigidea.co.uk/podcast. And to watch the LIVE recording of each episode of the Big Idea Podcast, join our Facebook Group for FREE - you can then watch our ugly mugs in glorious technicolour every Monday lunchtime, as well as get BONUS in-between-isodes, and direct access to both of us to ask any questions about this, or any other episode.

Originally entitled What do you REALLY want,our second podcast looks deeper than that and talks about desires versus wants, the differences between "that would be nice", and "Hell Yes", that's what I am having. We'll find out how desire has fuelled our business, and how it is essential for you to grow your businesses. You'll discover that without desire, you're at the whim and mercy of Willpower - and we only have a finite amount of willpower to keep us going. When you're got a burning desire, you'll do whatever is necessary to survive / succeed. There's also a cautionary tale of what happens when you follow someone else's desire - be warned, it's not pretty! We also look at how to create desire in your products so you don;t have to give it the hard sell to potential customers. For links to everything we talk about, including the video recording of the episode and transcription of everything we talked about, head over to the show notes at bigidea.co.uk/podcast. And to watch the LIVE recording of each episode of the Big Idea Podcast, join our Facebook Group for FREE - you can then watch our ugly mugs in glorious technicolour every Monday lunchtime, as well as get BONUS in-between-isodes, and direct access to both of us to ask any questions about this, or any other episode.

Welcome to our first edition of the Big Idea Podcast where it's our jobs to get small business owners thinking BIGGER. We'll be tackling the world of business and marketing with a new episode every week. In this inaugural edition, we will be finding out why you shouldn't read the Daily Mail, that John loves Marmite, (but Jason doesn't) and how to "feed the beast" . We'll find out that free advice is worth every penny, and that teenagers were right all along - you SHOULDN'T listen to your parents! But in the interests of balance, we also come up with loads of people that you SHOULD be listening to - chief of which of course.. is this podcast - don't forget to SUBSCRIBE, and you'll get it delivered straight to your phone every week. For links to everything we talk about, including the video recording of the episode and transcription of everything we talked about, head over to the show notes at bigidea.co.uk/podcast. And to watch the LIVE recording of each episode of the Big Idea Podcast, join our Facebook Group for FREE - you can then watch our ugly mugs in glorious technicolour every Monday lunchtime, as well as get BONUS in-between-isodes, and direct access to both of us to ask any questions about this, or any other episode.