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Paul is a serial entrepreneur who has started, scaled up and sold several businesses, invested in many others, and is now building yet another company.
How to build a systematic sales and marketing engine to drive growthThe vital importance of joint ventures and partnerships and how to create successful onesHow to build the best systems and processes and the accreditation that every business should haveWhy you should set your prices at 15% above the market The one essential thing you must do if you’re going to create the most value from your business before selling
He also advises and mentors several other founders and business owners.
Through his personal and business experiences, he’s effectively created a success blueprint for any business owner to adopt and apply within their company.
During the conversation, Paul explains.He also discusses the importance of physical and mental health to ensure that you’re in the best shape to deal with the inevitable challenges of being an entrepreneur.
He shares the precise details of his daily routine, which keeps him in prime shape for business.
The “business owner’s success blueprint” – all in one convenient podcast episode.
Links:https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulluen?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Eight-Figure-Entrepreneur-Balanced-Adventurous-ebook/dp/B08GSQG2VY?dplnkId=2946ba17-93ec-47a7-8cf2-c20ff87c8a81&nodl=1
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Welcome to a special episode of the Bulletproof Entrepreneur podcast.
One issue that has been dominating the conversations online and in person for business owners over the last few days has been the budget.
October 30th was a very significant day. It was the first labour budget for almost 15 years and the first by a female Chancellor.
After three months of speculation and predictions, we finally had the details—and there was a lot to unpack for all business owners.
For starters, there were the changes to national insurance contributions, the reduction in inheritance tax benefits, the increase in capital gains tax, and the reduction in what was known as entrepreneurs' relief.
So I was delighted to be able to persuade two leading tax experts onto the show to offer some insights and expertise.
Josie Day and Richard Jameson from leading tax advisers Saffery have been deep in the details of the budget over the last few days, and they've shared their take on what it means for business owners.
Before we hear from them, I want you to be the first to know about an exciting new project we’re launching in 2025.
The Bulletproof MBA is a course designed for business owners too busy to go on courses!
A 12-month programme of monthly 3-hour sessions with like-minded entrepreneurs who want to learn all about how to run a better, smarter business and ensure success in what will be a challenging next few years.
We’re hosting a free taster event in London on November 25th, and I’ll post details on LinkedIn.
Hope to see you there.
But now, without further delay, I give you Josie Day and Richard Jameson, talking all things budget and tax.
Links:https://www.saffery.com/our-people/richard-jameson/
https://www.saffery.com/our-people/josie-day/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/alancapital/
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We’re publishing this episode just before the Autumn 2024 Budget, when Rachel Reeves will share her vision of how she plans to improve the country’s economy.
I really hope she understands how valuable the start-up and entrepreneurial economy is in the UK and that she’ll encourage it and ensure its continued success.
Today’s guest is a fantastic example of that British entrepreneurial spirit.
Magnus Willis hatched a plan with his co-founder during a long walk after they’d watched a cricket match at The Oval!
They decided to leave their highly-paid jobs in advertising to take a huge risk and launch a new business.
Through sheer hard work and perseverance, their company grew from two guys in a small room with laptops to become a significant business, employing 80 people, before being sold to a large UK company.
It’s a fabulous story with so many insights and lessons that Magnus shares.
Learn from the best
He explained how he was able to learn so much by being around talented and experienced people in the companies he worked for after he left university.
It’s important to get into the best companies in your chosen field and learn from those people as you build your own knowledge and experience.
Be a specialist, not a generalist
A theme that comes up regularly in my conversations is starting as a generalist and then pivoting to become a specialist. This creates significant value in your business and minimises your competition.
Magnus’s company, Sparkler, began as something of a generalist but then, over time, decided that they wanted to become the leaders in a specific niche market. This became a huge part of their success.
Be future-focused
Magnus discussed the importance of looking up from your day-to-day work, seeing where the world is going, and then aligning yourself with future growth opportunities.
In his case, when traditional magazines went online, and mobile was growing fast, this meant looking at the approaching ‘wave of opportunity’ and getting ready to surf it.
Life after exitTowards the end of our conversation, he also reflects on his life now as a successfully exited entrepreneur and how he designed his ideal life, now that he’s no longer busy running a company.
His thoughts are deeply insightful.
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Mr Magnus Willis.
Links
https://www.linkedin.com/in/magnuswillis/?originalSubdomain=uk
Business & IP Centre (BIPC): Business Advice & Resources - The British Library
Pivot Podcast Series
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This show is all about reverse engineering the successful scale, sale, and exit of your business and enjoying life on the other side.
During our conversation, you’ll learn what Nimesh believes could happen to capital gains tax, inheritance tax, and pension rules, all of which will impact business owners.He shares his advice on how entrepreneurs should plan ahead of the budget, including an idea that could lock in today’s possibly lower rate of CGT even if you don’t compete on your business sale for a year or so—although there are some risks, as he explains with an interesting client story!Aside from the budget, we also discuss broader tax planning issues for business owners and how to optimise your situation two to three years before you plan to sell your company.We also discuss an issue many business owners are considering—relocating overseas to a tax-favoured country. His advice is very thoughtful.
And for every successful business owner, smart tax planning is crucial to business growth and future sale.
Whether it's corporation tax, PAYE, income tax, dividends, or VAT, , they all play a part and impact decisions you make.
When the time comes to sell your business, planning effectively and well ahead of time can have a huge impact on you and your family.
Our new government’s first budget or autumn statement is coming up in a few weeks, on October 30th, and all business owners will be paying close attention to what Rachel Reeves, our Chancellor, says that day.
So, in a special pre-budget episode of Bulletproof Entrepreneur, I am delighted to introduce you to Nimesh Shah, the CEO of Blick Rothenberg, a leading firm of chartered accountants and tax advisers with a special focus on providing advice to entrepreneurs.This is truly a business owner’s tax planning masterclass from one of the country's leading authorities on the subject.
Please listen, learn, and get in touch with Nimesh or myself if you want to learn more.
Links:https://www.blickrothenberg.com/about-us/partners/nimesh-shah/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/nimesh-shah-22b2b037/
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Our guest today is Helen Pattinson, a former lawyer who left behind a promising career to embark on a bold and, at times, uncertain new path—one that would ultimately lead to a flourishing business, Montezuma Chocolate.
What would you do if your main supplier suddenly disappeared just weeks before launch?Or if your company was on the brink of collapse during one of the worst financial crises in recent history? Helen faced all of this and more.
But this story is far from straightforward. Helen doesn’t just share the wins—she takes us through the moments of doubt, the near-disasters, and the pivotal choices that could have ended it all before the business even started.
In this episode, you’ll hear how a spontaneous adventure through South America sparked an obsession, and how that simple passion turned into something much bigger.
You’ll also discover how Helen and her husband Simon built their business from scratch—literally—and the unexpected hurdles they had to clear to keep their dream alive.
Towards the end, Helen shares her experience of the post-sale period, including her loss of identity and her need to find a new purpose.
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the Chocolate Entrepreneur - Helen Pattinson.
Links:
Helen Pattinson - Montezuma's Chocolates | LinkedInMontezuma's Chocolate
Alan Smith - Capital Asset Management | LinkedIn
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Hello, and welcome back to the latest episode of the Bulletproof Entrepreneur podcast. I’m your host, Alan Smith. In this episode, I speak with someone I’ve known for many years, and as you’re about to discover, he’s a force of nature!
During the conversation, you’ll learn how his early years taught him to be resilient when your back’s against the wall—metaphorically and literally—and this proved useful in his later years in business.He shares the importance of creating a culture of continuous improvement and thinking about everything through the lens of your customers’ experiences. He also explains the value of having a deep sense of purpose after a business sale, the importance of giving back when one no longer has financial worries, and how he took 18 months off after he sold his business to think and design the exact sort of life he wanted to live in the future.
His name is Jason Butler, and although I’ve known him for a long time, I had no idea just how challenging his upbringing was.
People talk about a tough childhood and not having the same chances as other people from more privileged backgrounds, and Jason grew up in a house in south London with an outside toilet and a tin bath—almost Dickensian, as he says himself.
He had a challenging childhood, living hand to mouth, trying to hide from debt collectors and avoid being beaten up at the tough school he went to.
Yet he went on to build a leading financial services business, which he sold, bought back, and sold again.He also shares an incredible David and Goliath story about the time he took on the taxman over something he felt was unfair and won.
These are a fraction of the valuable insights that Jason shares. It’s a long episode because there was no way I was going to cut him short as he shared these nuggets of wisdom!
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Mr Jason Butler
Links:
https://www.jason-butler.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonfbutler/
Happy: Why More or Less Everything is Absolutely Fine: Amazon.co.uk: Brown, Derren: 9780593076194: Books
The Antidote: From the Sunday Times bestselling author of Four Thousand Weeks eBook : Burkeman, Oliver
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My guest, Elizabeth Hopkins, candidly shares her inspiring journey through the ups and downs of life as a founder entrepreneur who has experienced everything that life has to offer, including scaling a business to a multi-million-pound exit, but then having to deal with the worst kind of tragedy immediately after.
You’ll learn about the vital importance of focussing on a niche market, which you can dominate when others fight it out as generalists.Liz shares something really interesting that no one has ever talked about in the past—her decision to run a lifestyle business for many years and enjoy lots of time with her family as they were growing up and then very intentionally pivot to a growth business and target a multi-million-pound exit. She believed you could have the best of both worlds - and did!She then candidly explains the tragic circumstances when, a week after the business was sold, her husband and business partner had a brain tumour and died. Her story of survival and resilience is nothing short of remarkable and a true inspiration to all of us.
As Liz mentions, she’s recently become a client of our financial planning business, and in the time I’ve known her, I’ve been blown away by her positivity, resilience, and sense of fun.
She encapsulates what it takes to be an entrepreneur, and frankly, that's why I started this podcast—to enjoy inspiring conversations with business owners and then share them with the world!
This is an incredible conversation and I hope it encourages you and inspires you.
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Elizabeth Hopkins.Links
https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethspencerphillips/
https://www.juliasamuel.co.uk/
https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/grief-works-self-care-love/id1558867513
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Our guest, John Rood, hails from Chicago, USA. John and his wife built an education business which they later sold to a private equity firm for a life-changing sum of money.
The 3 Things You Must Do Before You Sell Your Business and how to prepare yourself for life after exit - and what he’d do differently if he were ever to sell a business again..The 5 most popular activities for entrepreneurs after they sell - and why you should avoid most of them!We explore the concept of how much money is enough, a truly fascinating subject that has more to do with psychology than maths.
And to some degree, that’s where his problems started...
‘Life after exit’ was far from plain sailing for John, despite the fact that he was now financially secure. He went through a number of changes and realised that he was not prepared for the life transition and new set of challenges he faced as a wealthy ex-business owner.
He recognised that there was no blueprint or How-To guide for business owners who sold up and needed to navigate the next chapters of their lives - and so he wrote one!
John’s book Beyond the Exit charts his own journey but also provides valuable insights from his conversations with over 70 other exited entrepreneurs who’ve been on similar journeys and which we discuss during the conversation.
We also discuss:And John shares a great story about how he lost out to Sam Altman, the founder of Open AI when he was planning to invest some of his new-found wealth in a tech startup!
So much wisdom shared - and so now, ladies and gentlemen, I give you Mr John Rood.
Links:
Beyond the ExitWhat Happens When You Get What You Want?: Success and the Challenge of Choice
Finish Big: How Great Entrepreneurs Exit Their Companies on Top: Amazon.co.uk
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My guest today, Marc Adams, is the author of a book by the same title and has spent nearly four decades deep in the trenches of business and entrepreneurship. His extensive experience, from a career in corporate life to setting up his own business, has given him a unique perspective on the ups and downs of life as an entrepreneur.
He explains how he helped a company reduce its costs by over £2 million and redeploy that capital to fuel future growth.He explains what so many businesses have got wrong about their website and digital presence and how they can improve it and drive sales.He also shares some smart ideas on getting financially organised ahead of a sale to minimise the tax burden on founders when they sell their company.And as someone who only a few years ago was staring death in the face after his terminal diagnosis, Marc's view of what true wealth means is well worth hearing.
A cancer diagnosis in 2020, giving him six months to live, compelled him to write a book about everything he knows about business building, creating entrepreneurial value, and exiting in the most tax-effective way.
Happily, Marc overcame the diagnosis and is now in good health, providing advice and consultancy to founders keen to benefit from his knowledge and experience.
During our conversation, Marc unpacked some steps you can take to increase revenue, reduce costs, and multiply your company’s value.
He goes through so much more, and we could have gone on for another hour and still not covered everything!
Check out the show notes for links to some fabulous resources Marchas offered for free to listeners on this podcast, including a complementary diagnosis of your current business based on the advice in his book.
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Mr Marc Adams.
Links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/1marcadams/?originalSubdomain=ukSecrets To 10Xing Your Business: And Cashing Out Tax-Free: Amazon.co.uk
The Secrets to 10xing your business and Cashing Out Tax-Free Scorecard?
Acquisitions4You
Russell Brunson Collection 2 Books Set (Expert Secrets, Dotcom Secrets): Amazon.co.uk
How To Make Offers So Good People Feel Stupid Saying No (Acquisition.com $100M Series Book 1) eBook : Hormozi, Alex
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This podcast is for entrepreneurs, reverse engineering the formula for successful scale, sale, and exit—inspired conversations with world-class entrepreneurs and the specialists who support them.
I came up with that strapline when I launched the pod a couple of years ago, as that’s exactly what I wanted to create—a resource that, if you’re a business owner or aspiring entrepreneur, you can tap into and learn from those who were perhaps a few years ahead of you on the journey.
Then, you can apply the lessons learned and the wisdom shared.
In many ways, today’s guest, Josh Keegan, is the perfect guest for the pod.
A chartered accountant and successful entrepreneur, he has started, scaled, and exited several businesses and, in his current role, applies his experiences to help over 100 business owners.
I recently read his book Small Business Big Profit and I loved the way he used his experiences - good and bad to codify precisely how to create a successful business.
During our conversation, Josh shared how facing a financial black hole in his business that could have been terminal forced him to rethink how a business should operate, particularly regarding all-important financials.
He explains why he decided to sell his business just as he’d got it into great shape. It was working like a dream, and he needed to spend only 90 minutes a week working in it.
He breaks down his three-part framework and the specific actions you should take to achieve organisation, structure, and control.
He also shares valuable insight into the right approach to improving your pricing and creating greater profits and enterprise value.
And listen towards the end of our conversation when Josh explains the surprising method he uses to eliminate stress and anxiety—he recommends it to every entrepreneur and guarantees its effectiveness!
He also provides links to many free resources, including frameworks and templates, that you can download and use immediately in your business.
Before we hear from Josh, I'd like to ask you for a quick favour.
As you know, this podcast production is a labour of love. There are no annoying advertisements or walls, but it does take time and effort to create.
So, if you've benefited from listening to the conversations, I’d be grateful if you could head to the Apple Podcasts platform and leave a five-star review and perhaps a few positive words.
Also, remember to hit the subscribe button to receive the latest episode as soon as it's available.
But now, without further delay, a masterclass in building a financially fit business.
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Mr Josh Keegan.Links
https://www.ultimatefd.co.uk/about
https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-keegan/?originalSubdomain=uk
https://www.instagram.com/the_ultimate_fd?igsh=bmJkbWtxNWlrM2J0
https://www.property-entrepreneur.co.uk/daniel-hill/
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Last-Lecture-Achieving-Childhood-Lessons/dp/0340978503
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This podcast is for business owners and entrepreneurs - reverse engineering your way to success through inspiring conversations.
Phil shared how his ambitious business plans came crashing down when the great financial crisis of 2008 hit - and the one thing he would never do again and recommends business owners avoid at all costs.He explains how he built personal resilience and managed to get through the toughest time of his life.Applying the lessons he learned,Phil provides a four-part ‘blueprint’ for business growth—priceless advice for all ambitious business owners.
And the conversation you're about to hear is truly inspiring.
I'm conscious that many of the guests I've had on the podcast over the last couple of years have shared stories of incredible success.
But anyone who’s been in business for any length of time knows the significant challenges and difficulties of entrepreneurship.
And no one knows that better than today's guest, Phil Bray, founder of the Yardstick Marketing Agency, which is growing fast and going from strength to strength.
However, during his business journey, Phil faced overwhelming challenges, eventually losing everything—his business, his house, even his car!
At the same time, his relationship fell apart, and he had a 5-year-old son to care for.
This is a story of passion, resilience, and retaining a positive mindset despite overwhelming difficulties. I hope it encourages you if you’re ever going through a tough time.
During our conversation,And listen closely towards the end of our conversation when Phil shares his thoughtful definition of ‘True Wealth’ - I promise every business owner will relate to it!
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Mr Phil Bray
Links:
https://theyardstickagency.co.uk/about-us/philhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-bray-yardstick?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
Never Split the Difference: Negotiating as if Your Life Depended on It https://amzn.eu/d/3qJrwzx
The Happy Index: The Sunday Times bestseller packed with management tools and leadership advice for a happier, healthier workforce https://amzn.eu/d/0EzRkKO
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Joanna Jensen is the founder of Child's Farm, the hugely successful baby and child skincare company that was recently sold for £40m.
Joanna discusses the importance of sheer hard work, taking complete responsibility for one's decisions, and not blaming others.She explains why it’s important to build your ‘tribe’. She found that many other people had similar issues with their children’s skincare and leveraged the press and social media to create a movement of like-minded advocates.And as we’re now in the campaigning period for the general election, Joanna has some words of advice for all politicians about the vital importance of SMEs and entrepreneurship in the UK to ensure a vibrant economy—she doesn't mince her words!
This is one of the most inspiring conversations I’ve had since we launched the podcast. Joanna is a fabulous storyteller, and her enthusiasm is infectious!
Hers is an amazing story of grit, resilience, and sheer determination to succeed against the odds.
Joanna battled cancer, surgery, and a divorce, all while building her business.
She funded it in the early days with credit cards, renting out rooms in her house, and even selling jewellery!
She started the business out of necessity. In fact, 99% of female consumer brand entrepreneurs created their company out of a personal need. They needed something in their own lives that didn't exist, so they started a business to fill the gap in the market—and that’s what Joanna Jensen did to help one of her children who had very sensitive skin.There were so many gems of wisdom in this conversation and it should be shared with as many business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs as possible.
Business can be tough and this conversation could just be the inspiration they need.
I give you Joanna Jensen, one of the UK’s greatest female entrepreneurs.
Linkshttps://www.linkedin.com/in/joannajensenuk/
https://www.childsfarm.com/
https://buywomenbuilt.com/
https://femalefoundersrise.com/
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Welcome back to the Bulletproof Entrepreneur podcast, where we delve into the minds of experienced entrepreneurs and uncover their secrets to success.
How he agreed to a sale valuation based on a multiple of his very ambitious future forecasts at a time when his company was barely breaking even.He explains Why he thinks that raising capital should be avoided at all costs for most businesses — a very different view from the one held by the VC world, He also outlines the vital importance of being a ‘benevolent dictator’ when growing your business, as democracies simply don't work!
I’m your host, Alan Smith, and I’m really excited to bring you my conversation with today’s guest, Alexis Sikorsky.
Alexis is an entrepreneur who built a software business from the ground up and eventually negotiated a sale to private equity for over $100m.
I’ve just read his new book, "Cashing Out: A Business Owner’s Guide to Selling to Private Equity".
It’s a great book, as he dives deep into the details of life as a founder—the downs as well as the ups. I encourage you to buy it immediately and read it cover to cover!
During our conversation, Alexis shares lots of great stories, such asThese are only a small sample of the wisdom he shares, forged at the coal face of real-life business building.
It's a master class for all business owners, and we’re privileged to learn from his experiences.
So now, let’s go over to the conversation with my brilliant guest. ladies and gentlemen, I give you Mr Alexis Sikorsky.
Links:
https://uk.linkedin.com/in/alexis-sikorsky-consultinghttps://www.amazon.co.uk/Cashing-Out-business-selling-private-ebook/dp/B0CZ148DCJ
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If you’re a business owner who plans to sell your business one day, this episode is essential listening.
Jim talks about the importance of knowing your numbers and the 3 KPIs he tracked weekly.How he was able to be resilient in the face of incredible challenges.He also shares the work he’s doing now to help small business owners and the buzz he still gets from it.
Picture this: You've poured years of your life into a business, helping to build it from the ground up, and then the business is sold.
As a result, you receive a seven-figure sum, and you’re financially secure.
Or at least you hoped so.
But then you take the proceeds, decide to invest in a new company, and lose it all.
That’s the situation today’s guest, Jim McLaughlin, experienced when he made an exit several years ago.
If you've been listening to this podcast for a while, you’ll have heard entrepreneurs share their journeys of scaling, successfully exiting, and creating economic security for themselves and their families.
But not every story has a happy ending, and I’m grateful for Jim's candid sharing of his story.
It reminded me of the time I met a client who had just sold his company, and I asked him what his biggest financial concern was now - he looked me straight in the eye and said, ‘Losing it all’
Founders know a cash sum at exit often represents years of grind, hard work, and sacrifices. However, they’re immediately faced with big decisions about what to do with the capital.
Unfortunately, Jim made a few errors and is keen to ensure that others learn from them.He also outlines the most important thing you must do if you sell your business for a significant sum—that advice alone is worth listening to the episode for!
Contact details and Resources Mentioned
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-mclaughlin-b227975/?originalSubdomain=ukContent hubs | FSB, The Federation of Small Businesses
Who Moved My Cheese: An Amazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life
The Wolf of Wall Street eBook : Belfort, Jordan
Think And Grow Rich: Amazon.co.uk: Hill, Napoleon: 978009190021
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Peter Cowley is one of Europe’s best-known angel investors and active supporters of entrepreneurship. He studied computer science at Cambridge and founded his first company in 1984.
Since then, he’s launched no less than 12 companies, some of which he exited from successfully, some of which failed, and one that is still going over 40 years later.
As one of the UK’s most successful business angels, he’s invested in 76 technology companies, and his book, The Invested Investor, is widely recognised as the business bible for the startup and entrepreneur communities.
But behind his incredible success are a series of dreadful experiences in his private life.
A personal battle with alcoholism, the loss of close family members and tragically, the death by suicide of two of his children.
Sadly, Peter is currently battling Stage 4 cancer and has just published what he expects to be his last book, Public Success, Private Grief, in which he documents his journey, both business and personal.
Peter still has an immense passion for the entrepreneurial community. During our conversation, he offered invaluable advice and insight to anyone building a business or planning to start their journey.
He also details the challenges he’s faced and how he’s managed to keep going despite unfathomable life experiences.
A truly inspiring man and I was honoured to speak with him and share the conversation with you.
Links:Peter Cowley
Public Success Private Grief: The extraordinary life of an angel investor, cancer patient and dad
Project Cancer — Peter Cowley
Papyrus
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13019244/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/alancapital/
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I’m pleased to share a fascinating conversation I had recently with Jeremy Harbour, one of the most successful and experienced entrepreneurs around.
Jeremy is a born entrepreneur who started selling jeans, watches, and even Cadbury creme eggs at age 11!
He left school at 15 and has gone on to build, buy, and sell multiple companies. He’s currently more active than ever through his company and network, The Harbour Club.
Jeremy has deep insight into the strategies and tactics needed to build value and think beyond the traditional model of organic growth, one client at a time.During our conversation
He described the three levers of business growth and introduced a fourth, often overlooked lever, which can be a game changer for many entrepreneurs.He talks about business failure and the two vital lessons he learned when things didn't work out as planned. As any business owner knows, disappointment is an inevitable part of the journey, so knowing how to manage it is vital.He also shares the specific tactics you can deploy as you prepare your business for a successful sale, including one idea that any entrepreneur can use that could increase your profits by 40%. That idea alone will ensure that this episode will be an excellent investment of your time.A high-energy entrepreneur and a wonderful storyteller, ladies and gentlemen, I give you Mr Jeremy Harbour.
Links
Jeremy Harbour
Harbour Club
The Harbour Club by Jeremy Harbour - LEARN HOW TO BUY AND SELL BUSINESSES FOR A LIVING | LinkedIn
Jeremy Harbour (@harbour.jeremy) • Instagram photos and videos
Go Do Deals: The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Buying & Selling Businesses eBook : Harbour, Jeremy: Amazon.co.uk: Books
https://www.bizbuysell.com/
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Let me set the scene by telling you that one of my all-time favourite TV shows is "Succession”. It's a fascinating tale of a wealthy family wrapped up in the complexities of their business empire led by the founder and patriarch, Logan Roy, brilliantly portrayed by the actor Brian Cox.
During our conversation, Russ shares his experiences exploring the human side of the business which is even more important than the financial side of an organisation.We discuss the tricky subject of wealthy business owners and their choices about whether or not to help their children financially - or to allow them to carve out their own path in life. This is something that comes up regularly in my conversations with successful entrepreneurs and is an important issue.And Russ explains why it’s important to have what he calls a ‘lifeboat drill’ - a form of dress rehearsal to make sure that the family and the business can be well prepared to meet any future challenge, expected or unexpected.
If you haven't watched it yet, I highly recommend you do. But let me give you a quick overview: "Succession" is not just about wealth and power; it's a saga of business intrigue, sibling rivalry, and the delicate art of succession planning.
Now, while most of us may not hail from billionaire clans in New York, family businesses are a cornerstone of our economy.
90% of private enterprises in the UK are family-run, employing nearly 14 million people and generating over £1.7 trillion in annual turnover. They're the backbone of British entrepreneurship.
These businesses may be owned and managed by a couple, there may be siblings or other generations involved, or they could simply be run by one owner-founder who will usually bring with him or her some level of personal family dynamics.
Yet, despite their prevalence, the intricacies of family businesses often remain unexplored. That's why I'm excited to introduce today's guest, Russ Haworth.
Russ is the UK’s leading authority on family businesses. A former financial planner who now runs his own consultancy business, providing advice and insight to families as they navigate the inevitable challenges faced by business owners and those closest to them.Family businesses exist at the intersection of money, business, emotions - and the family itself, so there are few more complex and challenging institutions.
And there are millions of them across the country!
It’s a fascinating and important subject, and Russ is a proven expert in all the nuances and complexities.
Now, discussing everything you need to know about the family business, ladies and gentlemen I give you Mr Russ Haworth.Links
https://www.linkedin.com/in/russellhaworth/?originalSubdomain=uk
https://familybusinesspartnership.com/
https://www.questforlegitimacy.com/
https://fambizpodcast.com
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wealth-3-0-Future-Family-Advising-ebook/dp/B0CBJ41FYR
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Complete-Family-Wealth-Bloomberg-Hug
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Let me start by sharing some statistics with you, which I find rather shocking.
90% of SMEs are unsellable50% close down for zero valueOnly one in 2,000 are sold for the full market value.It was today’s guest, Christine Nicholson, who shared that data with me, and as awful as the numbers are, the good news is that she’s developed a business owner’s toolkit to ensure that you’ve got the best chance of being that 1 in 2000 who do have a successful exit.
Christine is an extraordinary lady. Having left school at 16, she quickly realised that working in a bank was not for her. So, she qualified as an accountant and embarked on her own entrepreneurial journey, which involved multiple businesses, several exits, and many lessons learned along the way.During our conversation, Christine talks about;
Why you need to start planning for your exit much earlier than you think - and the dangers of leaving things late.The steps to take to massively increase your business valuation – some of which may surprise you. She shares the details of how she helped a business increase its sale value 12x in less than 2 years.She explains the process she uses to ensure you’ve got the right people on your team, allowing you to spend time working on your business strategy more effectively.Towards the end of the conversation, Christine shares the details of some amazing tools and online services available to you as a podcast listener free of charge.
Now, for a masterclass on how to successfully build scale, sell and exit your business, ladies and gentlemen, I give you Christine Nicholson.
Resources and Contact Detailshttps://christinenicholson.co.uk/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-nicholson/?originalSubdomain=uk
https://getexitready.co.uk/
Ted talk re timing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNpx7gpSqbY
Business Made Simplehttps://www.amazon.co.uk/Business-Made-Simple-Leadership-Marketing-ebook/dp/B085XNKHMB
John Cleese on creativity https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pb5oIIPO62g
This podcast is produced by GR Media
Sponsored by Capital Asset Management -
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Alex Chisnall is the creator and host of one of the UK’s leading podcasts called Screw It Just Do It and is now a highly successful entrepreneur in the content creation space.
During our conversation, Alex talked in depth about the resilience needed to be a successful entrepreneur and how he needed to dig deep to get through some really difficult challenges, some of which he described as the worst time of his life - and he has some words of encouragement to share that I think you’ll find valuable.He discusses the vital importance of maintaining strong physical and mental health and his strategy for dealing with tough times. These are vital lessons for us all.And he shares his thoughts on the impact that building a personal brand can have for any business owner and his belief that every entrepreneur should have their own podcast together with some practical first steps to get started.
The name of his podcast is a reference to the time he spent working at Virgin and observing his then-boss, Sir Richard Branson, at close quarters. Screw It Let’s Do It was a phrase often used by Sir Richard and the title of one of his books.Towards the end, having experienced a personal and business rollercoaster ride over the last 20 years or so, his one-word definition of True Wealth is worth hearing and reflecting on.
If you’re building a business, I'm sure you’ll be able to relate to his wise words.
So, once again, thank you for being a loyal supporter of the Bulletproof Entrepreneur.
Please hit the subscribe button, but for now, ladies and gentlemen, I give you Mr Alex Chisnall.
Links:
Alex ChisnallPodpreneur
https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-chisnall?originalSubdomain=uk
Rich Dad Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not!
How To Make Offers So Good People Feel Stupid Saying No (Acquisition.com $100M Series Book 1) eBook : Hormozi, Alex: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics & Photo
How I Built This
BossBabe
This podcast is produced by GR Media
Sponsored by Capital Asset Management -
Send us a text
My guest today, Rand Fishkin, is the author of one of the best business books I’ve ever read, and trust me, I’ve read a lot of business books!
He reveals the truth about raising capital and the secrets that the VC world doesn’t tell you when you’re seeking investment.He explains his decision to turn down an offer from Hubspot, which would have resulted in a $250 million exit.We also explore the concept of “enough” and why creating economic security is essential for any entrepreneur.
It’s called Lost and Founder, and it charts his journey as a marketing tech business entrepreneur who raised money from Venture Capital investors and was growing at 100% year on year.
It’s a ruthlessly honest book in which Rand breaks down the details and behind-the-scenes experiences of an entrepreneur. I think it’s essential reading for any founder or business owner looking to scale and seek an exit.
During our conversation,And as someone with almost half a million followers on Twitter, Rand gives thoughtful advice to entrepreneurs on building their own personal brand - spoiler alert, it’s not what you might think!
Now, for an inspiring and refreshingly candid conversation, ladies and gentlemen, I give you Mr. Rand Fishkin.Links
Rand Fishkin's Bio, Speaker Rates, Contact Details | SparkToro
Lost and Founder: A Painfully Honest Field Guide to the Startup World: Amazon.co.uk
No Hard Feelings: Emotions at Work and How They Help Us Succeed eBook : Fosslien, Liz, Duffy, Mollie West: Amazon.co.uk: Books
Big Feelings: How to Be Okay When Things Are Not Okay
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