Summary

On this episode of the Evolve to Succeed Podcast, Simon White shares his remarkable journey from leaving school at 16 to becoming a successful entrepreneur in the IT industry. 

He discusses his early career, the challenges of building his company Enhance, and the pivotal moments that led to a management buyout. 

Simon reflects on the growth of his business, historical moments such as the turning of the millennium, and the transition to an Employee Ownership Trust, emphasising the importance of legacy and team in his entrepreneurial journey. 

Simon delves into the complexities of business transitions, particularly focusing on the journey of moving from ownership to a more advisory role. 

They discuss the importance of embracing technology, especially AI, as a tool for growth and efficiency in business operations. The conversation also touches on happiness and fulfillment in one's career, emphasising the need for balance and the pursuit of passion in professional endeavors.

This episode of the Evolve to Succeed Podcast covers…

Simon White's journey into IT from a young age.

Combining business and technology.

Management buyouts.

Strategic planning when growing a business.

Transitioning to an Employee Ownership Trust.

Surrounding yourself with capable people.

The importance of mentorship.

The long-term implications of business transitions.

The importance of growth in business.

Happiness and contentment are key to success.

Finding the right time to step back from your business.

Embracing technology such as to solve business problems.

Personal fulfillment.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

01:09 Early Career and Entry into IT

05:54 Building Enhance and the Management Buyout

13:29 Challenges and Growth

21:01 Mentorship

27:07 The Transition to Employee Ownership Trust

34:32 Navigating Business Transitions

39:01 AI in Business

46:59 Embracing AI

50:40 Success and Happiness

Summary

On this episode of the Evolve to Succeed podcast, Lee Butler from Town & Country Communications shares his journey from initially not considering joining the family business to becoming a key player in its evolution.

He discusses the challenges of working with family, the importance of adapting to industry changes, and the significance of building strong client relationships. 

The conversation also touches on the vision for the future of the business and the significance of family relationships, particularly in the context of parenthood and personal success.

This episode of the Evolve to Succeed Podcast covers…

Lee Butler's initial journey into the family business.

Balancing family dynamics with business relationships.

The evolution of service in the communications sector.

Adapting to technological changes.

The importance of building strong client relationships.

Transitioning ownership in a family business.

The importance of having fun is essential in relationships and business.

The value of patience.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Town & Country Communications

00:58 Lee's Journey into the Family Business

02:59 Family Dynamics in Business

06:04 Evolution of Town & Country's Services

08:49 Technological Changes

12:03 Surviving Market Shifts

14:55 Building Strong Client Relationships

21:02 Involving Siblings in the Business

23:50 Transitioning Business Ownership

27:09 Lessons from the Management Buyout Process

34:27 Balancing Roles and Responsibilities

37:50 Personal Growth

40:14 Flexibility and Balance

45:27 Vision for the Future

51:10 Quickfire Insights

In this episode of the Evolve to Succeed podcast, Warren speaks with Jess and Terry, the joint managing directors of Rubicon People, about their journey. From starting out as employees to leading an employee-owned business.

For anyone navigating joint leadership responsibilities, you certainly don’t want to miss out on this, as Jess and Terry provide invaluable advice and experiences around working as partners to manage a team.

They also discuss the evolution of Rubicon People, the challenges faced in the recruitment industry, and the impact of transitioning to an Employee Ownership Trust.

The conversation highlights the importance of good leadership, employee empowerment, and the future ambitions of the Rubicon People as they navigate the recruitment landscape.

This episode of Evolve to Succeed covers…

Jess and Terry’s journey within Rubicon People.

The transition to employee ownership and its effects on business culture.

How leadership styles evolve and are influenced by previous leaders.

How employee councils can play a crucial role in decision-making processes.

The importance of trust and autonomy in empowering employees.

Financial Freedom Day.

The recruitment industry and the ongoing skill shortages.

Chapters...

00:00 Introductions

02:55 Rubicon People

06:14 Previous Owners: Lloyd and Jocelyn

08:52 Becoming Joint Managing Directors

12:13 COVID and Market Changes

14:58 Employee Ownership Trust

17:49 Initial Reactions to Employee Ownership

21:10 Employee Councils

23:46 Leadership Styles

27:10 Empowering Employees

30:01 Challenges in Recruitment

32:48 Advice for Transitioning to Employee Ownership

36:06 Financial Freedom Day

38:57 Succession

41:54 Final Thoughts

On this episode, Evolve founder Warren Munson reads through three articles from the Evolve blog—“Why founders often fail as CEOs”, “Is your mindset stopping your growth?” and “Here’s how to sacrifice better”.

Morag Ofili is the founder of Kiltered, a diversity and inclusion company that helps start-ups and SMEs promote better diversity and inclusion policies and increase business performance. Included in the episode are discussions around the effects the great resignation has had on driving diversity and inclusion, the vulnerability of stepping out of your familiar profession into entrepreneurialism, and the significant influence Gen Z has had on igniting real and sustained change. 

Sam de Reya, Deputy Chief Constable for Dorset Police, talks about the pleasures and pressures of leadership in law enforcement. Also addressed are topics around self-development, public responsibilities, how Covid affected crime, and her time at the FBI National Academy. And, we had to ask—how do police dramas on TV compare to the real thing?

Rosie Radwell recently marked her 20th year as MD at the Marsham Court Hotel in Bournemouth. During that time, both the hotel and Rosie herself have won multiple awards, and Marsham Court continues to be a flagship venue on the south coast.

Rosie's family have been hoteliers in Bournemouth for 70 years, and she talks about the impact this has had on her, and about the pleasures and pressures of continuing that proud family legacy.

Also covered are the importance of building loyalty with guests, staff and contractors, how she competes with the big hotel chains, coping with the upheavals of post-Covid travel, and what she learned from a significant period of family loss and turbulence.

Ben Morton is a former British Army captain who served two tours in Iraq and now works as a leadership mentor and performance coach.

Following his time in the army, Ben entered the corporate world and soon realised that a lot of the leadership training he witnessed was heavily focused on using tools and models in what he terms a ‘leadership by numbers’ approach. Perturbed by this lack of authenticity and individuality, Ben left the corporate world to transfer the leadership principles he learned in the army into business leadership and team building.

Richard North is the co-founder and CEO of Wow! Stuff, whose innovative tech-toys are sold in major retailers around the world, from Hamleys in London to Walmart in the US. 

In 2001, Richard had a car accident that saw him counting from ten to zero and back again just to stay alive. It was a moment that naturally changed Richard’s life profoundly. Part of this episode focuses on how he overcame his injuries and the lessons he learned from the experience, while we also hear about the joys and legal challenges of the toy industry . 

Matt Desmier—currently business engagement and knowledge exchange manager for the faculty of media and communication at Bournemouth University—is renowned for his special blend of creativity and business acumen. He was instrumental in establishing one of the UK’s leading creative and digital economies in Bournemouth, and his time at the incubator Enterprise Pavilion saw an astonishing 75 businesses launched within five years, with those businesses experiencing a 95% survival rate.

Dave Chedgy went from Premiership rugby player, to 24 years as a high-paced City trader and then co-founder of Dynamic Health—a boutique personal training studio in Lilliput, which he runs with his wife Natasha. Dave and Natasha have also founded The Escape Plan—a platform for better financial and physical freedom.

Sandra Palmer-Snellin is director at Farmer Palmers—a fun park based in Poole—and Staglers, an eco-friendly dog chew. Both of these businesses are family owned and run. Sandra talks about managing the dynamics in a family business, what some of the joys, challenges and unique pressures are, and the inheritance of work ethic.

Following complications after a back injury in 2007, Dean Skivington fell into a cycle of addiction and mental health problems that nearly cost him his life. Then he discovered cold therapy and cold showers, and believes this saved him.

In this incredibly inspiring episode, Mark Darcy shares his personal journey, from a challenging childhood to a successful business career and a subsequent struggle with mental health.

After a long battle, Mark eventually made a positive transition and now focuses on helping others through the New Forest Wellbeing Group and the Youth Wellbeing Group.

During the episode, Mark explains his new philosophy on life, where he dedicates his time earning, serving and learning – which has helped him discover true happiness in life.

He also talks about the importance of listening and creating a loving environment where everyone is understanding and supports one another. Mark also envisions the next phase of his life - focusing on well-being and community support.

This episode of the Evolve to Succeed Podcast covers…

 ●     Seeking support and understanding one's own mental health.

●     Transitioning from a challenging past to a fulfilling present.

●     Helping others and creating a kind and loving environment.

●     Finding balance in life by spending time earning, serving, and learning.

●     Finding true happiness through meaningful experiences, not material possessions.

●     Volunteering and getting involved in projects focused on mental health.

●     Seeking professional help and prioritising one’s own mental health.

Chapters

00:00 Childhood

05:44 Business Career

11:09 Mental Health and Support

15:41 New Purpose and Helping Others

23:10 Community

25:10 Achieving Balance

28:03 Happiness

30:21 Basic Lifestyle

32:16 Are You Okay?

35:32 Life's Unexpected Challenges

36:29 Midlife Realisation

39:42 Loved Ones

41:40 Emotions and Openness

45:57 Avoiding Regret

49:50 Material Possessions

51:22 Pure Contentment

Lysette Offley, speaker, author and founder of The Genius Principles and Genius Material, discusses the use of neurolinguistic programming, cognitive behavioural therapy, and both positive and evolutionary psychology, to guide you towards realising your full potential.

Leadership coach and NDE Chris O'Connell charts his compelling journey of building a £25-million recruitment business to losing it all and trying to commit suicide several times. He now uses what he learned from that turbulent period to teach others how to be better leaders, professionals and human beings. 

Darren Mooney, Creative Director and Founder at design agency Studio Global, speaks with honesty, humour and candour about his entrepreneurial journey, which started aged 22. From having to make the decision to NOT become a professional footballer, to the influence of his father and uncle, to adapting to disruption, and dealing with professional and personal fallout, this is an episode not to be missed. 

Chip Stites of The Laughing Retirement on how to deal with the financial and emotional challenges of retirement. Upon his retirement, Chip uprooted himself and his wife from the US and moved to Italy - he talks about how he took on this huge change.

Denis Oakley, founder of Denis Oakley & Co, talks applying scientific thinking to business and starting a business in a recession, to working with an Olympic hockey coach, and his five-step business model innovation process.

In this episode, host Warren reviews three articles from the Evolve blog—‘Why entrepreneurship is simply a quest for purpose’, ‘13 ideas on leadership you might not have heard’, and ‘The importance of belonging.’

Serial entrepreneur Ty Temel opens up on the profound influence his father had on his entrepreneurial spirit, how the pandemic drastically altered his mindset, and his commitment to physical and mental wellbeing.

Nils Vinje, founder of 30 Day Leadership and the B2B Leaders Academy, discusses his four pillars of leadership, talks about how to take more control of your time, and expands on the crucial role self-knowledge plays in great leadership. Download Nils' free book here. And view the book he mentions here.

In his second appearance on the Evolve to Succeed podcast, Chris Croft—one of the UK's top leadership and management trainers—elaborates on his article 'Why are so many bosses bad?' Listen if you dare...

Steve Jones of Skills for Business Training discusses the changing landscape of recruitment and how remote working has forever changed the way we connect and engage with our teams.

Adam Lewis, co-founder of BBD Boom, shares his journey of starting and running a remote business and the benefits of systems thinking. He emphasises the importance of understanding your co-founder and building a strong partnership.

Adam also discusses the challenges and rewards of remote work and the need for a strong company culture. He highlights the value of apprenticeships in growing a business and shares his insights on systems thinking and the tools they use at BBD Boom.

Adam concludes by discussing the future of the company and his personal definition of success.

The key takeaways from this episode of The Evolve to Succeed Podcast are:

• Building a strong partnership with your co-founder is crucial for the success of your business.
• Remote work can be successful with the right systems and processes in place.
• Investing in apprenticeships can help grow your own talent and create career opportunities.
• Systems thinking is about viewing your business as an integrated engine and optimising processes for better efficiency and customer experience.
• Tools like HubSpot, teamwork, and AI can greatly enhance productivity and business performance.
• Success is defined by personal fulfilment, making a positive impact, and having the freedom to choose your path.

Chapters

00:00 - Introduction and Background of BBD Boom

03:19 - Starting a Business and Moving Away from Traditional Agency Model

04:15 - Challenges and Early Days of BBD Boom

05:34 - Lessons Learned and the Importance of Sales and Marketing Mindset

07:30 - Realisation of Success and Early Adoption of HubSpot

09:55 - Building a Strong Partnership and Company Culture

12:18 - The Value of Apprenticeships in Business Growth

16:28 - Benefits and Challenges of Remote Work

27:22 - Implementing Systems Thinking for Better Efficiency

33:04 - Tools for Productivity and Business Performance

36:20 - Future Plans for BBD Boom and Personal Definition of Success

45:02 - Conclusion

Mike Stevens is an advisor, mentor and consultant for start-ups and challenger brands, and was part of the founding team at Innocent Drinks. His love and knowledge of D2C brands inspired him to write a book on the subject, which is available next month.

Mark Cribb, entrepreneur and founder of the hospitality group Urban Guild, reflects on the effects the pandemic had on his sector, as well as the important personal and professional lessons learned.

Chris Gardener, founder of Strategic Mentors, which offers strategies for business growth for coaches and consultants, talks about his 3Fs philosophy, the One Percent Principle, thinking habit, and the dangers of becoming too attached to outcomes.

Kison Patel is the CEO and founder of M&A Science and DealRoom, as well as author of Agile M&A. Amongst other things, Kison talks about engaging your team in acquisitions, the dangers of ego in selling, the importance of cultural alignment, and how to ease the process between agreeing terms and completing the transaction.

Craig Mathie is managing director of the Bournemouth 7’s Festival, which is the world’s largest combined sports and music festival. The annual event is run by a team of less than ten people.

Erik Jensen, chief strategy officer at Predictive ROI, is passionate about creating content that engages with clients and consumers. He also talks about 'niching down', leveraging your podcast to build relationships, and introduces us the the 'Trojan Horse of Sales'.

Chloe Adams, CEO of The Art Movement, talks about the profound impact of art in the workplace.

Jan Cavelle began her entrepreneurial journey as a struggling single mum to two young children. She subsequently founded a highly-successful furniture business. Now 'retired' she is a writer, author and speaker on all things entrepreneurial, and is passionate about guiding others on their business careers.

Safia Qureshi is an award-winning architect, innovation designer and educator. She is also the founder of CLUBZERØ a company that’s set its sights on building the infrastructure for sustainable food and beverage consumption.

In this episode, Warren Munson and David Mutton discuss the importance of creating a shared vision within a business.

They emphasise the need for businesses, especially in the early stages, to have a clear vision and purpose that is shared with the team and customers. 

They also discuss the challenges of maintaining a shared vision as a business grows and offer practical tips for creating and communicating a vision.

The conversation highlights the benefits of having a shared vision, such as increased engagement and differentiation from competitors.

Takeaways

·   Having a shared vision is crucial for businesses to understand what they are trying to achieve.

·   In the early stages, the vision is often clear to the founder or co-founders, but it is important to share it with the team and potential customers.

·   As a business grows, it is important to periodically reassess and communicate the vision to ensure alignment.

·   Creating a shared vision involves open dialogue, involving key stakeholders, and communicating the vision in a simple and straightforward manner.

·   A shared vision helps in decision-making and keeps the team motivated and aligned.

Chapters

00:00 - Introduction and Overview

01:00 - The Importance of a Shared Vision in Business

03:45 - Stand Out from Competitors with a Shared Vision

06:36 - Challenges of Maintaining a Shared Vision as a Business Grows

08:03 - Perfectionism Can Kill Vision

14:17 - Practical Tips for Creating a Shared Vision

23:13 - Benefits of Having a Shared Vision

28:24 - Conclusion and Call to Action

Ben Ashton co-founded Good Oaks Home Care when he was just 22. Ten years on, it has an annual turnover of almost £10-million across an operation of 14 franchises.

For more than 30 years, Bernie Shrosbree has coached some of the world's top athletes, including Olympic gold medallists and racing drivers like Jenson Button, Mark Webber and Colin McRae. He gives insight into the mindset of high-performance individuals and how you can bring those traits into your own life.

Richard Bassett is co-founder of Mentor360, a wellbeing app that helps you form new habits, define positive progressions and set actionable outcomes. The ultimate aim of Mentor360—dubbed a pocket life coach—is to build your mental fitness by helping you to get to know yourself better.

Levent Yildizgoren, co-founder of TTC wetranslate, a multi-award winning translation and localisation company, discusses how to understand and navigate cultural practices and differences when expanding your business globally.

Host Warren Munson counts down the ten most popular podcasts from 2021. This episode features Matt Hawkins, Glenn St John-Colgan, Lyndon Stickley, Joshua Simon and James Pickles.

Host Warren Munson counts down the ten most popular podcasts from 2021. Featuring Pip Hare, Tracey Howes, Steve Bolton, Tim Lewis and Cas Paton. 

Guy Blaskey, founder of Pooch & Mutt—a natural food and supplement brand for dogs—talks company purpose, how to market as a small business, the importance of understanding cashflow and his dedication to learning.

Chris O'Reilly, CEO of Presto Music, on developing the shop's e-commerce platform, why bricks and mortar still matter, and the power of music to transform lives and bring communities together.

Shay O'Carroll, co-founder of PixelMax, on the future of hybrid working and virtual events—how can the experience be richer and more interactive? What could be the longterm effects of living and working in a metaverse?

British adventurer, Alastair Humphreys, discusses anxiety, the difficulties of being a brand, and the realisation that led him to the concept of the microadventure.

In celebration of their 10-year anniversary, Rupert Holloway talks to Warren about Conker Distillery and the challenges they have faced after a decade in business.

Rupert discusses the restlessness that led him to start his own business, the decision to bootstrap the business instead of seeking investment, and the impact of COVID-19 on the distillery industry.

Conker has evolved from being simply a gin brand to a spirit experience distillery brand, which has been driven by customer feedback and recognising that being the best at something doesn't always guarantee success, which in their case, was gin.

The company has grown the brand by emphasising its genuine, local craft and the fact that it operates its own distillery, distinguishing it from white label brands. Conker Distillery has adopted a two-pronged strategy: owning the local market with its Dorset gin and targeting the national market with its coffee liqueur.

With so many insights from one of the UK’s best distillery brands, you don’t want to miss this episode of the Evolve to Succeed Podcast!

Takeaways

This episode of Evolve to Succeed covers…

o   Starting a business by setting big goals and taking risks.

o   The risks and rewards of bootstrapping a business.

o   Building a strong team for long-term success.

o   Adapting to global challenges, such as conflict and pandemics.

o   Creating memorable experiences for customers and focusing on consumer preferences to drive change.

o   How Conker operates its own distillery, distinguishing it from white label brands.

o   Sustainability and how Conker aims to be a positive contributor by 2030.

Chapters

00:00 - Catching Up with Rupert

02:21 - 10 Years of Conker Distillery

08:03 - Lessons Learned

14:52 - COVID-19

18:40 - Memorable Experiences

25:25 - Conker Spirits

31:25 - White Label Brands

34:14 - Two-Pronged Strategy

41:00 - Sustainability

44:43 - Proudest Moment

US-based Doug Brown got involved in his family business when he was only three years old. He has since gone on to create more than 35 companies and is currently CEO of Business Success Factors and established the Sales Revenue Growth University.

Rupert Holloway, founder of Conker Spirit, talks about his journey from disgruntled quantity surveyor to establishing Dorset's first ever gin distillery.

In this, the 100th episode of the Evolve to Succeed podcast, host Warren Munson sits down to talk with Kelly Webb about the highs and lows of his personal and professional journey until this point.