It's beginning to look a lot like.. last year!

The Ambitious Lifestyle Business podcast 2025 Christmas special is here - and as usual, John and Jason are putting the world to rights (without getting political - honest!), summing up what's it been like running an ambitious lifestyle business for the past twelve months.

Cost of living crisis? ✅

High inflation a worry? ✅

Bad news coming in the Budget? ✅

Yep, the big themes this year are VERY similar to the big themes of 2024 - the "doom and gloom" isn't going away (other than on the ALB podcast, where, just like Morecambe and Wise, we aim to "bring you sunshine"!

Running a small business in the UK is tough right now. There's no getting away from it - unless you're looking to emigrate, of course - we talk about that once again in this episode, along with the power of surrounding yourself with positive, can-do people - something that we've done throughout the year, including our very first "Flamingos on Tour" event, in sunny Alicante in October.

As usual, we discuss our Book of the Year, and sum up our hopes and dreams for 2026 in ONE word.

The Ambitious Lifestyle Business podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts...

In September 2018, Driving School trainer Dave Foster fell off a two story building.

As he was falling through thin air to the cold concrete below, his life flashed before his eyes - and he had an epiphany. Until that moment, Dave was working 10-12 hour days every day in his business, and fully believed that "no one can run this business, except me."

Faced with being unable to work for six months, Dave had no choice but to remove himself from the day-to-day operations, and instead work ON his business.

And now, 8 years later, Dave has taken a "false exit" - running the business in an hour or two a day from his home in sunny Spain, after years of touring Europe in an RV.

In this episode of the Ambitious Lifestyle Business podcast, Dave implores anyone listening who says that "my business is different - and WON'T work without ME" to think again.

Do you use vision boards?

Are they "woo-woo", or a scientifically-proven way to make achieving your ambitious lifestyle business goals more likely?

I'm VERY much in the second camp.

Here's why...

(btw, the One Percent Club doors are open right now for our September intake. Click here for more info)

It's Chriiiiistmaaaaasss! We start this Christmas special episode by wishing Noddy Holder's Evergreen Asset (Merry Xmas Everybody) a happy 50th birthday.

We also dissect the rise of AI in 2023 (No, it's not coming for your job - but it IS going to change your job completely!), celebrate the return of in-person events, and explain how to listen to John's audiobooks for free.

We also end the year by looking at the boys' Books of the Year - including a "personality profiling" book that identified John as someone who is:

1. overly judgemental

2. has a lot of self-discipline

3. spends a lot of time thinking how to become a better person

4. likes routine

5. is really disappointed when other people don't do their part.

Yep, that sounds like John!

This episode of the Ambitious Lifestyle Business podcast (and the 107 that preceded it) is available wherever you listen to your podcasts.

Nicky Thomas is the founder of The Growth Community, a networking group that promises "Real Community Business Networking", with relaxed, purposeful networking, and no membership sales pitches.

Nicky joined the One Percent Club 18 months ago, and as a result, grew her business by 75% in her first 12 months of membership. That huge level of growth doesn't come without a cost, however, and it's this cost that we talk about in today's episode - the price small business owners pay for growth.

This episode of the Ambitious Lifestyle Business podcast (together with another 106 episodes from the back catalogue) is available wherever you listen to your podcasts.

Graeme Tennick is Chief Impact Officer at Tennick Accountants, where he isn't afraid to roll up his sleeves, and is on a mission to empower trades and professional services business owners who know the grind of long hours, minimal returns, and the frustration of hefty taxes.

The word "impact" runs through today's episode - Graeme talks about the impact of his father's forklift business on him as a young man, the impact of making a few wrong decisions (and more than a few right ones!).

As I implore readers of The False EXIT to "truly live and breathe" their vision and values, Graeme is doing just that - demonstrating how small business owners can impact their own lives, as well as those of their immediate family, team of co-workers, clients - and ultimately leave the world a better place.

How will YOU have an impact today?

I've got two pieces of time-sensitive information to share with you today - one involving an 82% discount, and on that could (literally) change your life.

But BOTH require some action in the next 8 days...

Never give up in business.

If there's one piece of advice that today's guest Alastair Imray embodies, it is this.

Alastair's business career began with no qualifications and no money but a determination to start his own business. Alastair has proven that hard work, determination, constant learning and never giving up has been the key to running a successful business.

Wearing a Nike "Just Do It" T-short, Alastair tells us:

• How he sold anything and everything - from ice cream on Bondi Beach, to items he found in dumpsters.

• Why you should never give up in business.

• How Michael Lieberman became a hero to Alastair.

• A few dozen of the business books that helped shape his success.

• How Alastair won a contract with his dream supplier - by refusing to take no for an answer!

• Exactly how Alastair removed himself from the day-to-day "on the tools" running of his business.

What's the best Exit Strategy for a Small Business? It depends...

In this summer-special podcast, John and Jason discuss their (many!) failed attempts to exit their small business over the years, including:

• Thinking they sold their company for £2m - only to get a Dear John email.

• John giving away 49% of his small business for free

• What happens when you abdicate rather than delegate.

• How to choose the right exit strategy for small business owners.

• Why "doing nothing" isn't really an option.

• How John and Jase discovered the "False EXIT" - and why they're glad they did!

Do NOT sell your business...

At least not until you've read John's new book - The False EXIT.

The False EXIT isn't a book about selling your business. It's a book about NOT selling your business - it's about keeping, rather than killing the golden goose.

The book is available NOW on Amazon (in Kindle, Paperback and Hardcover formats), with the Audiobook version coming in January 2024.

For the next 48 hours, there's some VERY special launch pricing, making the book as cheap as it will ever be. In John's words, "fill your boots! Buy 1 copy, 10 copies or even 100. Get one for clients, colleagues and people you vaguely like - anyone who needs to read this book."

In this episode, John practices his narration for the audiobook (only stumbling over the phrase "lugging buckets") by reading the introduction for us - enjoy!

How many goals is too many? If you're today's guest Nathan Pascoe, there is no limit!

In this episode, Nathan explains:

• Why he has a 90-day plan AND a 120-year plan.

• The importance of reviewing your goals twice a day.

• How everything he does is for his "future self"

• The relentless focus on high value tasks (such as sending Weekly Emails)

• Why Nathan focuses on the "long game"

• How he achieves just about ANYTHING he sets his mind to.

• Why John calls him "the most ambitious, ambitious lifestyle business owner we've ever had on the show!"

"To live longer, get stronger..." 

Today, on the Ambitious Lifestyle Business Podcast, we're joined by Matt Fox from Physiocore, a group-based class which helps people to live longer and get stronger, by future-proofing their bodies with a unique combination of mobility, core, balance and strengthening exercises.

As a Physiotherapist with a degree in sport science, he has worked in the NHS, private practice and spent over 10 years working full time in professional football at Manchester City and Bolton Wanderers FC.

Matt has helped many hundreds of people create a flexible and strong body with a view to keeping active and healthy for life.

In this episode, Matt tells us:

1. How we can outperform our age.

2. Why we should avoid "junk miles" - for our bodies AND our business.

3. How he's used the Evergreen Assets ecosystem, and the Could Do List to improve his business.

4. Why it took hearing the "constant, never-ending improvement" message more than 100 times before the penny dropped.

5. The moment he designed his own ambitious, lifestyle business, camping in his back garden with his kids.

6. That he's a bit of a routine machine...

In this episode of the Ambitious Lifestyle Business Podcast, we meet Stephen Gibbens from Accountech.

A culture of overwork led to Stephen collapsing in his car, fearing a heart attack - or worse. He'd spent decades growing his business and had no desire to become the richest man in the graveyard.

In the hard-hitting episode, Stephen tells us:

1. Why overworking is bad - for your health and your wealth

2. How to spot the symptoms of overwork.

3. Why he never considered his to be a lifestyle business.

4. How Jim Collin's Hedgehog Concept changed his thinking.

5. Why "clients with very little money" are his perfect niche.

What's the One Percent Club, and why should you care?

I explain everything (including our "no dickheads" policy) in this week's podcast..

(btw, The One Percent Club doors are open RIGHT NOW >> https://bigidea.co.uk/one-percent-club/)

"Our 100th Episode..." 

In December 2016, I uttered the immortal words to Jason:

"Do you fancy starting a podcast?"

Just over six years, and 99 episodes later, the Ambitious Lifestyle Business podcast is about to hit the 100 episode milestone - something that seemed impossible when I felt like quitting after 6 months.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again - consistency is a superpower. 

How did we get to 100 episodes?

One episode at a time, one month at a time.

We found a way to make it easy.

We mastered the art of showing up, every single month.

We made it FUN.

Including THIS special, 100th episode, recorded in front of a live audience of listeners and previous guests.

Here's to the next century!

"I made ONE decision - and it changed my life..." 

In this episode of the Ambitious Lifestyle Business Podcast, we meet Roger Haycock from Roger's Bakery.

One decision led to us talking to Roger today. That one decision, made on 30th December 2020, led to a succession of domino-effect decisions that have profoundly changed Rogers's life as he embarks on his "third challenge".

Roger tells us that:

1. One decision started it all.

2. He is naturally curious, wanting to find out how things work.

3. How food poisoning led to him starting a conservatory business!

4. His secret ingredient for artisan bread - FIRE!

5. How Routine Machine motivated him to change "routines that weren't working"

6. Roger's advice for anyone looking to make ONE decision to change their life.

7. How you can learn ANYTHING from personal development books.

In this episode of the Ambitious Lifestyle Business Podcast, we chat with James Crow from Posture Stars.

James is an Ergonomist, Posture Pro, and Alexander Technique Teacher who *won't stop* until you can sit and work comfortably without pain. With over 15 years of experience helping people sit, stand and live with better posture, it's his mission to save the universe from the modern pandemic of slouching, slumping, and generally feeling run down!

James tells us:

1. Why "sitting is the new smoking".

2. 3 simple improvements we can ALL make to improve our posture.

3. The daily routines that help him hit his goals.

4. What three months of weekly 1% improvements looks like.

5. How seeing other people failing helps James.

6. The effect that Jim Collins' book Good to Great has had on James' business.

7. Why James does want ANYONE else to join the One Percent Club.

In this episode of the Ambitious Lifestyle Business Podcast, we meet Tom Edwards from Tom Edwards Sound and Five29 - a company which specialises in final post-production services for factual content - helping make TV shows such as Cash in the Attic and The One Show sound amazing.

We discuss:

1. Why losing his dream job forced Tom to become a "reluctant business owner"

2. How to find your niche in business.

3. What good sound actually sounds like.

4. Why Tom said "yes" to every opportunity that came his way - and how he discovered the "hell yeah or no" mindset.

5. How quickly the "hell yeah or no" goalposts move - and former dream clients/opportunities can become nightmares

6. The upcoming 100th episode of the ALB podcast - and how you can take part!

7. How Tom embraced the Dream Clients strategy - with amazing results in just two weeks!

8. 90's WWF wrestlers - yes, really!

"Why this Money Mindset book is my book of the year…" 

So here it is - Merry Christmas! Everybody's… designing their 2023 goals. In this Christmas special, John and Jason put the year to bed, and the world to rights. The boys discuss:

1. Their books of the year - including the money mindset book that will be crucial to read in the current economic climate.

2. Why John is learning how to care less about work - dialling down his ambition and slowing down.

3. How "constant never-ending improvement" has actually been around for centuries.

4. The upcoming 100th episode of the ALB podcast - and how you can take part!

5. Why grown adults are competing to win an inflatable flamingo - and learning how to work less in the process.

6. The False EXIT - John's new book, coming out (sometime!) in 2023. It's definitely NOT a DCI Lamerton crime thriller!

In this episode, John and Jason are joined by Vicky Jinks, who works with the boys, helping to look after One Percent Club members. Together, they discuss how to grow a small business into a large business - using the same "1% better each week" strategy that they preach.

You'll hear::

1. Why people's definitions of "small" and "large" businesses are highly individual.

2. How even the largest, trillion-dollar businesses started as tiny upstarts.

3. The importance of getting started.

4. Accepting that version 1.0 will look nothing like version 10!

5. When to stop growing.

Today, we're joined by Caroline Gurtler from Curious Rose. In this episode, you will hear:

1. How Caroline showed tremendous bravery to be brutally honest about her problems - and how that led to an outpouring of help that turned things around

2. How to balance "selling out of products" versus simply "selling out"

3. Why Caroline took a 1-year-old baby to Cambodia.

4. How, after hiding under a table during a military coup, Caroline doesn't really fear anything.

5. Caroline describe her journey as a "road to entrepreneurship, paved with disasters"!

6. What an ambitious, lifestyle business means to Caroline.

This is it - the BIG one! 

My all-time top 10 business books.

I've read more than 1,000 business books over 20+ years – and these are my top 10 business books of all time.

The TEN most read, most thumbed, most recommended, most highlighted, most implemented business books on my bookshelf. I've read every one of these books multiple times, and they've become an essential part of my small business toolkit. I couldn't run my businesses anywhere near as well without them.

While I rarely prescribe "one-size-fits-all" book recommendations, I truly believe that every small business owner will have a significantly better business if they have these ten books on their shelves too.

https://bigidea.co.uk/best-business-books/#topten

I hope you've enjoyed my definitive top 100 best business books – I'd love to hear from you (email me - john@bigidea.co.uk), whether you've just read a book that you think I'd enjoy – or just want to tell me how wrong I am for not including your favourite book in the top 100! Additionally, I'd love to hear from you if my favourite books have inspired you to read more. 

Remember though, to read the books AND follow the instructions!

Today, we're joined by Michele Marsland from Marslands Accountants. In this episode, you will hear:

1. Why breaking her leg was the best thing that ever happened to Michele's business.

2. How Michele has become the Queen of the Let Property Campaign.

3. Why Michele played "chapter roulette" with Routine Machine.

4. How to change your money mindset - optimising your actual hourly rate.

5. The subtle difference between earning £5 an hour and £95 an hour.

6. Why Michele lives in "Pink Flamingo Land" - and how YOU can too!

Here are my Top 10 Customer Service Books, featuring titles by Pat Flynn, Roger Dooley, Nir Eyal, James Sinclair and Joey Coleman.

https://bigidea.co.uk/best-business-books/#customerservice

This is part of my Top 100 Best Business Books project - do you agree with my choices? - what book(s) should I have chosen? What's YOUR number one?

The One Percent Club includes access to more than 65 hour-long Masterclasses - deep dive seminars into topics such as pricing, SEO, copywriting, Google Ads, Facebook Ads, LinkedIn, podcasting, book writing, time management etc.

In today's episode of the Ambitious Lifestyle Business podcast, we're sharing one of those Masterclasses for FREE - our "90-day plan Masterclass".

All new One Percenters start with making a 90-day plan - figuring out where they would like their business to be, three months from now. This Masterclass walks you through the process, and helps get your first 90-day plan up and running.

The One Percent Club is OPEN NOW >> https://bigidea.co.uk/one-percent-club/

Here are my Top 10 Business Strategy Books, featuring titles by Dan Bradbury, Matthew Syed, Daniel Priestley, John Warrillow, and Mike Michalowicz.

https://bigidea.co.uk/best-business-books/#strat

This is part of my Top 100 Best Business Books project - do you agree with my choices? - what book(s) should I have chosen? What's YOUR number one?

Here are my Top 10 Productivity Books, featuring titles by Hal Elrod, James Schramko, Michael Heppell, and James Clear.

https://bigidea.co.uk/best-business-books/#productivity

This is part of my Top 100 Best Business Books project - do you agree with my choices? - what book(s) should I have chosen? What's YOUR number one?

Here are my Top 10 Positive Thinking Books, featuring titles by Susan Cain, Ryan Holiday, Angela Duckworth and Tony Robbins

https://bigidea.co.uk/best-business-books/#postivity

This is part of my Top 100 Best Business Books project - do you agree with my choices? - what book(s) should I have chosen? What's YOUR number one?

Summer is here again, and unlike the great British weather, you can rely on John and Jason to deliver a spectacular summer special - In this episode, we put the world to rights, discussing:

1. Whether we're "getting old" by focusing on retirement goals.

2. The sort of people we'd really rather DIDN'T join the One Percent Club.

3. How you CAN go wrong investing in bricks and mortar (culminating in court cases, administration and the Serious Fraud Office!)

4. The calming (and long-lasting!) effect of a 17-day digital detox.

5. Why long-term thinking is the ONE trait you MUST adopt to be successful.

6. The biggest mistake that MOST small business owners will make in the upcoming recession.

Here are my Top 10 Leadership Books, featuring titles by Simon Sinek, Jason Fried, Sir Alex Ferguson and Jocko Willink

https://bigidea.co.uk/best-business-books/#leadership

This is part of my Top 100 Best Business Books project - do you agree with my choices? - what book(s) should I have chosen? What's YOUR number one?

Here are my Top 10 Sales Books, featuring titles by Grant Cardone, Jordan Belfort, Chris Voss and Chet Holmes..

https://bigidea.co.uk/best-business-books/#sales

This is part of my Top 100 Best Business Books project - do you agree with my choices? - what book(s) should I have chosen? What's YOUR number one?

Here are my Top 10 Marketing Books, featuring titles by Allan Dib, Dan Kennedy, Jeff Walker, Donald Miller and Marcus Sheridan.

https://bigidea.co.uk/best-business-books/#marketing

This is part of my Top 100 Best Business Books project - do you agree with my choices? - what book(s) should I have chosen? What's YOUR number one?

Here are my Top 10 Motivational Books, featuring titles by David Goggins, Gerald Ratner, Jesse Itzler, Andre Agassi, and Arnold Schwarzeneggar.

https://bigidea.co.uk/best-business-books/#motivational

This is part of my Top 100 Best Business Books project - do you agree with my choices? - what book(s) should I have chosen? What's YOUR number one?

Today, we're joined by Nathan Counter from Portable Putts. In this episode, you will hear:

1. Why Nathan still has a day job, and runs his business as a "side hustle".

2. How Nathan "didn't really know what the One Percent Club was", but joined anyway!

3. The many, many ways that Nathan has "read the books.. and followed the instructions".

4. How Nathan uses routine streaks to keep him on track to achieve his goals.

5. The six words that Jason uses to keep Nathan away from shiny objects.

6. Why Nathan is always talking about hedgehogs, buses, pumpkins and friction.

Here are my Top 10 Self-Help Books, featuring titles by Scott Adams, Gareth Southgate, Kevin Hart and Alistair Campbell.

This is part of my Top 100 Best Business Books project - please let me know (john@bigidea.co.uk) if you agree (or, more likely - disagree!) with my choices - what book(s) should I have chosen? What's YOUR number one?

Last weekend, I actually had to do some WORK.

(I know, please send cards and sympathy)

But in working my first Saturday morning in 9 years, I discovered something that may well save the guy who usually does the Saturday AM shift a good 10 hours a month...

Today, we're joined by our first EVER returning guest, Tom Boulden from Complete Mortgage Advice. In this episode, you will hear:

1. Why Tom, John and Jason are no longer business partners.

2. How John punched Tom in the face, and gave him a black eye.

3. Tom's dedication - "if I decide to do something, I see it through. No matter what."

4. How Tom and his wife survived a "life-changing" head-on car crash, and the resulting trauma that remains to this day.

5. Tom's love of a challenge - and how that led to him appearing on Channel 4's SAS: Who Dares Wins.

6. How Tom beat the odds to appear on the show - and the lessons that will remain with him for 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.

In this episode with Ian Ebbs from Football Boots, you will hear:

1. How Ian grew an audience of 1.4 million YouTube subscribers
2. The difference between "being a genius" and "being lucky".
3. Why Ian was locked up by Border Security.
4. How Ian has made "having fun with the family" his day job.
5. Why Ian moved from the UK to New Zealand.

• Ian's process for "having a system that works - and then beating it to death!"

1. How Alison Davies was told "not to fall in love" with buying a pub - and promptly did just that.

2. The importance of "doing the right thing" - and how it can lead to winning clients.

3. How Alison built resilience battling a recession, floods, health problems and a global pandemic.

4. Why Alison sent £5 notes to local pubs - and how it landed her on BBC Radio 4.

5. What happens when you surround yourself with a group of smart people.

In this episode, you will hear:

• The 3 mistakes most photography business owners make

• Jeff's "greatest-ever failure"

• Depression, debt and divorce

• The difference between a good photographer and a good photography business

• Why every mentor should have a mentor themselves.

• How Jeff went from zero to 80,000 followers on LinkedIn

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.

The Evergreen Assets Audiobook launches on February 24th.

Hear an exclusive sneak preview of the book here - and get a FREE Evergreen Assets workshop when you pre-order the audiobook before midnight on Feb 23rd: https://www.bigidea.co.uk/workshop

The Evergreen Assets Audiobook launches on February 24th.

Hear an exclusive sneak preview of the book here - and get a FREE Evergreen Assets workshop when you pre-order the audiobook before midnight on Feb 23rd: https://www.bigidea.co.uk/workshop

The Evergreen Assets Audiobook launches on February 24th.

Hear an exclusive sneak preview of the book here - and get a FREE Evergreen Assets workshop when you pre-order the audiobook before midnight on Feb 23rd: https://www.bigidea.co.uk/workshop

Hear an exclusive sneak preview of the book here - and get a FREE Evergreen Assets workshop when you pre-order the audiobook before midnight on Feb 23rd: https://www.bigidea.co.uk/workshop

Hear an exclusive sneak preview of the book here - and get a FREE Evergreen Assets workshop when you pre-order the audiobook before midnight on Feb 23rd: https://www.bigidea.co.uk/workshop

The Evergreen Assets Audiobook launches on February 24th.

Hear an exclusive sneak preview of the book here - and get a FREE Evergreen Assets workshop when you pre-order the audiobook before midnight on Feb 23rd: https://www.bigidea.co.uk/workshop

When I was a kid, I always wanted Wile E Coyote to catch Road Runner.

And then one day, he did - prompting a question that business owners ask themselves every day:

"Now What?"

A question that can be both incredibly powerful - and incredibly dangerous!

The Evergreen Assets Audiobook launches on February 24th.

Hear an exclusive sneak preview of the book here - and get a FREE Evergreen Assets workshop when you pre-order the audiobook before midnight on Feb 23rd: https://www.bigidea.co.uk/workshop

The Evergreen Assets Audiobook launches on February 24th.

Hear an exclusive sneak preview of the book here - and get a FREE Evergreen Assets workshop when you pre-order the audiobook before midnight on Feb 23rd: https://www.bigidea.co.uk/workshop

Who needs A-Levels?

Michael in his own words screwed up his A-levels, he needed 2As and 1B to study to be an optician at university, he received 1D and 2Es.

He then went onto study Business Studies at Teesside Poly in Middlesbrough, he ended up having a great time mainly as he spent the second year studying in The Netherlands - one of the best years he has ever had he said.

Michael didn't know what to do after his degree, so he trained and studied to be a chartered accountant. After two years of failing exams, he decided exams were not for him and went off backpacking around South America.

On his return he retrained as a management accountant and worked as an internal auditor for Burberrys, Texaco, Sainsburys and Deloittes.

So how did he end up in the world of art?

As a child he was 'dragged around' various museums and art galleries, but as he got older, he found himself being drawn into this world and discovered he could really register with images. One Saturday evening whilst living in London he found himself at a Rolf Harris art exhibition with free champagne! He was told that he could buy a concession in Selfridges for £150, so off he went to purchase that. He then popped it on Ebay and made himself £50.

That was it he was hooked!

So, what has been happening since that evening, well Michael is a valued member of the One Percent Club and has achieved a lot in 2021 through marginal gains.

Click play to find out how his love of art has enabled him to live an ambitious lifestyle business.