Explore every episode of the podcast Ambitious Lifestyle Business podcast

Get a FREE chapter of Retention First: https://www.bigidea.co.uk/retention-first

Download the FREE "slipping away" spreadsheet: https://www.bigidea.co.uk/slipping-away-spreadsheet

Can improving customer retention by just 5% really increase profits by up to 95%?

In this episode, I explain where the famous 5% to 95% customer retention statistic comes from, why keeping existing customers can be so much more profitable than constantly finding new ones, and what small business owners can do to improve customer retention starting today.

The research found that a 5% increase in customer retention could increase profits by somewhere between 25% and 95%, depending on the business.

Why such a huge difference?

Because you have already paid to win the customer. The advertising, acquisition and onboarding costs are largely behind you.

 From that point onwards, repeat purchases and renewals can become dramatically more profitable.

I share a real example from one of my own businesses, where we actually lost money acquiring customers in year one, but made far more from them as they renewed year after year.

That is what I call retention momentum.

The longer customers stay, the more valuable they become. The more valuable they become, the more you can afford to invest in keeping them.

In this episode, I also explain how to improve customer retention by finding and plugging the biggest holes in your customer journey, including:

- Poor foundations

- Inconsistent service

- Too much friction

- Customers simply forgetting you exist

- Weak customer connection

- Failing to adapt when customer needs change

Then I share three practical customer retention mindset shifts: Put existing customers first. Win the customer, not just the sale. And remember, it is not your customer's job to remember to buy from you.

I also show you the simple "Slipping Away" system I use to spot customers who may be drifting before they disappear completely.

If you are a small business owner who wants to increase profits, improve customer loyalty, generate more repeat business and stop constantly replacing lost customers with new ones, this episode is for you.

Because sometimes the fastest way to grow your business is NOT to find more customers. It is to keep more of the ones you already have.

Watch this video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/uRQj4skw90A

Get John's Top 100 Business Books: https://bigidea.co.uk/top-100-business-books

Join the One Percent Club: https://www.bigidea.co.uk/one-percent-club

The Hedgehog Concept Explained: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEKrdrasXFY

What can small business owners learn from How to Make a Billion in 9 Steps by Sir Richard Harpin?

In this episode, I review How to Make a Billion in 9 Steps and pull out 7 small business lessons from HomeServe founder Sir Richard Harpin, whose company was eventually sold for £4.1 billion.

Now, this is not really a book written for normal small business owners.

Richard Harpin's mission is to help build more large UK companies, and some of his advice is aimed squarely at founders who want to scale aggressively. But buried inside the book are some brilliant lessons that apply just as well to a six or seven-figure business.

In this review, I cover:

- Why copying what works can be a smart business strategy

- Why boring marketing can produce extraordinary returns

- Why customer retention is where the real money is

- Why hedgehogs build more wealth than foxes

- Why selling the pain often works better than selling the dream

- Which of Harpin's 9 steps actually matter for small business owners

- Why you probably do not need to build a billion-pound business at all

There are also some wonderfully practical ideas in here, including direct mail, retention, hiring your replacement, getting a mentor or coach, building a not-to-do list, and staying ruthlessly focused on the thing your business does best.

If you are a small business owner, freelancer, coach, consultant or entrepreneur looking for practical business growth lessons, this episode will help you decide which ideas from How to Make a Billion in 9 Steps are worth stealing for your own business.

 Because you may not want a billion.

But you can still learn a hell of a lot from someone who has built one.

In this episode:

0:00 From Schoolboy Salesman to Billionaire Empire

0:49 Why Copying Is Your Greatest Business Asset

2:06 The Unfashionable Secret to Massive ROI

4:38 Foxes vs Hedgehogs: The Wealth Strategy

7:45 The Nine Steps to Building a Billion

Watch this video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/uRQj4skw90A

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/h0jTgJjudQU

Join John and Jason in the One Percent Club: https://www.bigidea.co.uk/one-percent-club

Watch our interview with Gary about sacking his business partner: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teBd-z42hak

Dealing with a toxic business partner is exhausting.

Learn how to manage the situation without destroying your company.

When your co-founder constantly vetoes decisions, treats the company account as a personal piggy bank, or simply refuses to pull their weight, the situation quickly becomes unsustainable.

Many founders ignore these warning signs until it is too late, but letting partnership problems fester is a fast track to resentment and operational gridlock.

This discussion provides practical small business advice for navigating these conflicts.

We look at how to protect your assets and your sanity, ensuring that one person's poor behaviour does not lead to total business failure. You will learn how to set boundaries and manage the partnership dynamic before the damage becomes irreversible.

Subscribe for weekly business breakdowns

In this episode:

0:00 Navigating a Toxic Partnership

0:48 The Importance of Shareholder Agreements

3:09 Identifying the Root of the Problem

5:35 Knowing When to Part Ways

Watch this episode on YouTube

Are you wasting time on tasks that do not move the needle?

Learn how to apply the 80 20 principle to focus on what actually matters. Most business owners treat every daily activity as equally important, but this approach rarely leads to growth. By identifying the few inputs that generate the majority of your output, you can stop spinning your wheels and start making real progress.

This episode explains how to audit your daily workflow to ensure you are prioritising the right areas for your company. We look at why focusing on impactful tasks is the most effective way to improve your overall business results.

Whether you are a solopreneur or leading a small team, shifting your mindset away from busywork is essential for long-term small business productivity. It is not about working harder, but about ensuring your energy is spent where it counts.

Get a FREE chapter of Big Ideas... for Small Businesses

Join Ben, John and Jason in the One Percent Club: https://www.bigidea.co.uk/one-percent-club

How does a £1.2m business simply collapse?

We look at why the Hedgehog Concept is vital for avoiding failure.

During this episode of the Ambitious Lifestyle Business Podcast, we examine the reality behind building a successful company.

One of the biggest reasons for business failure is losing sight of your core purpose, which is why we break down the Hedgehog Concept.

It is a framework that forces you to align your passion, what you can be the best at, and your economic drivers.

Without this alignment, your marketing and operations departments often pull in different directions, leading to stalled growth.

If you are a founder or small business owner, this episode is for you.

We discuss the hard lessons learned from a business that grew fast but lacked a sustainable foundation, offering a clear small business strategy to help you avoid the same mistakes.

In this episode:

0:00 The Reality of Business Collapse

0:50 The Moment the Clock Ran Out

2:35 Finding Hope on the Kitchen Floor

6:26 Climbing the Mountain of Stupidity

14:02 Steadying the Ship After the Storm

17:14 Focusing on the Hedgehog Concept

You can also watch this episode on YouTube

Watch this episode on YouTube

How do you work less without your business falling apart?

In this episode of the Ambitious Lifestyle Business podcast, John Lamerton and Jason Brockman speak to Paul Miller about burnout, delegation, business boundaries, trusting your team, and how small business owners can stop being the central point of everything in their business.

Paul's wake-up call was not subtle.

After years of working 70 to 80 hours a week, carrying too much responsibility, and being the person everything revolved around, he ended up in hospital.

Twice.

The first time was meningitis.

The second time involved waking up in Charing Cross Hospital after blacking out and having a seizure following a business conference.

Paul explains how that served as a work/life balance wake up call, leading him to work fewer hours, delegate more effectively, set clearer boundaries, say no more often, outsource lower-value work and use the 80/20 principle to focus on the things that actually move the business forward.

We also talk about why so many small business owners feel trapped by their business, why letting go is so difficult, and why you need to stop doing £10 tasks if you want to spend more time on the £1,000 tasks that really matter.

If you are a small business owner, family business owner, accountant, coach, consultant, freelancer or solopreneur who wants to work fewer hours, avoid burnout, delegate properly and build a business that supports your life rather than consumes it, this episode is for you.

Because your business should fund and fuel your lifestyle.

It should not nearly kill you.

In this epsiode:

0:00 Introduction 
1:11 Waking Up in Hospital
4:00 Life as a Workaholic Business Owner
7:05 The Art of Delegating and Trusting
11:06 Mastering the Four-Day Work Week
19:02 Five Rules for a Balanced Business

Join Paul (and more than 100 other ambitious, lifestyle business owners) in the One Percent Club

In this episode:

0:00 - Introduction 
1:04 - Prospects Need to Hear the Same Thing Many Times Before Buying
3:18 - Energy Management is Better Than Time Management
8:42 - People Don't Care What You Do - They Just Want The Results
10:51 - YouTube is an Evergreen Asset
17:51 - The Power of Reflection
24:10 - Respect The Audience's Time (From the Very First Second)

What are the small business lessons that actually make a difference?

In this episode of the Ambitious Lifestyle Business podcast, small business owners John Lamerton and Jason Brockman share their 6 business lightbulb moments from the year so far, including practical lessons on marketing, productivity, client communication, YouTube, reflection and building a business that works better for your life.

These are NOT abstract business theories or guru-style hacks.

They are real lessons from working with small business owners inside the One Percent Club, running our own businesses, and making plenty of mistakes along the way.

In this episode, we talk about why your clients often need to hear the same message far more than once, why energy management can be more important than time management, and why selling the result matters more than selling the thing you do.

We also discuss why YouTube can be a powerful evergreen asset for small business owners, why reflection is an underrated business habit, and why respecting your audience's time might be one of the most important marketing lessons of all.

If you are a small business owner, freelancer, coach, consultant or solopreneur who wants to make better decisions, improve your marketing, get more done without burning out, and build a more ambitious lifestyle business, this episode should give you plenty to think about.

Because sometimes the biggest improvements do not come from chasing the next shiny tactic. They come from noticing the simple lessons hiding in plain sight. 

Get the Late Payment Calculator: https://chargeservices.co.uk/late-payment-calculator

Find out more about the One Percent Club: https://www.bigidea.co.uk/one-percent-club

In this episode: 
0.00 - Introduction 
1.04 - What impact does late payment have on small business owners?
2:59 - A sale isn't a sale until the invoice is paid
6.11 - Charging interest on late payments
10.41 - Prevention is better than cure
14.26 - You're not in the wrong to ask for your money!
16:22 - Will the Small Business Protections (Late Payments) Bill actually help small businesses?
18.22 - Paying tax on "profits" you haven't actually received!
20.15 - Sacking off work for a Friday afternoon at the soft play.
23.30 - What does an ambitious lifestyle business look like for Jenni?

Late payments are horrible.

Not just because they muck up your cash flow.

But because of the "ick" attached to them.

The awkwardness of chasing.

That "am I being too pushy?" feeling.

The ridiculous situation where you've done the work, but somehow feel bad asking for YOUR MONEY.

There's often a gap between sending invoices and actually getting paid. Jenni Sampson helps reduce that gap - and reduce the "ick" too.

In this episode of the Ambitious Lifestyle Business podcast, Jason and I spoke to Jenni about how she built a simple credit control system that any small business owner can follow.

It's a clear, step-by-step process for following up, using templates, scripts and simple confidence-building prompts.

The result? Better cash flow. Less stress. No more guessing what to say.

And much less of that horrible knot-in-the-stomach feeling when an invoice goes overdue.

We also talk with Jenni about charging interest on late payments, whether the government's new "Small Business Protection Bill" will make an ounce of difference, and the importance of chasing debt promptly (and certainly before you pay VAT and Corporation Tax on it! 🤦)

We talked about the whole journey on this latest episode of the Ambitious Lifestyle Business podcast. Available everywhere you get your podcasts.

Craig Jukes spent 37 years in corporate life.

Then, on a flight home from a holiday Kefalonia, Craig had one of those moments.

Not a "quit your job tomorrow and go and live in a hammock" moment.

A PROPER lightbulb moment. 💡

He realised he didn't want retirement to be some vague, far-off prize at the end of another decade of work.

He wanted freedom NOW.

Freedom to work from anywhere. Freedom to travel. Freedom to spend the grim UK winter somewhere that didn't require a big coat, central heating, and emotional support biscuits.

He didn't just dream about it. He designed it.

Craig built a portable business. He reduced his financial drag. He invested sensibly. He decluttered the stuff, the costs, and the commitments that were keeping him stuck.

Then he quit corporate life and built a digital nomad lifestyle business around work he actually wanted to do.

Not because he fancied "quitting my job to start a business" in the Instagram laptop-on-a-beach sense (anyone ever tried actually USING a laptop on a beach??)

But because he wanted a business that supported his life, rather than a life that was permanently being sacrificed to support his business.

And from that journey, Craig created a simple five-step framework that others can swipe and deploy if they want their own version of financial freedom, and run a business from anywhere in the world.

These days, Craig spends months abroad, gets more sunshine than the average Brit should legally be allowed, and runs a business that gives him the freedom he planned for.

Not by accident. Not by magic. By discipline, planning, smart decisions, and surrounding himself with the right people.

Craig's story is a reminder that your dream lifestyle business probably isn't as ridiculous as your brain keeps telling you it is. You just need to price it up, reverse-engineer it, and start making those 1% improvements.

That's what Craig did.

You can hear Craig's story in full (including his full 5-step framework) in this episode of the Ambitious Lifestyle Business podcast.

Sep Frijia describes himself as a poker player in an entrepreneur's body.

Last summer, he was stuck at mediocrity in both his poker and business pursuits, but he decided to flip the script. By shifting his focus to long-term purpose rather than short-term wins, Sep transformed his approach and outcomes.

He studied the game-changing strategies of blueprints, reflection, and incremental progress, applying them both at the poker table and in his business. His mindset evolved from chasing immediate results to playing the long game, becoming unapologetically all-in on his purpose and trusted decision-making.

This journey culminated in winning his poker league, a trophy, and the One Percenter of the month award - proving that sustained effort and clarity can lead to unstoppable success. (Read more about how the One Percent Club can transform your approach here)

Want to learn how Sep's mindset and strategies can help you level up? Tune into the latest episode of the Ambitious Lifestyle Business podcast - available wherever you listen!

Jill French is a book coach and editor, who has edited more than 250 books, for fiction, creative nonfiction, and memoirs.

And now she's written her own book too - a book that languished at the bottom of her to-do list for years - until she joined the One Percent Club, and made it happen.

Jill leaned into the One Percent Club to help make this process easier - she used weekly accountability calls to maintain constant, never-ending progress towards the huge goal, and deal with any road blocks that stood in her way.

She attended regular Coaching Calls - and always found a nugget or two to implement (and/or add to her Could Do List - to stay on track and avoid overwhelm!)

She tapped into the One Percent Club community, to crowd source her book's cover, and hold herself publicly accountable for her 75-day challenge (to create a new client-relevant tip in evergreen format) - which again, she successfully completed.

Oh, and Jill has done all this, while enjoying a long trip to Australia...

And her reward? a holiday in Gran Canaria - which prompted her to ask the question on our recent One Percent Club Call, "Could I run my business from Gran Canaria?"

If you're thinking of writing a book - or creating a business that you LOVE (and could do forever), this episode is for YOU.

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

A few years ago, John Lamerton was caught up in the relentless pursuit of new customers, constantly refilling a leaky bucket - promising the world but losing clients just as quickly as he gained them.

Frustrated by the constant chase, he had a lightbulb moment: focusing on retention and obsessing over existing customers was the real key to unlocking sustainable growth - and profits.

He shifted his mindset from acquisition to lifelong value, investing in his current clients and rethinking what business success really means. This intense focus transformed his business, boosting profits by turning a 5% increase in retention into up to 95% growth in profits.

Read how you can do the same in John's new book Retention First, which is OUT NOW: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0G7JNQ85H

In this episode, John explains why retention is highly leveraged, and that genuine obsession over your customers can revolutionise your business's future (and therefore, your lifestyle).

If you're fed up of always refilling a bucket full of holes in your business, this episode is for YOU.

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

Meet Dr David Lowe.

David had it all figured out - working a 5-day month, earning great money, enjoying a fantastic work/life balance, doing meaningful work for clients he loved.

There was just one problem.

His business model relied entirely on in-person training.

And it was 2019.

You and I know what's coming...

But David didn't.

He spent the next two years frantically scrabbling to "pivot" (is there a more 2020 word?) and keep paying the bills.

Meanwhile, his kids remember "the Covid years" as a time when they finished their school work by lunchtime, and spent the afternoons building memories with Mum and Dad.

That taught David a lot about the ambitious/lifestyle business pendulum.

David joined the One Percent Club in 2023, and has spent the past few years working on a doctorate - looking at how humour can be used in coaching.. something that leans into our core values of FUN and constant, never-ending improvement really well.

If you'd like to join Dr. Lowe in the One Percent Club (and experience some of that coaching for yourself), the doors for our March intake will open very soon.

ps. Here's David's favourite joke:

Did you hear about the inventor of the knock-knock joke? He was awarded the No-Bell prize.

🤦

If you want to be a better coach and/or have more fun, this episode is for YOU.

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

Links:

• Webinar series:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidjlowe/

• Explanation of the thesis:

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/davidjlowe_my-doctoral-findings-boiled-down-to-one-activity-7401195081862578176-epYD

• Questionnaire

https://forms.gle/tawvHWSNG9JHuBSL7"

If you're feeling stuck in your business (and/or your life), this episode is for YOU.

Three years ago, Mel Statner was working 12 hours a day (and sometimes 16!), finding herself exhausted, doing work that drained her energy.

In a nutshell, Mel was stuck.

Fast forward to today, and Mel works a 3 day week, having also doubled her income. Not by working harder, but because she found some instruction manuals for her operating system (her brain).

Mel changed how she thinks... how she makes decisions... and how she leads her life.

She's no longer stuck - she's thriving.

Jason and I have worked with Mel for several years now in the One Percent Club, and recently sat down with her to discuss her transformational journey.

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.

I recently came across my all-time favourite review of my book Big Ideas... for Small Businesses - from my ten year old son.

He's 16 now, so it really made me chuckle to see what the younger version of him made of a book that's aimed at ambitious lifestyle business owners, not ten year old kids!

How do you make sure you stay hydrated throughout the day?

By creating an easy-to-follow (and hard to forget) routine, of course!

Taking a leaf out of my own book Routine Machine, I've created the "5 teabag rule", to make sure I remain well lubricated through the working day...

"I'm sorry, that price is for new customers only"

A guaranteed way to get my blood BOILING... 😡

In this snippet from my forthcoming book Retention First, I share the story of a completely fictional broadband company, called "Emerging Media", who decide to tax the loyalty of their best customers, and give the best offers to those people who've never spent a penny with them...

Some of my "favourite" 1-star reviews:

"smug look at how awesome the author is"

"no help for small business owners unless they're already millionaires"

"my god you have to wade through an awful lot of pointless rambling to get there"

My books have attracted more than 2,000 five-star reviews.. yet it's the handful of negative ones that stick with me...

Here's what happened when I tried to get up at 5am and follow Hal Elrod's "miracle" morning routine:

It'd take a miracle for me to follow it again!

THE morning routine doesn't matter.

What matters is that you HAVE a morning routine - one that's 💯 designed for YOU...

Time happiness is about enjoying your work and life. It's essential to be proud of what you do, and understanding what makes you tick is crucial for happiness.

In this episode of the Ambitious Lifestyle Business podcast, One Percenter Neil Symonds introduces us to "Time Happiness" - the guiding principle that Neil uses to run his business - and TRULY enjoy his life.

A few weeks back, I had my left knee sliced open, and was signed off work for two weeks.

Upon being handed my sick note, I laughed out loud.

Because I run my own business.

"If I don't work, I don't earn"

Only that's not strictly true...

Not long after I started my first business, I was interviewed by my local newspaper. It makes me cringe to read it today:

I genuinely don't recognise the person I was back then.

I was thinking WAY too small.

And 24 years later, I'm lamenting how much that has cost me.

Especially TWO crucial mistakes I made - that I see others making today...

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)

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/)

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/

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...

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!

This summer, I'm revisiting my ideal job description:
 

• What I want
• When I want
• Where I want
• How I want
• If I want...

The ten questions I ask myself every week:

1. What have you learned this week?

2. What's gone well this week?

3. What's gone badly? How did you respond?

4. How have you turned the flywheel this week?

5. How have you been ambitious?

6. How have you focused on your lifestyle?

7. Who has inspired you this week, and how?

8. How are you feeling?

9. Are you on track right now?

10. What's the ONE thing that "Old John" needs to remind you of?

What would/do you ask yourself each week?

Are neurodivergent people more likely to become business owners?

And crucially, do neurodivergent business owners actually make BETTER business owners than their neurotypical counterparts?

In the summer episode of the Ambitious Lifestyle Business podcast, Jason and John discuss this theory, along with AI overwhelm, the power of doing hard things, and the culture of mediocrity in this UK.

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

The 80/20 Principle by Richard Koch has a BRILLIANT exercise, called "Happiness Islands"

Thanks to this exercise, I've spent more money on gigs than I have on cars.

Why?

Because they give me more "smiles-per-gallon" - the fuel that drivesevery ambitious lifestyle business.

What are your "happiness islands" (and "unhappiness deserts"?)

Every week, I encourage you to improve your business by 1%.

But why are you improving it?

And are you improving the WRONG things - for the WRONG reasons?

Find out in today's episode of the Ambitious Lifestyle Business podcast.

Running a small business in the UK is tough if you're a one-person band. But letting go of control to others is tough too - so what do you do?

Last month, I fulfilled a 30-year dream, and finally saw Pulp live in concert.

They were absolutely AMAZING - but there was one moment where the gig was almost ruined - by ONE person (and no, that person wasn't frontman Jarvis Cocker).

(You can watch this moment as it happened here...)

In this episode of Ambitious Lifestyle Business, we dive into effective customer retention strategies specifically tailored for UK businesses. 

You'll hear how improving your approach to existing customers can significantly boost your revenue without the need for increased effort.

Recently, my second-favourite Australian (and host of the Oz version of the 1% Club - not to be confused with the One Percent Club!) Jim Jefferies, announced that he's coming to Plymouth.

Aside from the obvious question (how bad is your career going if you're playing Plymouth Pavilions?), there's a lesson we can ALL learn - and implement in our businesses THIS WEEK..

Tune in to learn how to turn your customer base into loyal supporters that will heolp you build your ambitious lifestyle business.

Warren Buffett, Bill Gates and Steve Jobs were independently asked to sum up the secret to their success in one word.

They ALL chose the same word...

Can you guess what it is?

Are you looking to take your side hustle full time? Chris Spencer founded Peak Media Marketing after three decades in corporate work, and together with his wife Sarah, they aimed for a better work-life balance and less stress.

They focused on a diverse client base to stabilise income, and believe that authenticity is key in business relationships. Caring for clients leads to loyalty, and ambitious lifestyle businesses can out-care larger corporations.

Chris also advises against too much reliance on AI tools, which he calls "Microwave Marketing", and lacks authenticity and depth. AI should enhance, not replace human creativity.

Finally, Chris shares his thoughts on how an ambitious lifestyle business offers flexibility and personal fulfillment.

For the past ten years (and three months), I've built my businesses 90 days at a time - setting three BIG challenges to work on every 90 days. This quarter, I achieved...

NONE of my goals.

I made some schoolboy errors:

👷 Underestimating how much work was involved.

⌛ Overestimating how much capacity and resources (especially time) I had at my disposal.

🎯 Setting goals that were outside of my control (they relied almost entirely on other people)

In this solo epsiode of the Ambitious Lifestyle Business podcast, I explain what I'm going to do about it over the next three months.

What's YOUR plan for the next 90 days?

No Hurry, No Pause? 

How does that fit with an ambitious lifestyle business mindset? What ambitious lifestyle business owner wants to "never pause"?

At least that's what I initially thought - then I spent two hours pondering the question, while hiking in the countryside with my dog - and I reached a VERY different conclusion - which I share in today's episode of the Ambitious Lifestyle Business podcast.

Could you live by the mantra No Hurry, No Pause? 

Feedback loops in business are a great way to uncover 1% improvements. 

In this solo episode of the Ambitious Lifestyle Business podcast, bestselling author John Lamerton shares the FOUR questions he uses to get high-quality, actionable feedback from his clients.

In Big Ideas... for Small Businesses, John Lamerton wrote about the Team GB Men's Eights Rowing team from the late 90's and early 2000's - and how they've inspired him to "make his boat go faster".

In this solo episode of the ambitious lifestyle business podcast, John tells the story in full, and asks the question: what makes YOUR boat go faster?

In this episode of the Ambitious Lifestyle Business podcast, One Percenter Ian Bluck returns to discuss his journey from a corporate job at Lloyds Bank to building a property empire and moving to Spain.

Moving to Spain was a family decision influenced by Ian's children, after they attended One Percent LIVE with Ian and his wife in 2024. It's important to take inspiration from others' journeys, and that's exactly what Ian and his family did.

Crucially, they knew that there would never be a "perfect time" to make the move, and so, rather than waiting for all the lights to turn green, they started taking action immediately, and dealt with each potential stumbling block or challenge as they arose. As Ian says, he's discovered the "manana" mindset as a result!

We also talk about how lessons learned in corporate settings can be applied to small businesses, the significance of teaching financial literacy to children, and the value of creating a supportive community. Ian also reflects on the importance of defining success on your own terms and the need for continuous improvement in both knowledge and environment.

If you're looking to move your business to Spain (or indeed anywhere outside of the UK), Ian's story is an inspirational one, that you'll want to listen to multiple times.

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

I set some ambitious health goals in January.

They've gone to 💩.

Here's what I'm doing about it...

If you wanna be the best...

And you wanna beat the rest...

_______________'s what you need.

(but do you REALLY want to be a record breaker?)

You're probably familiar with the so-called "Marshmallow experiment", which "proved" the long term life benefits of delayed gratification.

Well, today I'm imploring you to do the opposite - to eat the damn marshmallow!

Why do people hate lifestyle businesses?

My first book (Big Ideas.. for Small Businesses) is 70,000 words long.  Here are the 1,471 words that have had the biggest impact on readers over the past 8 years - in which I explain my ideal job description, why I refuse to take VC money, and why I'm banned from watching Dragons Den.

(The full book is available on Audible, narrated by me).

Can you find 1,000 ways to say the SAME thing?

Are you posting random opinions and thoughts when trying to market your business, or do you have ONE coherant thread running through every promotion?

In today's Ambitious Lifestyle Business podcast, I'll show you how to sum up your "big idea" in one sentence.. then find 1,000 different ways to say that sentence!

In this episode, John, Jason, and One Percenter Michael Oliver delve into the Hedgehog Concept, a business strategy derived from Jim Collins' book 'Good to Great.'

They explore the importance of aligning passion, expertise, and economic viability in business. Michael shares personal reflections on his career journey, evaluating his past roles through the lens of the Hedgehog Concept.

The conversation highlights the importance of passion in driving business success and the ability to pivot roles within a business to enhance fulfillment and effectiveness.

The guys discuss the role of self-reflection in identifying one's strengths and passions, and how this can drive business success, through the lens of the hedgehog concept. The conversation ultimately defines what a hedgehog-friendly ambitious lifestyle business looks like, focusing on time freedom and strategic management.

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

In 1986, Daniel Ludwig was the richest man on the planet.

Daniel Who? Exactly.

In today's Ambitious Lifestyle Business podcast, I explain why going "under the radar" could be the best thing you ever do...