Welcome to EMPIRE BUILDERS with CEO, entrepreneur, and International speaker, Nick James.
Nick is probably best known for his ground-breaking ‘Expert Empires’ events in the UK. He's dynamic and daring in his approach to business, and genuinely loves to see his clients get results. In a world where self-awareness and humility are rare, you’ll find Nick’s ‘open and real’ style refreshing, challenging, and inspiring.
On this podcast you’ll find a mix of:
1. Original content, recorded especially for ‘EMPIRE BUILDERS’ listeners. Nick will share his current (and often extreme!) views on all things business, including audience growth, lead generation, sales, and how to get the very best out of yourself every single day.
2. Exclusive interviews with some of the world’s best-known experts and authors, including David Goggins, Chalene Johnson, Trent Shelton, Lewis Howes, Ryan Deiss, and many more.
3. Keynote Speeches recorded live at Nick’s previous events, featuring high net-worth entrepreneurs like Gary Vaynerchuk, Lord Sugar, Grant Cardone, Tom Bilyeu, Ed Mylett, and others.
If you’re committed to building an EMPIRE that makes a big difference in the world, AND helps you create vast personal wealth… you’re in the right place!
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The $1 BILLION Vision Note: How Vishen Lakhiani Created Mindvalley from His Couch
Episode 176
Wednesday, May 7, 2025 • Duration 14:26
In this inspiring episode of Expert Empires, Nick James sits down with Vishen Lakhiani, founder of Mindvalley and headline speaker for Expert Empires 2025.
Vishen shares the surprising story of how Mindvalley began as a side project selling meditation CDs and grew into a global personal development platform.
Learn how a Jim Carrey-inspired vision exercise in 1995 set Vishen on a path to deliver "a billion dollars worth of value to the world," why his first three business ideas failed, and his counterintuitive approach to entrepreneurship: prioritising personal growth over profits.
Vishen reveals the secret behind Mindvalley's successful membership model and offers powerful insights for experts and entrepreneurs on building a business that becomes a vehicle for massive personal development and global impact.
Nick dropped out of university at the age of 21 and failed spectacularly with his first coaching business, which forced him to take a £16k/yr telesales job.
Within 12 months he was the top performer and left to start his second business at 24. This time he discovered a winning formula and before long had a multi-six-figure company.
He then made a huge mistake which nearly put him out of business and cost him £50,000 in personal cash!
Fortunately, Nick kept it afloat, turned it around, and sold that business 2 years later in a seven-figure deal.
He then co-founded a multi-million-pound marketing company, which he exited in 2015, and created Expert Empires.
Today, Expert Empires is known as the UK's number one business event for Experts, with world-renowned celebrity speakers like Gary Vaynerchuk, Grant Cardone, Chalene Johnson, David Goggins, and Lewis Howes gracing the stage.
Nick also specialises in helping Coaches, Consultants, Speakers, Trainers, and Authors take their businesses from zero to six figures and beyond through his Expert Empires Mastermind programme.
The WhatsApp Breakthrough: Turn Cold Leads Into 10K Sales [With Paul Green]
Episode 175
Saturday, May 3, 2025 • Duration 30:51
In this episode of Empire Builders, Nick James sits down with WhatsApp marketing specialist Paul Green to reveal the strategies that are transforming how experts connect with prospects.
Discover why WhatsApp has become the essential communication tool for coaches, consultants and course creators who want faster response rates and higher conversions.
Paul shares his remarkable journey from commercial airline pilot to marketing innovator, and reveals his simple yet powerful techniques for re-engaging cold leads – including the "90-second selfie method" that's generating £10K sales from a single message.
You'll learn why traditional email follow-up is failing and how to leverage the personal nature of WhatsApp to build deeper connections with prospects.
Don't miss the live demonstration where Nick implements one of Paul's strategies in real-time, plus access to Paul's complete WhatsApp Playbook featuring 12 proven campaigns that have generated over seven figures for his clients.
Whether you're struggling with ghosted leads, slow sales cycles, or simply want to maximise your conversion rates, this episode delivers immediately actionable tactics to revolutionise your follow-up process.
Nick James Journey: Building a Resilient Business Empire Through Uncertainty
Episode 174
Wednesday, April 30, 2025 • Duration 01:30:33
In this special episode of Empire Builders, the tables are turned as Nick James shares his in-depth interview with Peter Daly-Dickson from the "Not A Straight Line" podcast. Listen in as Peter skillfully guides Nick through the highs and lows of his entrepreneurial journey, drawing out candid stories and valuable insights rarely shared elsewhere.
From Nick's early influences at Tony Robbins events as a 12-year-old to rebuilding from zero after losing everything in 2015, this conversation reveals the unpredictable path to success. Nick opens up about his relationship with his business partner Matt, his "Three F's" philosophy (Family, Fitness, Finance), and the critical lesson of separating your identity from your business.
This exclusive interview dives deep into turning setbacks into opportunities, creating multiple income streams for financial resilience, and knowing when your leadership approach needs to evolve for continued growth. Whether you're starting your first venture, rebuilding after a setback, or scaling your existing business, Nick's honest reflections offer a roadmap for navigating entrepreneurship's inevitable "zags" while maintaining both business success and personal fulfilment.
Don't miss this revealing conversation between two experienced entrepreneurs that will transform how you view challenges and opportunities on your own business journey.
Stop Stopping: Paul Mort on Building a 7-Figure Coaching Empire
Episode 173
Monday, March 31, 2025 • Duration 53:38
In this no-holds-barred conversation with Paul Mort, Nick James dives deep into how Paul built his 7-figure coaching business serving 350+ clients while maintaining his sanity. Paul reveals his unconventional approach to scaling through group coaching, how he's developed systems to track client engagement using AI, and why sobriety has been his secret weapon for peak performance.
From publishing bestselling books to building a personal brand that connects with married businessmen "who need to get their shit together," Paul shares the uncomfortable truth about what it really takes to succeed: relentless consistency, omnipresence in your marketing, and never-ending content creation. Whether you're just starting your expert business or looking to scale beyond the time-for-money trap, Paul's direct, honest insights on client retention, delivery systems, and goal-setting will challenge you to level up.
Nick dropped out of university at the age of 21 and failed spectacularly with his first coaching business, which forced him to take a £16k/yr telesales job.
Within 12 months he was the top performer and left to start his second business at 24. This time he discovered a winning formula and before long had a multi-six-figure company.
He then made a huge mistake which nearly put him out of business and cost him £50,000 in personal cash!
Fortunately, Nick kept it afloat, turned it around, and sold that business 2 years later in a seven-figure deal.
From Broadcasting to Happy Place: Fearne Cotton on Building an Authentic Wellness Empire
Episode 172
Tuesday, January 28, 2025 • Duration 01:06:59
In this candid conversation at Expert Empires, broadcasting legend Fearne Cotton reveals how personal struggles led her to build the Happy Place empire, which now attracts 7,000+ people to its festivals.
She shares intimate insights about transitioning from traditional media to entrepreneurship, building a successful business partnership with her management company, and creating authentic content in the wellness space.
Fearne opens up about managing mental health while scaling a business, the power of honest storytelling, and why being real rather than perfect has been key to her success. Whether you're building a personal brand, scaling events, or navigating the creator economy, this episode offers valuable lessons on turning personal challenges into business opportunities while maintaining authenticity.
Nick dropped out of university at the age of 21 and failed spectacularly with his first coaching business, which forced him to take a £16k/yr telesales job.
Within 12 months he was the top performer and left to start his second business at 24. This time he discovered a winning formula and before long had a multi-six-figure company.
He then made a huge mistake which nearly put him out of business and cost him £50,000 in personal cash!
From 120 to 10 Million: Steven Bartlett's Journey of Building The Diary of a CEO
Episode 171
Tuesday, January 28, 2025 • Duration 01:05:00
In this compelling episode of Empire Builders, Nick James sits down with Steven Bartlett, creator of the massively successful Diary of a CEO podcast.
From growing up as the only black kid in a poor family in Devon to building multiple successful ventures, Bartlett shares his fascinating journey and insights.
He reveals how his podcast grew from 120 downloads to 10 million monthly listeners through an obsessive focus on 1% improvements.
He discusses why breaking free from societal labels led to his greatest successes. Bartlett also opens up about the importance of expectation management in happiness, his innovative approach to content creation, and why sleep and health have become his non-negotiables.
Whether you're building a content empire or seeking to understand the psychology of success, this episode offers valuable lessons on perseverance, innovation, and authentic growth.
Nick dropped out of university at the age of 21 and failed spectacularly with his first coaching business, which forced him to take a £16k/yr telesales job.
Within 12 months he was the top performer and left to start his second business at 24. This time he discovered a winning formula and before long had a multi-six-figure company.
Kevin Whelan: The 7 Pillars of Building Lasting Wealth (Including 4 Most Business Owners Miss)
Episode 170
Sunday, December 15, 2024 • Duration 43:33
In this episode, Nick James sits down with Kevin Whelan, founder of Wealth Builders and host of the Wealth Talk podcast, to unpack the complete framework for building lasting wealth.
With over 30 years of experience, Kevin reveals the seven fundamental pillars of wealth building, including four often-overlooked ways to create recurring income within your existing business.
Learn why 95% of people never achieve financial independence, discover little-known tax strategies like Employee Ownership Trusts, and understand how to structure your wealth to minimise inheritance tax.
Whether you're looking to maximize your business's recurring revenue, protect your wealth, or create a lasting legacy, this episode provides actionable insights for entrepreneurs at any stage of their wealth-building journey.
Nick dropped out of university at the age of 21 and failed spectacularly with his first coaching business, which forced him to take a £16k/yr telesales job.
Within 12 months he was the top performer and left to start his second business at 24. This time he discovered a winning formula and before long had a multi-six-figure company.
He then made a huge mistake which nearly put him out of business and cost him £50,000 in personal cash!
Tyler Garns: The 4 Simple Ways to Double Your Business
Episode 169
Sunday, November 17, 2024 • Duration 23:28
In this episode, Nick James sits down with Tyler Garns, former VP of Marketing at Infusionsoft (now Keap) and successful agency founder.
Tyler breaks down the four fundamental levers any business can pull to double their revenue, shares his journey from employee to multi-million dollar agency owner, and explains why business growth is simpler than most people think.
Plus, learn why automation is crucial for scaling your business without burning out, and get actionable insights on where to start with systematising your operations.
Don't miss their upcoming one-day workshop in Birmingham on December 7th, where Tyler will work directly with attendees to implement these strategies. This exclusive event is available to Empire Builders community members for just a £1 booking fee, but seats are limited to 40 attendees. Book your spot at expertempires.com/automation.
Nick dropped out of university at the age of 21 and failed spectacularly with his first coaching business, which forced him to take a £16k/yr telesales job.
Within 12 months he was the top performer and left to start his second business at 24. This time he discovered a winning formula and before long had a multi-six-figure company.
He then made a huge mistake which nearly put him out of business and cost him £50,000 in personal cash!
Fortunately, Nick kept it afloat, turned it around, and sold that business 2 years later in a seven-figure deal.
Ask Me Anything: Hard Truths & Real Talk with Nick James
Episode 168
Sunday, November 3, 2024 • Duration 32:58
In this no-holds-barred Ask Me Anything session, Nick James opens up about the reality of building a 7-figure expert empire - from setbacks to breakthrough success. Going beyond the usual business talk, Nick shares raw insights about losing everything in 2015 and rebuilding from scratch, the delicate balance of friendship and leadership in business, and why separating your identity from your business is crucial for long-term success.
Nick delivers hard truths about scaling businesses, building resilient leadership, and creating sustainable success. Whether you're wrestling with business partnerships, questioning your entrepreneurial identity, or seeking to break through revenue plateaus, this episode offers unfiltered wisdom from someone who's navigated the entrepreneurial rollercoaster.
Get ready for real talk about:
Overcoming business crisis points and rebuilding stronger
Managing the transition from friend to boss
Creating multiple income streams without losing focus
Building a business that serves your life (not the other way around)
The mindset shifts required for scaling beyond 6-figures
No sugar coating, no fluff - just honest conversations about what it really takes to build an empire.
Nick dropped out of university at the age of 21 and failed spectacularly with his first coaching business, which forced him to take a £16k/yr telesales job.
Within 12 months he was the top performer and left to start his second business at 24. This time he discovered a winning formula and before long had a multi-six-figure company.
The Five Unconscious Decisions Shaping Your Business
Episode 167
Sunday, October 20, 2024 • Duration 41:11
In this episode of Empire Builders, Nick James delivers a compelling keynote from Expert Empires, revealing the five unconscious decisions that shape your business and how to leverage them for success.
Nick draws from his experience in building multiple seven-figure businesses to provide actionable insights on transforming your entrepreneurial mindset and decision-making process.
Discover Nick's expert strategies for business growth, including:
The DISC personality framework and how it influences your business choices
How to balance going bigger with getting better in your business
Techniques for combining logic and intuition in decision-making
Strategies for serving clients while effectively selling your products or services
The formula for success: structure plus discipline, and how to apply it
How to focus on core business while benefiting from diversification
Nick's engaging presentation includes interactive exercises, personal anecdotes, and real-world examples, offering valuable lessons for entrepreneurs at any stage.
Whether you're struggling with growth plateaus or looking to optimize your business approach, this episode provides actionable insights on improving your decision-making, adapting your leadership style, and creating a more balanced and successful business.
Don't miss this opportunity to learn from one of the UK's leading business mentors as he shares his strategies for transforming unconscious limitations into conscious opportunities for growth and success.
Nick dropped out of university at the age of 21 and failed spectacularly with his first coaching business, which forced him to take a £16k/yr telesales job.
Within 12 months he was the top performer and left to start his second business at 24. This time he discovered a winning formula and before long had a multi-six-figure company.
He then made a huge mistake which nearly put him out of business and cost him £50,000 in personal cash!
Fortunately, Nick kept it afloat, turned it around, and sold that business 2 years later in a seven-figure deal.
He then co-founded a multi-million-pound marketing company, which he exited in 2015, and created Expert Empires.
Today, Expert Empires is known as the UK's number one business event for Experts, with world-renowned celebrity speakers like Gary Vaynerchuk, Grant Cardone, Chalene Johnson, David Goggins, and Lewis Howes gracing the stage.
Nick also specialises in helping Coaches, Consultants, Speakers, Trainers, and Authors take their businesses from zero to six figures and beyond through his Expert Empires Mastermind programme.
ABOUT THE HOST
Nick James
Nick dropped out of university at the age of 21 and failed spectacularly with his first coaching business, which forced him to take a £16k/yr telesales job.
Within 12 months he was the top performer and left to start his second business at 24. This time he discovered a winning formula and before long had a multi-six-figure company.
He then made a huge mistake which nearly put him out of business and cost him £50,000 in personal cash!
Fortunately, Nick kept it afloat, turned it around, and sold that business 2 years later in a seven-figure deal.
He then co-founded a multi-million-pound marketing company, which he exited in 2015, and created Expert Empires.
Today, Expert Empires is known as the UK's number one business event for Experts, with world-renowned celebrity speakers like Gary Vaynerchuk, Grant Cardone, Chalene Johnson, David Goggins, and Lewis Howes gracing the stage.
Nick also specialises in helping Coaches, Consultants, Speakers, Trainers, and Authors take their businesses from zero to six figures and beyond through his Expert Empires Mastermind programme.
He then co-founded a multi-million-pound marketing company, which he exited in 2015, and created Expert Empires.
Today, Expert Empires is known as the UK's number one business event for Experts, with world-renowned celebrity speakers like Gary Vaynerchuk, Grant Cardone, Chalene Johnson, David Goggins, and Lewis Howes gracing the stage.
Nick also specialises in helping Coaches, Consultants, Speakers, Trainers, and Authors take their businesses from zero to six figures and beyond through his Expert Empires Mastermind programme.
Fortunately, Nick kept it afloat, turned it around, and sold that business 2 years later in a seven-figure deal.
He then co-founded a multi-million-pound marketing company, which he exited in 2015, and created Expert Empires.
Today, Expert Empires is known as the UK's number one business event for Experts, with world-renowned celebrity speakers like Gary Vaynerchuk, Grant Cardone, Chalene Johnson, David Goggins, and Lewis Howes gracing the stage.
Nick also specialises in helping Coaches, Consultants, Speakers, Trainers, and Authors take their businesses from zero to six figures and beyond through his Expert Empires Mastermind programme.
He then made a huge mistake which nearly put him out of business and cost him £50,000 in personal cash!
Fortunately, Nick kept it afloat, turned it around, and sold that business 2 years later in a seven-figure deal.
He then co-founded a multi-million-pound marketing company, which he exited in 2015, and created Expert Empires.
Today, Expert Empires is known as the UK's number one business event for Experts, with world-renowned celebrity speakers like Gary Vaynerchuk, Grant Cardone, Chalene Johnson, David Goggins, and Lewis Howes gracing the stage.
Nick also specialises in helping Coaches, Consultants, Speakers, Trainers, and Authors take their businesses from zero to six figures and beyond through his Expert Empires Mastermind programme.
Fortunately, Nick kept it afloat, turned it around, and sold that business 2 years later in a seven-figure deal.
He then co-founded a multi-million-pound marketing company, which he exited in 2015, and created Expert Empires.
Today, Expert Empires is known as the UK's number one business event for Experts, with world-renowned celebrity speakers like Gary Vaynerchuk, Grant Cardone, Chalene Johnson, David Goggins, and Lewis Howes gracing the stage.
Nick also specialises in helping Coaches, Consultants, Speakers, Trainers, and Authors take their businesses from zero to six figures and beyond through his Expert Empires Mastermind programme.
He then co-founded a multi-million-pound marketing company, which he exited in 2015, and created Expert Empires.
Today, Expert Empires is known as the UK's number one business event for Experts, with world-renowned celebrity speakers like Gary Vaynerchuk, Grant Cardone, Chalene Johnson, David Goggins, and Lewis Howes gracing the stage.
Nick also specialises in helping Coaches, Consultants, Speakers, Trainers, and Authors take their businesses from zero to six figures and beyond through his Expert Empires Mastermind programme.
He then made a huge mistake which nearly put him out of business and cost him £50,000 in personal cash!
Fortunately, Nick kept it afloat, turned it around, and sold that business 2 years later in a seven-figure deal.
He then co-founded a multi-million-pound marketing company, which he exited in 2015, and created Expert Empires.
Today, Expert Empires is known as the UK's number one business event for Experts, with world-renowned celebrity speakers like Gary Vaynerchuk, Grant Cardone, Chalene Johnson, David Goggins, and Lewis Howes gracing the stage.
Nick also specialises in helping Coaches, Consultants, Speakers, Trainers, and Authors take their businesses from zero to six figures and beyond through his Expert Empires Mastermind programme.
Nick James
Nick dropped out of university at the age of 21 and failed spectacularly with his first coaching business, which forced him to take a £16k/yr telesales job.
Within 12 months he was the top performer and left to start his second business at 24. This time he discovered a winning formula and before long had a multi-six-figure company.
He then made a huge mistake which nearly put him out of business and cost him £50,000 in personal cash!
Fortunately, Nick kept it afloat, turned it around, and sold that business 2 years later in a seven-figure deal.
He then co-founded a multi-million-pound marketing company, which he exited in 2015, and created Expert Empires.
Today, Expert Empires is known as the UK's number one business event for Experts, with world-renowned celebrity speakers like Gary Vaynerchuk, Grant Cardone, Chalene Johnson, David Goggins, and Lewis Howes gracing the stage.
Nick also specialises in helping Coaches, Consultants, Speakers, Trainers, and Authors take their businesses from zero to six figures and beyond through his Expert Empires Mastermind programme.
