Evolve to Succeed (Warren Munson)

Mark Cribb, founder of Urban Guild, talks about how travelling the world sparked his love for hospitality, the challenges of running a seasonal business, balancing personal and business success and, finally, his inordinate love for pineapples.  

Mark Masters is a marketing consultant and owner of You Are The Media, a marketing and media training and learning community. What started as a side project in 2013, You Are The Media has now grown into a name on an international scale, with people participating from all over the world.

John and Mark X. Cronin are the dynamic father-son team behind John’s Crazy Socks, a social enterprise with a mission to spread happiness. They bootstrapped their business into the world’s largest sock store with multi-million dollar revenues, and won Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneurs of the Year in 2019. What makes their story particularly special is that 27 year-old John has Down syndrome, and is constantly challenging preconceptions about differing abilities, exemplifying the remarkable achievements that can arise when inclusion takes centre stage.

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.

Director of Captiva Homes, James Pink, talks about the highs and lows of the property business. 

Clare Gallie, CEO of Lewis-Manning Hospice Care, talks about the joys and challenges of working in the fundraising sector and reveals the wisdom she's learned from the dying.

Show notes:

4:47 - From chemistry to fundraising

7:30 - Support for careers in charities and fundraising

9:42 - Differences between leading a normal organisation vs. charity

12:59 - The challenges of leading in an emotionally-charged environment

17:29 - Dealing with being challenged as transformational CEO

19:33 - Self-development

21:17 - Effects of the pandemic on the care sector and fundraising

28:16 - Hardest thing about working in hospice care...

30:04 - ...and the most enjoyable thing

32:26 - Lessons learned from being in the presence of the dying

35:58 - Where do you find your inspiration?

37:29 - The effect of ambition and work on personal life

39:06 - How do you rejuvenate?

40:31 - Dealing with disappointment and being let down

41:41 - Personal definition of success

On his second appearance on the show, Matthew Barker explains how a 2005 fire that razed his factory to the ground has put him in good stead to deal with the current crisis. He also gives a refreshing view on the crisis, citing it as an opportunity for those with an entrepreneurial mindset to seek new opportunities and collaboration. 

Rachel Pendered is co-founder and managing director of Media Zoo, an award-winning creative communications agency. Amongst other things, she talks about her former career with the BBC, pursuing personal and professional purpose, the future of PR and how she nurtures young talent through her 'Zooniversity'.

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

Julie Noonan is an experienced executive coach and change management strategist, and founder and CEO of Julie Noonan Consulting. As well as change management, Julie gives valuable perspectives on her other areas of expertise, including the approaches to work and values from the different generations, reverse mentoring and the meaning of legacy.

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

Jon Webb is the principal of St. Aldhelm's Academy in Poole. Under his leadership, the school was transformed from near-closure - it achieved the worst GCSE results in England in 2012 - into a top-performer. Webb reveals how he did this.

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

Andrew Skipsey, managing director of M12 Solutions, talks about his time in the Royal Marines, the importance of a competitive spirit and his definition of success.

Gerard McSharry is the owner and director of Higherground, a flooring company that’s been in business since 1990. Remarkably, Gerard has wanted to be a business owner since the age of eight and is therefore an entrepreneur through and through. Being at the helm of your own business certainly comes with its ups and downs, and over time Gerard has seen quite a few. Recessions, wars, a banking crisis and the pandemic—Gerard has successfully navigated through them all and has some amazing wisdom to share, as well as thoughts on the meaning of resilience. 

How do you go from being a fisherman to successful owner of a holiday rental agency? Simon Tolson, managing director of Rumsey of Sandbanks, tells us his interesting entrepreneurial story.

On this episode, Warren interviews Jimmy and Suzie, the founders of one of the UK’s biggest iced coffee brands, Jimmy's Iced Coffee.

Jimmy and Suzie discuss their journey running a family business as brother and sister, from starting out with a coffee shop, auditioning for Dragon’s Den and distributing their iced coffee across the UK.

Their journey emphasises the importance of gut instinct, being true to oneself when building a brand and always having a positive outlook even when dealing with immense pressure.

They discuss the challenges of scaling a business, dealing with bureaucracy and what led to them selling the business.

With insights from the founders of one of the UK’s largest drink brands, you don’t want to miss out on this episode of the Evolve to Succeed Podcast!

This episode of the Evolve to Succeed Podcast covers…

·      Trusting your gut instinct and being true to yourself when building a brand.

·      Taking risks by trying unconventional marketing strategies.

·      Not overlooking the importance of small wins.

·      Seeking out mentors and listening to constructive feedback.

·      Maintaining a positive and optimistic mindset throughout the entrepreneurial journey.

·      Enjoying the journey and having valid reasons for doing it.

·      Taking time to consider what you're doing and don't rush to get to the end.

·      Building a great team.

·      Making sustainability intrinsic to your business.

·      Selling a business for financial security and personal freedom.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

02:20 Starting Jimmy’s Iced Coffee

03:19 Naivety

04:22 Jimmy and Suzie’s Roles

06:09 Mistakes

08:04 Optimism

10:24 Brother and Sister in Business

13:36 Maintaining Relationships

14:30 Waitrose

23:46 Risks

26:01 Unconventional Marketing

29:43 Seeking Feedback

31:09 Being True to Yourself

35:09 Enjoying the Journey

36:34 Scaling

40:50 Sustainability

46:58 Selling Jimmy’s Iced Coffee

01:05:41 Family and Personal Pursuits

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.

Trevor Merriden, founder and MD of Merriborn Media, talks about the importance of Thought Leadership, both as an effective form of content marketing and as a means to encourage and strengthen collaboration among business leaders.

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.

What do a former fighter pilot and a health coach with an MBA have in common? Quite a lot, apparently. Dave and Heather Ashley—husband and wife and founders of Ashley Property Group—talk about their unusual and, at times, hazardous career paths, as well as the pleasures and challenges of working with your spouse. 

Sue Campbell, founder of Kind2 - an award-winning solid shampoo and conditioner - talks about leaving many years of secure corporate life behind in the pursuit of creating a sustainable product, as well as a brand that lives its values of kindness and good business practice.

Show Notes:

(00:14) Growing up in Australia, working in New Zealand, Hong Kong and the UK

(2:33) Settling in the UK

(3:25) More demand in the UK for sustainable products

(3:38) What is Kind2?

(5:02) The effect of awards on the business

(6:32) What made you start your own business?

(8:14) Leaving the security of the corporate world

(10:50) Why shampoo bars?

(13:23) Developing the product

(15:32) Tips on being persistent and dealing with rejection

(17:32) Creating a competitive brand

(21:24) Outsourcing expertise that shares the same values

(23:33) Convincing people to convert from ‘normal shampoo’ to shampoo bars

(26:10) Dealing with the challenges of Covid

(28:13) Subscription-based sales vs. through retailers

(30:10) Sustainability as a marketing gimmick vs. sustainability as a true value

(32:53) Five-year plan for Kind2

(34:30) 10-year plan for Kind2

(37:52) The importance of like-minded people

(38:58) Everyday tips on for a more sustainable lifestyle

Martin Higgins is managing director at MSP Capital, a company he developed with his father Ray in the late 90s. What was then a small operation has since grown into one of the leading providers of non-regulated commercial finance in Southern England.

Carna Wilson and sisters Dani and Mel Bowen founded Muddy Boots Nursery School in 2014 while they were all still in their 20’s. Their original vision was to start a nursery where children can spend as much time as possible outside, exploring, learning, getting dirty, challenging themselves, testing out ideas and growing their imaginations. Fast forward to 2023, and there are now five Muddy Boots nurseries scattered around Dorset.

Steve Bolton - serial entrepreneur, investor, speaker and philanthropist, and current CEO of Bolt Partners - talks about his long and fascinating business journey, and the importance of mentorship and personal development in achieving true success.

WeMove founder Adam Maton talks about how turning away from comfort and contentment to pursue his own journey led to him disrupting the removals business.

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

On this episode of the Evolve to Succeed Podcast, the tables have been turned, as Mark Cribb interviews Warren Munson, the founder of Inspire and Evolve Advisory. 

They discuss Warren’s journey as an entrepreneur, his motivations and the evolution of his businesses. Warren shares insights from interviewing over 200 local businesspeople on the Evolve to Succeed Podcast, highlighting the importance of building relationships. 

Mark also delves into Warren’s decision to sell Inspire and start Evolve, the emotional challenges he faced and the three key focuses of Evolve: ignite, thrive and optimise. 

Warren reflects on his journey at Inspire and discusses the loneliness of starting a business and the importance of perseverance and self-motivation. Warren also shares his thoughts on risk-taking and the value of building a business with capital value. 

Warren emphasises his passion for helping others in business and his excitement for the future of Evolve Advisory.

This episode of the Evolve to Succeed Podcast covers…

1.    Resilience and overcoming challenges are common themes in the stories of successful entrepreneurs.
2.    Selling a business requires careful consideration and finding the right fit.
3.    The journey of entrepreneurship involves different stages, from igniting a business to thriving and optimising it.
4.    Success is not solely defined by financial gain, but by achieving personal goals and creating a legacy. Starting a business can be a lonely experience, but perseverance and self-motivation are key to success.
5.    Building a business with capital value is a worthwhile goal, as it creates opportunities for growth and acquisition.
6.    Self-awareness and self-acceptance are important for personal and professional growth.
7.    The future of Evolve Advisory holds exciting possibilities for growth and making a difference in the business community.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background
06:08 The Decision to Sell Inspire and Start Evolve
16:27 The Evolution of Evolve: Ignite, Thrive and Optimise
36:26 Building a Business with Capital Value
39:21 Self-Awareness and Self-Acceptance
46:09 Helping Others in Business
50:00 The Future of Evolve Advisory

Ric Exley, managing director at Jimmy's Iced Coffee, talks recruitment, product development and the importance of having fun.

To celebrate our 200th episode, we’ve lined up a very special guest in the form of Kate Adie. Kate was Chief News Correspondent for BBC News between 1989 and 2003, during which time she reported from war zones around the world. She retired from the BBC in early 2003 and now works as a freelance presenter on BBC Radio 4. Kate’s 14 year career as a news correspondent saw her cover everything from The Troubles in Northern Ireland, the Lockerbie bombing and the Tiananmen Square protests, to the wars in the Gulf and Yugoslavia, and the Rwandan genocide. She has met with leaders such as Colonel Gaddafi, and survived being shot at point-blank range.

The Evolve to Succeed Podcast, hosted by Evolve founder Warren Munson, interviews entrepreneurs and business leaders on their journeys, and delves into their personal and professional lives.

Tom Quay is the CEO and co-founder of Passenger, a digital customer experience platform that supports more than 70 public transport operators and whose ultimate goal is to drive sustainability by reengaging and revitalising perceptions around public transport, especially bus travel.

Show Notes:

(2:11) Early beginnings and journey to the founding of Passenger

(3:09) So you don't think you were destined to run your own business?

(5:51) Where did the pivot into public transport come from?

(7:15) Was there a moment of truth where you knew you were onto a good thing?

(9:47) Any tips and hints on people considering switching from client service to product development?

(12:58) Where is Passenger now and how does it make transport more sustainable?

(15:08) How do you define sustainable transport?

(17:30) What's your opinion on electric cars?

(20:16) What changes do you see in the use and perception of public transport post-Covid?

(21:22) Have you seen an acceleration of digitalisation in the public transport sector?

(24:33) Challenges for Passenger moving forward

(26:25) Is Passenger a disruptor, and what would you define as disruption?

(29:20) If you were the Minister for Transport, what would you do to enable better adoption of public transport in the provinces?

(34:39) Any countries/cities that are getting transport sustainability right?

(38:45) Changing our mindset and choosing sustainability over convenience

(40:58) Hints and tips to change mindset?

(43:24) What positive changes would you like to see to promote cycling?

(47:07) What are your hopes and aspirations for Passenger for the next five to ten years?

(49:25) What is your definition of success?

Over the past 30 years, serial entrepreneur Lyndon Stickley has invested in, grown and eventually sold six companies in a wide range of sectors. He talks company purpose, talent, and finding meaning in work and life. 

Gregory Cooke is CEO of Constant Close, a sales agency that removes the need for sales calls and therefore streamlines your sales process. His entrepreneurial journey began when he started selling memory cards from eBay while still at school. Much of Gregory’s ambition, drive and resilience was born out of his struggles with dyslexia, PTSD and mental health issues. He also talks about his plans for Friday Founders Foundation—a network of mental health support for entrepreneurs. 

Incredible highs, excess, glamour, controversy and arrest – Richard Carr talks about his colourful personal and professional life.

Hannah Sills, MD at Team Jobs, talks about the pleasures and challenges of taking on the role of MD within an entrepreneurial business, as well as the future of recruitment in the UK.

Emma Worrollo is the founder of Playful Den, a company which helps teams, brands, kids and individuals embrace the power of play. She talks about topics from the importance of looking at the world with child-like wonder, the dangers of being too focused on productivity and how the concept of professionalism can suppress your authentic self as well as your creative thinking, to the role of play within leadership, our different play styles and what her work as Lego Serious Play facilitator entails.

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.

Steve Coburn is managing director at Project Five, a multi-award winning outsourced IT Support company that works with local businesses of all sizes in Surrey, Berkshire and Hampshire. Amongst other things, Steve is also president and director at the Surrey Chamber of Commerce, chairman of Collectively Camberley—a business improvement district—and owns the Login Lounge, a 20,000 square foot, live music venue, coffee house, wine bar, and co-working space in the centre of Camberley.

Carla Winsey owns and runs Silchester Farm with her husband Al. The couple bought the farm in 2018 and have transformed it into a beautiful events venue and guesthouse. Both Carla and Al come from a background in IT, so it's been an interesting transition. Carla talks about this journey, the farm's sustainability measures, as well what it's like to base your business and family life on the same piece of land.

Life coach Becki Houlston discusses the impact of stress on body and mind, and how to moderate it.  

We look back at the ten best performing podcasts of 2020, with a range of guests from different sectors and professions. From restauranteurs, nursery school disruptors and removal men, to ex-Special Forces soldiers, bodyguards and stress experts, and more - they're all here!

Gordon Fong is the CEO and co-founder of tech company Kimcell, which contains three businesses within it—Datacenta Hosting, e-mango and X-Net. Gordon is deeply passionate about making connections, both in the technical sense and the personal one. His goal is to enhance and champion business in Dorset, and part of this has been Kimcell’s expansion into the Dorset Innovation Park.

David Chamberlain, director of Performance Climate System, talks human potential, the importance of team culture and dealing with hard time in business.

On this special episode of the Evolve to Succeed Podcast, Warren Munson reflects on the highlights of 2024, sharing snippets and insights from our favourite episodes.

The episode is divided into themes including entrepreneurship, family businesses, adventure and resilience, and employee to business ownership - showcasing the diverse businesses and experiences of the guests. 

From Jeff Mostyn's entrepreneurial beginnings to the dynamics of family business with Jimmy’s Iced Coffee, these conversations highlight the challenges and triumphs faced by business leaders. 

This episode of the Evolve to Succeed Podcast covers…

• Insights on Entrepreneurship
• The Trials and Tribulations of Family Businesses
• Inspiring Stories of Adventure and Resilience
• Employee to Business Ownership Journeys 

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

00:55 Entrepreneurial Insights from Jeff Mostyn

05:24 Matt Fleming's Ownership Story

10:32 Business Challenges with Rupert Holloway

14:47 The Importance of Reputation with Paul Meyer

18:54 Family Business with Liz Lean PR

22:36 Family Business Stories with Jimmy’s Iced Coffee

27:54 Preparing for the Atlantic Rowing Challenge

31:33 Cycling Continents with James Benson King

36:28 The Power of Kindness with Mark Darcy

42:06 Employee to Business Owner with Adam Lewis

45:28 Joint Leadership with Rubicon People

50:33 Resilience Under Pressure with Keith Reilly

Martin Edwards, CEO of Julia's House children's hospice, talks about his original ambitions, the role of Covid-19 in speeding up important decision-making and how to lead with kindness.

Liz Willingham, founder of Liz Lean PR, on the importance of emotional intelligence, shaking up the business chamber model and handing her daughter the reins to the agency.

Show Notes:

(3:10) Unconventional beginnings

(5:01) Never destined to run own business

(5:38) Moment of realisation and birth of daughter

(7:39) Affect of entrepreneurship on children

(9:36) Moments of doubt/challenges and lessons learned

(11:50) How has the world of PR changed?

(14:20) Advantages of utilising PR agency vs. doing it in-house

(17:44) Finding interesting stories behind businesses

(18:35) The effect of changes in the press and media

(21:45) On emotional intelligence

(25:43) How to cut through the communications clutter

(29:17) Media training for business leaders

(30:56) What would make you turn a client down?

(32:32) Dynamic of having daughter Leila in the business

(38:22) Flexible working model at agency

(42:42) The importance of giving back

(45:46) Finding inner-confidence

(47:05) Mental health awareness

(50:35) Techniques for maintaining/improving mental health

(55:23) Anybody you particularly admire for their communications?

(57:33) Personal definition of success

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.

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.

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. 

A panel discussion with Mark Cribb (founder of Urban Guild), Alex Skan (co-founder of Void Acoustics) and Martin Smith (co-founder of Talent Drive) on the challenges and opportunities facing their sectors, and business in general, in 2023.

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.

Alex Shepherd, co-founder of Kids Love Nature kindergartens, talks about the importance of early-years education, building relationships in China and how he came to build a nursery school in a zoo.

Mark Norton is CEO at Composite Profiles, award-winning metal decking contractors and specialists in composite floor and structural roof decking. Composite Profiles was founded 30 years ago by Mark’s father, and Mark has been with the company for an incredible 25 years.

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.

In this episode, Warren Munson interviews Yvonne Guerineau, author of People In Their Element, about the complexities of communication and relationships in the workplace. 

They explore the reasons behind communication breakdowns, the impact of assumptions and biases, and the importance of self-awareness. 

The conversation also touches on leadership styles, the challenges of growing organisations, and the significance of consistency in communication. 

Yvonne introduces the SAFER principles as a framework for understanding and improving communication dynamics.

If you’re a business leader looking to improve your communication skills, you won’t want to miss this episode of the Evolve to Succeed Podcast!

This episode of the Evolve to Succeed Podcast covers…

Assumptions we make when communicating with people.

The importance of self-awareness.

How to be consistent as a leader.

Prioritising relationship-building as a leader.

The SAFER model.

Understanding biases.

Understanding individual and group dynamics.

How to create a supportive environment.

Chapters

00:00 Coming Up

00:30 Introduction

00:58 Understanding Miscommunication

02:54 Assumptions and Biases

06:12 Self-Understanding

09:08 Leadership Styles

12:01 The Impact of Growth on Communication

14:52 Consistency in Communication

17:49 Navigating New Leadership Dynamics

21:06 The SAFER Principles of Communication

29:14 Understanding Personality and Circumstances

30:13 Emotion in Business

35:15 Group Dynamics

38:37 Effective Managers

42:19 Differences in Relationships

47:05 Diverse Interactions

51:47 Communicating Future Plans

Chris Manning discusses resilience, mental health and fatherhood, and talks about his amazing experiences on the set of '1917'.

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.

On this episode of the Evolve to Succeed Podcast, Warren Munson talks to Liz and Leila Willingham, directors of Liz Lean PR. 

Liz and Leila discuss their journey of running a family business and the challenges they faced. 

Leila talks about growing up in and around the business and her experiences in becoming a senior member of the team.

They explore the importance of effective communication and mentorship in a family business, and highlight the challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic and the need to manage team morale.

Liz discusses the importance of mental health for business leaders and the need for self-care, emphasising the need to find a balance between work and personal life and the challenges of managing a busy schedule.

This episode of the Evolve to Succeed Podcast covers:

1. Running a family business requires a balance between entrepreneurship and maintaining family dynamics.

2. Creating a family-focused culture in the business is important.

3. Having support from family and team members is crucial.

4. Mentorship plays a significant role in personal and professional growth.

5. AI and digital delivery have their place, but they can't replace the emotional connection and human touch that PR brings.

6. Employers should value and listen to the assets and ideas of young employees.

7. Taking care of oneself is not selfish but necessary for effective leadership. Personal success is closely tied to happiness.

Chapters

00:00

Introduction

03:30

Saying Yes and Figuring It Out Later

06:33

The Early Association with Pride and Business

09:44

The Role of Support in Business Success

13:18

Exploring Real-World Opportunities

16:18

Expanding the Talent Pool

23:57

Being in a Family Business

27:26

The Pressure to Succeed

30:46

The Drive to Prove Oneself in a Team

34:18

The Importance of Client Delight and Building Relationships

37:25

The Need for an Academic and Accountable Approach

40:52

The Changing Influence of PR

44:11

The Power of Listening to the Younger Generation

47:45

Striving for Long-Term Success

50:49

The Importance of Self-Awareness and Expectations

52:22

The Evolving Definition of Success

53:09

The Importance of a Happy Family

53:39

Challenges and Experiences of Running a Family Business

54:18

Finding Success and Fulfilment

Jennifer Geary is the author of 'How to be a Chief Risk Officer’ and ‘How to be a Chief Operating Officer’. She has poured all the wisdom and experience gained from 25 years of working across several sectors into these books, and talks with great insight and eloquence on the key responsibilities and challenges of the roles.

Adam King, CEO of SwipeStation, talks the tech behind reducing queues, bespoke tailor ventures in Vietnam and the time he watched television for 48 hours straight.

Show Notes:

(2:34) Being made redundant, travelling to Asia and setting up a bespoke tailoring business in Vietnam

(9:12) At what point did you realise the tailor service was working?

(11:59) Where is the tailoring business now and what is your role in it?

(13:47) Was there a point you knew you were no longer needed in the tailoring business?

(15:03) On the bravery and confidence required to let go of a business

(16:58) Lessons learned from that original journey

(19:38) On coming across SwipeStation

(20:44) What is SwipeStation?

(23:25) Is one of your biggest challenges trying to get people to adopt new tech?

(25:50) Challenges of getting stadiums to invest and work with SwipeStation

(27:42) Hopes and aspirations for SwipeStation, and the affect of Covid 

(30:15) Transitioning from a sales-focused CEO to support a tech startup

(32:00) How do two very entrepreneurial, outgoing people make sure they stay focused on the objective?

(33:52) How has running your own business affected your personal life?

(38:01) What hard thing are you not doing enough of?

(39:46) Is there anything that keeps you up at night?

(40:44) Personal definition of success

Host Warren Munson counts down the ten most popular podcasts from 2022. This episode features Dave Chedgy, Richard North, Chris Croft, Bernie Shrosbree and Justin Hedges OBE.

Paul Tansey, managing director of digital marketing company Intergage, on his life-changing health crisis and how to instill - and maintain - a company's sense of purpose.

Stephen Steers is president at the New York-based Steers Consulting Group, which helps the founders and sales teams of professional services firms tell the stories that get their customers excited to buy. He is also the author ‘Superpower Story-Telling’. He’s consulted, advised and led workshops for more than 750 companies from 30 countries, including giants such as Nike, Google and Microsoft for Startups.

Jonnie Jensen is the founder of Team Super Dad and the Hero Academy. He helps busy fathers and husbands strive towards a better life balance by reconnecting with their core purpose, and recover things that have inevitably been lost along their business journeys.

Show Notes:

(2:40) What is Team Super Dad and the Hero Academy?

(6:30) Defining the modern dad

(12:10) Measuring personal and professional relationships and thoughts on work-life balance

(17:00) On implementing important changes to your life

(18:12) Thoughts on the gas burner theory

(19:49) Helping clients create boundaries and balance

(23:58) How can we get men to open up and share their feelings?

(28:26) Advantages of friendship or peer group

(30:16) Bringing people together through events and experiences

(32:05) How do you set yourself apart from other life coaches?

(35:24) What are your aspirations for Team Super Dad and the Hero Academy?

(41:18) The challenges of parenthood

(44:36) Hints and tips for being present in the moment

(47:01) What hard thing are you not doing enough of?

(48:23) Five things to focus on for proper balance

In this short update, your host Warren Munson brings some exciting news about the Evolve to Succeed podcast. 

Cat Philp is the CEO and founder of Pivot, a personal branding and social media agency. She was recently awarded Midlands Young Entrepreneur of the Year, and her passion for entrepreneurialism has also led her to found Young Accelerators, a community and e-learning platform designed to give young people the tools and resources to drive their careers forward.

Jack Bradley is a national award-wining designer and founder at Zenscape, which creates next generation travel gear to help people explore the world. Jack’s entrepreneurial journey began in 2016 during a European backpacking trip. Inspired by the challenges of constantly moving and searching through backpacks, he envisioned a solution for more efficient travel. Click here to view Jack's Kickstarter campaign.

Co-founder and CEO of AQai, Ross Thornley, talks entrepreneurial mindset, pushing tech innovation and the importance of creating new perceptions.

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.

Tom Crosshill is an investment trainer and entrepreneur who spent many years on Wall Street. As well as demystifying a lot of investment jargon, Tom talks about passive investing and how to select the right stocks, explains the difference between ETFs and Index Funds, lists a few things to avoid, including trying to predict the markets, and discusses how to prepare yourself emotionally for investing. Sign up for Tom's free 'ETFs Made Easy' webinar here.

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.

Dom and Elliot Chapman are co-founders of venture capital firm Chapman Capital, which acquires and grows boutique agencies. Chapman Capital was was born on the back of the brothers’ experience of trying and failing to sell their B2B lead generation agency Social Chaps, and they’re using the knowledge and resources gained from that to help agencies who are struggling to build a strong pipeline.

The final countdown to number one, as we look back at the ten best performing podcasts of 2020, with a range of guests from different sectors and professions. From restauranteurs, nursery school disruptors and removal men, to ex-Special Forces soldiers, bodyguards and stress experts, and more. Who will be number one?

Cas Paton, founder and CEO of OnBuy.com, on competing with Amazon and eBay and the experience of seeing his company grow by 600% year-on-year for the past three years.

Show Notes:

(3:34) Founding OnBuy

(6:01) Taking a different approach to the likes of Amazon and eBay

(8:07) Transitioning the business

(10:00) A leap of faith

(13:26) The see-saw analogy

(16:40) Managing growth

(18:51) Challenges and advantages of phenomenal growth

(21:04) Self-belief

(23:09) Structuring OnBuy while retaining the original vision

(23:43) The investment journey

(27:48) Managing the distraction of investment

(31:41) Having the right backers

(33:28) Cas’s business model approach

(35:21) Why Cas chose Poole as OnBuy’s base

(37:02) Affect of the pandemic on Cas’s approach to hybrid working

(39:05) Recruitment challenges and how to overcome them

(41:33) Staying connected to the team while growing and recruiting so rapidly

(44:09) Affect on entrepreneurialism on personal life & maintaining equilibrium within the team

(50:00) OnBuy’s five-year plan

(53:04) Personal definition of success

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

Decent, honourable and straight talking—words many use to describe Tim Lewis. On an entrepreneurial journey that began as a fisherman, Tim has been at the helm of Lewis Investment for 33 years and hopes to be there for a while longer still. 

Tom Mercer started selling his home-made oat smoothies to commuters at Waterloo Station in 2005 and has since grown Moma into a highly successful brand whose products include a very popular instant porridge, oat milk and the best-selling bircher muesli in the country.

In 2014, Lee Chambers lost his ability to walk. With intense therapy and determination, he was fully mobile again eleven months later. This experience led him to environmental psychology and setting up his own company, Essentialise. 

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?

Michael French is the projects coordinator at Grounded Community. Based in Boscombe, Grounded Community works to give the local community access to healthy, nutritious food. It grows fruit and veg, provides education and workshops, redistributes surplus food and creates networks to help others share food.

Rob Illidge, CEO of Social Republic, discusses the evolution of social media from its early beginnings to the marketing powerhouse it is today.

Darren Colley is the managing director at Iracroft, a premier supplier of a comprehensive range of metal pipe and tube fabricated products for diverse industry sectors. As well as his role at Iracroft, Darren is also a member of and an Ambassador for The Institute of Directors and sits on the Regional Advisory Board of MakeUK.

Darren is self-professed result-driven senior executive, with extensive experience within the business transformation, general management, engineering management, production engineering, project and contract environments. He’s regarded as a highly collaborative corporate leader and trusted boardroom member who communicates effectively, institutes initiatives and creates positive change, efficiencies and increased profitability. He has a great aptitude for organisational transformation, which includes identifying new business streams, reducing time to market, and minimising costs whilst boosting quality and client satisfaction.

Barry Kick, business coach and consultant with Primal Skills, talks in-depth about the joys and challenges of starting his first business in 2006—an award-winning television brand that went on to be stocked by over 700 retailers, including John Lewis.

Simon Hawtrey-Coombs is a franchisee of the global DPD group for the Bournemouth and Southampton branches, a position he has held since 2001. As well as this, Simon has owned and managed several businesses over the years, including a commercial cleaning company and a boat charter business, and he now uses his vast experience to work with and advise business owners and CEOs from both global household names and start-ups.

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. 

Kevin Dawson is the owner and managing director at Dawsons Bang & Olufsen, which has been designing, supplying and installing industry leading audiovisual systems for an incredible 90 years. Kevin himself has been with the company, which is a family business, for almost 43 years. 

The podcast covers topics such as the pleasures, pressures and complexities of a long-running family business, Kevin's opinions on the supposed death of the high street, his dedication to keeping his delivery vans clean, and both the toughest and proudest moments he’s had in the business. It’s an incredible story that begins at a time when not every household in the UK had electricity!

Paul Spiers, founder of The New Principles and Leadership Brand Purpose Institute, talks principled leadership, the essence of entrepreneurialism, and the future generation of leaders.

Show Notes:

(3:20) What is The New P&L?

(7:23) Separating professional and personal values

(10:43) Managing the hybrid model of working

(12:24) What is self-awareness really?

(15:14) Can ruthless leaders learn to change their approach?

(20:37) How to revive passion, focus and beliefs

(24:56) What is creative thinking for business leaders?

(29:49) How to open up and encourage creativity within your team

(32:48) Managing your ego as a leader

(35:20) Are leaders born or bred?

(37:47) What leadership lessons can business owners learn from sports managers and coaches?

(41:12) How to maintain principles of leadership when leadership changes hands

(45:50) Working with next generation to be more principled leaders

(49:18) Patagonia as an example of principled leadership

(51:56) Personal definition of success

Marianne Storey, CEO of mental health charity Dorset Mind, discusses the importance of mental health in a business, how a business leader can implement effective measures for mental health among their team, and provides five pillars for good mental wellbeing.

Show Notes:

(3:20) Path to becoming CEO of Dorset Mind

(5:11) Importance of lived experience

(6:03) Battling stigmas around mental health

(7:28) Dorset Mind's missions

(8:32) Demands on service since the pandemic and what's been learned

(10:29) Challenges of returning to society post-pandemic

(11:26) How would you define good mental health?

(12:26) Most common mental health challenges from business leaders

(15:25) Signs to look for in yourself and your team

(17:26) Organisations that implement mental health well and how they do it

(21:00) Influence of senior members on rest of staff

(22:45) Five ways to wellbeing

(26:17) Influence of nature on mental wellbeing

(27:23) Work with Dorset Chamber

(28:27) Different approaches of men and women to mental health

(33:26) Generational effects on attitudes towards mental health

(34:51) Mental health challenges amongst younger generation

(36:29) The education system and mental health

(37:45) Challenges as CEO of Dorset Mind

(41:28) Personal definition of success

Mark Brooks, CEO and founder of Actipath Programme Management, talks non-executives, the emotional toll of selling your business, and adaptability. 

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.

Host Warren Munson counts down the ten most popular podcasts from 2022. This episode features Jo Colman, Ben Ashton, Ty Temel, Darren Mooney and Chloe Adams.

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.

Founder and MD of Tops Day Nurseries, Cheryl Hadland, talks Scuba diving, disposable nappies and leaving a legacy, and how every business can take small but effective steps to be more sustainable.

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.’

Marc Trent is CEO at Charles Trent, a fourth generation family-run vehicle recycling company with nearly a century of industry leading experience. Established in 1926 by Marc’s great grandfather, the company has grown to operate across multiple sites and has a customer base that spans the world. Amongst other topics, Marc talks about Trent’s newly-established, 100,000 square feet facility in Poole, which is the first of its kind in the whole world operating a 17-hour shift operation that processes all types of vehicles. 

What is the future of artificial intelligence? Can it alleviate loneliness? Will it make us less human? How far could our relationship with a device go? Adam Greenwood of tech agency Greenwood Campbell, answers these questions and more.

Your host, Warren Munson, reviews four articles from the Evolve website - ‘3 ways to use fear to your advantage’, 'Is your job title your identity?' ‘Where do old entrepreneurs go to thrive?’ and ‘Know your limits’.

Show Notes:

(2:27) 3 ways to use fear to your advantage

(8:52) Is your job title your identity?

(13:50) Where do old entrepreneurs go to thrive?

(18:01) Know your limits

Christie Garcia is a California-based leadership coach, speaker, facilitator and founder of the Mindful Choice Leadership Academy. Christie has worked with a number of prominent organisations, including AirBnb and Twitter, and one of her specialities is helping leaders manage their ego. She talks about the role ego plays in our approach to leadership, and what measures we can take to contain it and make sure we’re utilising it in a way that makes us better and more empathetic leaders.