The Hack Podcast: Recent Episodes
Leon McQuade | Paul Longley | Jo Kent
The Hack Podcast, straight-talk smart tech. Leon McQuade, Paul Longely Jo Kent bring a leader’s eye over technology drivers shaping the world back to Hull East Yorkshire. We now live in a dazzling world of screens that continues to revolutionise how we live, work and play. The futures arriving faster than ever before, it's time to Think Different. We talk transformation and change focusing on People, Process & Technology.The Hack Podcast was originally Inspired By Pete Lindsay & Mark Bawden's Book “Pig Wrestling” The Brilliantly Simple Way to Solve Any Problem & create the the change you need.
In the dynamic arenas of business and organisational growth, harnessing a team's collective power remains one of the most influential factors dictating success. Team leaders, business managers, and HR professionals increasingly recognise the critical importance of assessing team performance not as a bureaucratic checkpoint but as a strategic lever to unlock the full potential of their workforce.
In this Episode of the 100x Leader, Leon Paul and Dean discuss 'Team Performance Assessments' and how all problems are rooted in one of five key leadership areas. Tune in to find out how to identify and solve them in this inspiring podcast.
We are back; it is 2024 (we are a bit late to the party), and we cannot wait! New year, new resolutions and fresh starts. We are excited to bring you our first podcast of the year, filled with motivation and inspiration for the year ahead.
In this episode, Leon, Dean, and Paul will delve into the significance of setting realistic goals, discovering your greatest strengths, and maintaining motivation throughout the year. We will also provide valuable insights on making your resolutions stick and avoiding the pitfalls of old habits. Join us as we explore these topics to enhance your personal growth and success.
It's 2024, and we're thrilled to kick off the new year with a bang. It's all about new beginnings, setting resolutions, and embracing fresh opportunities. Today, we are delighted to bring you our first podcast episode of the year, packed with motivation and inspiration to fuel your journey.
In this exciting episode, we have a powerhouse trio - Leon, Dean, and Paul - ready to dive into the importance of setting realistic goals, uncovering your unique strengths, and staying motivated throughout the year. Along the way, we'll share valuable insights on how to make those resolutions stick and avoid falling back into old habits. We aim to empower you with the tools and knowledge you need for personal growth and unparalleled success.
So, grab your favourite beverage, get comfortable, and join us as we embark on this insightful exploration. Let's make 2024 a year of incredible achievements and limitless possibilities.
Join Leon, Dean, and Paul in this enlightening podcast, where they guide you on the path to recognising and conquering sources of drama and gossip that have the potential to undermine your team dynamics and relationships.
This principle applies to all circles of influence and is crucial for optimal performance. However, it holds particularly true for you as a leader and your team. Creating an expectation where individuals are encouraged to address issues directly with the person involved is one of the best things you can do for your company culture.
Empower your people with tools to express their thoughts and experiences constructively. Reinforce the idea that it is everyone's responsibility to act as a Firewall when approached with an issue about someone else. By advocating for the highest possible good of your team and its members, you demonstrate respect by addressing differences directly.
Tune in and prepare to enhance your communication skills and foster a healthier environment for collaboration!
https://www.think-cloud.co.uk/blog/tag=the%20hack%20podcast/
Maximising Performance: Lead Organisations Worth Following
Effective leadership has emerged as an indispensable catalyst for success as businesses constantly evolve and adapt to the rapid changes of the modern world. In today's era of thriving organisations, it is more important than ever for leaders to adopt a new mindset and approach focusing on maximising performance.
In this week's podcast, Leon, Paul, and Dean discuss the qualities and characteristics that make a lead organisation worth following. From effective communication and fostering a positive company culture to open-mindedness and adaptability, the conversation delves into their key traits and those that leaders must possess to thrive in today's business landscape.
In this episode of the Hack podcast, Leon, Paul, and Dean engage in an insightful conversation with Furqan Alamgir, Chief Executive Officer at Connexin.
Furqan shares his journey as an entrepreneur and how he grew Connexin into one of the fastest-growing technology companies in the UK. He also discusses the challenges he faced along the way and how he overcame them to achieve success.
One of the key topics discussed in this episode is the importance of collaboration and connectivity in today's digital age. Furqan highlights how Connexin plays a crucial role in providing connectivity solutions to businesses, cities, and communities. He also talks about their innovative approach to smart infrastructure and its potential to transform how we live and work.
They also explore people, processes, and technology as the three fundamental elements of a prosperous enterprise. Furqan highlights the significance of passion and curiosity as crucial factors for success.
Tune in to hear Furqan Alamgir's story and learn more about the future of connectivity. Keep an eye out for Connexin as it continues to expand and revolutionise the technology industry.
Our latest podcast features Leon, Paul, and Dean as they share their collective wisdom on the concept of 'intentional transfer planning' - a strategic approach to effective delegation designed to foster real growth within your team.
The three bring unique perspectives, offering invaluable insights into how leaders can identify the skills, knowledge, and responsibilities they need to transfer to their team members. This conversation is not just about delegation; it's about empowering your team, boosting productivity, and driving your organisation forward using tools to support delegation effectively.
The concept of intentional transfer planning is two-fold: understanding the skills, knowledge, and responsibilities you need to delegate and how best to communicate this information meaningfully.
Whether you're a fledgling manager or a seasoned executive, this podcast promises to be enlightening, engaging, and full of practical tips you can apply to your leadership style. So, grab a cup of coffee, settle in, and dive into the nuances of intentional transfer planning!
Welcome to our Hack Podcast, where we have the pleasure of featuring the only Nick Espinosa joining us from across the pond. We are thrilled to have Nick here with us after Leon and Dean had the privilege of collaborating with him in Amsterdam as part of IT Nation Evolve.
Imagine sitting at a dinner table, and someone leans over and asks Nick, What is it that you do?" Nick's response is always intriguing. He looks them straight in the eye and says, "I lie to you." They usually say really, and he replies 'no'. Of course, this usually catches them off guard, but it's just his way of injecting humour into the conversation.
In reality, Nick is deeply involved in cyber security, with his company specialising in cyber warfare, cyber terrorism, infrastructure, and government compliance. And it's not just limited to the US government; they also handle compliance on a global scale, including GDPR. Nick's expertise extends beyond his company Security Fanatics; he is a regular contributor to Forbes, a seasoned TED talk speaker, and even hosts a syndicated radio show in the USA.
Nick's job title says it all, he thrives in the fast-paced world of cyber security. He always seeks new challenges and never likes to be bored. Join us as we deep dive into the fascinating world of Nick Espinosa and gain insights into the ever-evolving realm of cyber security.
As we embark on Think Cloud's 20th Anniversary, it's time to pause, reflect, and celebrate the incredible journey that has led us here. Over the last two decades, Think Cloud has pioneered ground-breaking solutions, driving digital transformation across industries and borders.
Today, we are thrilled to have Scott Clark, Chief Technology Officer and Co-Founder of Think Cloud, join us in the studio for our Hack podcast. Join Leon, Dean, Paul, and Scott as they delve into the fascinating story of how it all began.
Scott envisioned taking a start-up from humble beginnings to becoming a leader in Managed IT and Cyber Security Solutions. With his passion for continuous innovation, he and his award-winning team have developed a service that exists to help customers succeed through the adoption and use of digital technology.
We invite you to listen in and celebrate this significant milestone with us as we share our stories and insights on the journey so far.
Full Blog on www.think-cloud.co.uk
In this week's The Hack podcast, Leon, Paul, and Dean are joined by Josh Connolly and Ed Jenneson to delve into self-reflection and emotional release. Together, they explore how these practices can empower individuals to become exceptional in life and business. They also delve into the profound impact of self-awareness and finding a deeper sense of purpose. Josh and Ed graciously share their personal experiences, highlighting the significance of these principles for today's well-being.
Tune in as we ask our 10 thought-provoking questions specifically to Josh and hear why they believe self-reflection and emotional release through activities such as breath work are essential for creating meaningful relationships, developing resilience, and becoming the best version of yourself.
In this week's podcast, Leon and Paul talk to Phil Ascough- a multi-talented professional who works as a journalist, author, media and PR consultant assisting small businesses, charities, and other organisations in obtaining publicity, specialising in the arts, culture, and sports. He has a passion for the city of Hull and has spent eight years on the board of Hull and Humber Chamber of Commerce, including acting as President between 2017-18.
The episode kicked off with Phil taking us down memory lane, recalling his early days in journalism, which has stood him in good stead for his other roles. Additionally, he pursues recreational writing and has authored around half a dozen books, including Never Mind the Drop Goal: The Unofficial Rugby World Cup Quiz Book, Never Mind the Penalties: The Ultimate World Cup Quiz Book, and Never Mind the Tigers: The Ultimate Hull City Quiz Book.
https://www.waterstones.com/author/phil-ascough/136313
Full Blog At www.think-cloud.co.uk
Managing our attention span is one of the biggest challenges, as our attention is constantly pulled in different directions. We are constantly bombarded with notifications from our devices, emails, texts, and social media. It is easy to get distracted and lose focus on what we are trying to accomplish.
Fortunately, some strategies can help us become more "indistractable," which means being able to filter distractions and stay focused on the task or activity at hand.
In today's podcast, Leon, Dean, and Paul discuss practical ways to avoid distractions. Leon shares his thoughts on a book called Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life by Nir Eyal, which he thinks is a game-changing read.
Full Blog go to www.think-cloud.co.uk
In today's fast-paced world, people often find themselves overwhelmed by stress and anxiety. In this engaging podcast, our hosts Leon and Dean chat with Ed Jenneson and delve into the power of discovering yourself and incorporating self-discovery as an essential tool for dealing with these challenges and achieving a balanced life to improve our mental well-being and cultivate resilience for personal growth.
Ed Jenneson is a recognised leader in employment law; he advises on all aspects of employment law. He has been helping clients navigate legal and HR matters for over 20 years with a passion for people and human-centric solutions.
In the podcast, Ed shares his insights into his struggles with ADHD and dyslexia and explains how important it is to create a space for self-reflection to develop emotional intelligence and handle life’s challenges more effectively. He emphasises the importance of addressing our behaviour, thoughts and feelings to help improve our performance, relationships and work-life balance.
Full Blog on www.think-cloud.co.uk
Part 2...
In the second episode of the 100x podcast, Leon, Paul, and Dean emphasize the importance of leaders simplifying their approach to team management. As Sherpas guide their teams up the mountain of success, leaders must first clear the path and then provide guidance along the way. The guys discuss various strategies to assess oneself as a leader and evaluate your team, ultimately leading to focus and momentum in achieving shared goals.
By breaking down complex tasks into manageable steps and providing support, leaders can help their teams achieve success. Delegating tasks, setting priorities, and encouraging individual growth create a positive work environment that fosters continuous learning and improvement. These strategies also lead to better employee engagement, retention, and performance.
Leaders who embrace the challenge of empathy, delegation, and prioritisation and celebrate successes with their team can create an environment of growth and learn essential for reaching the next level of that mountain! Tune in to our latest episode and discover how to simplify leadership challenges and maximize opportunities for your team's success. #leadership #teammanagement #growthmindset #100xpodcast
For a full Blog, Go Over To www.think-cloud.co.uk
In today's 100 x podcast, Leon, Paul, and Dean emphasise the importance of simplifying leadership opportunities and challenges to add value to one's team. As Sherpas, leaders need to clear the path for their team and guide them. The strategies mentioned in the podcast help assess oneself as a leader and your team in a way that leads to focus and momentum in climbing the mountain together.
During the podcast, the guys emphasise the importance of leaders taking a simplified approach when leading their teams. By breaking down complex tasks into smaller manageable steps and providing the right kind of support, leaders can help their teams reach new heights of success.
Furthermore, delegating tasks and setting priorities can help increase productivity and efficiency while encouraging individual growth and development helps create an atmosphere of continuous learning and improvement. These strategies can help foster a positive work environment, leading to better employee engagement, retention, and performance. By embracing the challenge of leadership through empathy, delegation & prioritisation and celebrating successes together, leaders can foster an environment of growth and learning, which is critical to getting others to the next level of that mountain!
Part 2 will be out soon...
For a full Blog Go Over To www.think-cloud.co.uk
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has taken the world by storm, revolutionising industries such as healthcare, finance, transportation, and entertainment. With AI being utilised in every aspect of life, it is no surprise that experts predict it will eventually become more intelligent than humans. This prediction may seem daunting, but AI could vastly improve our lives in ways we can't imagine if harnessed correctly.
In our latest podcast, Leon and Paul talk to Think Cloud's Head of Software Development, Nathan McDonald, and explore mastering AI and its potential implications for humanity. Join us as we delve into the fascinating world of artificial intelligence and how to prepare for a future where machines may become our masters.
The rise of machine learning language models and AI software has dramatically impacted our work and play. Communication is a fundamental aspect of our lives, and these tools have revolutionised how we interact.
AI-powered language models such as Jasper ai and Chat GPT have made it easier for businesses to streamline operations, improving efficiency. These models can handle mundane tasks such as answering customer queries or managing appointments, and this frees up time for human employees to focus on other important work. AI software can analyse large amounts of data quickly and accurately, providing insights that would have taken humans much longer to arrive.
AI-powered language models have also made an impact on our leisure time. Intelligent voice assistants like Apple's Siri, Amazon's Alexa, or Google's Assistant have become household names, providing users with a convenient and effortless way to carry out tasks like setting reminders or playing music. AI-powered chatbots have also become popular in the gaming industry, providing gamers with a more immersive gaming experience.
However, as with any technological advancement, there are concerns about AI's impact on our lives. The increasing use of AI in our interactions with others may lead to a loss of human connection, while replacing human workers with AI could lead to job losses. It is crucial to balance the benefits of AI with its potential negative impacts and ensure that we harness this technology responsibly.
How has the rise of machine learning language models and artificial intelligence software like Jasper and ChatGPT impacted our work and play?
As a leader, business owner, or entrepreneur, you know that change is inevitable - and often painful. You might resist or even dread making changes to your workflow or processes because, deep down, you fear the outcome won’t be successful. But what if we told you that resistance to change could provide positive opportunities for growth and success? By learning how to spot signs of resistance and find ways of dealing with it effectively, you can gain skills that will improve your organisation's overall performance in the long run.
In this edition of the 100 x podcast, Leon, Paul, and Dean discuss overcoming resistance to change and how mastering this process can help take your company from good...to great!
Identify the source of resistance; what types of resistance is the team currently facing?
It is essential to understand the different types of resistance the team may face to identify the source of resistance. Are they barriers, hurdles or gaps? Barriers refer to an external block or obstruction that prevents change from occurring that you cannot get around, such as a lack of resources or technology. Hurdles are internal factors which can create doubt and hesitation in making changes, the things you have to avoid, like fear of the unknown or a lack of belief in the success of the process. Gaps mean that something is missing that needs to be filled in before moving on. Some examples of hurdles the boys addressed included prohibition, or limiting beliefs that stop people from achieving success; inhibition, or a sense of apprehension and anxiety around a specific task; and inertia, or a lack of motivation to make the change.
Once you have identified the type and source of resistance, it is essential to understand why it is there in the first place. This can be done by looking at risk aversion, cultural norms, financial implications, and psychological effects.
Full Blog on Think-cloud.co.uk
In this edition of the Hack Podcast, Jon Alexander speaks with Leon, Dean and Paul about his journey in the marketing and advertising industry, where he sold some of the world's biggest brands. Eventually, he realised he was trapped in a narrative that didn't align with his beliefs - the Consumer Story.
In his book Citizens, written alongside New York Times bestselling author Ariane Conrad, Jon outlines how to redefine our roles as citizens and create a better world for ourselves by shaping our communities, organisations, and nations through collaboration, care, and creativity to benefit everyone.
The Power of Citizenship
Citizens trace the history of humanity from kings and empires to our current consumer-driven story, illustrating that, as individuals, we have always been citizens by nature. It provides us with the tools we need to reinvent our organisations, politics and even our species to confront the challenges of this age. It encourages us to discover what we must do to succeed - both individually and collectively and asks some fundamental questions;
- What are we doing to ourselves when we tell ourselves we're Consumers 3000 times a day?
- What would it look like to put the same creativity and energy into involving people as Citizens?
- What would you do at this time if you truly believed in yourself and those around you?
The headlines of our time are enough to make anyone feel helpless. But everything changes when we think and act like Citizens, not Consumers.
Full Blog o our website Think Cloud
The idea of 'change' affects every business at some point. Whether introducing a new product, adapting to market trends or responding to customer feedback - change is simply a part of doing business. In this week's 100 x podcast, Leon, Dean, and Paul discuss the change equation and how to apply it in your industry.
Change can be incredibly beneficial - helping us grow and take our team to the next level. On the other hand, it also has its challenges, especially for leaders of people who must navigate an ever-changing environment. Using the Change Equation to help ensure you're making the most effective and efficient changes possible can be beneficial.
The Change EquationThe Change Equation is an equation used to calculate how successful a change process will be. Executing this equation helps create a strong foundation for implementing positive changes in a timely and cost-effective way while also being able to identify possible problems before they become more significant issues. They are many models used in change management. We use a formula similar to the Beckhard-Harris example, which considers Dissatisfaction, vision, and the natural next steps to provide the least resistance.
Here's an example of how the equation looks:
Change = D X V X N > Resistance
The first side considers Dissatisfaction with the status quo (D), which refers to the current state of affairs and what you may be dissatisfied with. A vision of the future (V) is the desired outcome that you want to reach. Natural Next Steps (N) indicates creating an action plan to move from the current state to the desired effect to overcome Dissatisfaction and make this vision happen.
By looking at each of these variables and how they interact, it becomes easier to create an effective change equation.
If Bob Burg were to describe himself at a dinner party, he would say that he speaks at conferences and conventions and writes books on personal development, sales and communications skills.
In our latest podcast hosted by Leon, Dean and Paul, special guest Bob Burg reveals that the best way to achieve lasting financial success is by refocusing on customer service and satisfaction; this outlook brings greater joy and helps business owners reap higher rewards. He has assisted companies, sales leaders, and their teams for three decades to convey their value proposition better while selling with minimal resistance at higher prices. He also empowers them to develop a booming business through endless referrals.
The American Management Association has duly awarded him as one of their 30 Most Influential Leaders, and Richtopia also declared him among the Top 200 Most Influential Authors in the World.
Read the full blog at www.think-cloud.co.uk
Meet Harry Rix, the CEO & Founder of tech company Accountablbased in Hull and the sixth-generation CIO of well-known family business J.R.Rix & Sons Ltd, which has been around the city for 150 years.
In this podcast, we discover how to put a sustainability strategy at the heart of your business and develop healthy habits for success. With an impressive background in technology and traditional family businesses, Harry offers invaluable insight into how to stay ahead of the competition and provides valuable insight into what it takes to run a successful business, especially one passed down through multiple generations.
Green to GoldRix Petroleum is the most prominent member of the J R Rix & Son group of companies and is a significant distributor of hydrocarbon products. Selling domestic and commercial heating fuel and doing loads of other things like manufacturing. Harry explains how they are now in the renewables game. One of the most important influencing books he has read is called Green to Gold: How Smart Companies Use Environmental Strategy to Innovate, Create Value, and Build Competitive Advantage. It looks at how you can put a sustainability strategy at the heart of your business to try and give you a competitive advantage to better position yourself in the market to ensure your business can succeed for the next 150 years.
Harry advises how large and small businesses can save costs and create sustainability by investing in solar or buying a renewable energy tariff. He explains the importance of reducing your carbon footprint and how doing so can help you save money. Harry is passionate about sustainable business for future generations and has developed a culture in his organisation that encourages staff to take responsibility for their actions.
Full Blog On Think Cloud website
Are you feeling stuck in a rut with your team's goals? The ‘Clarity Tool’ can help you break through and achieve clarity to reach those goals. This simple methodology enables leaders and service providers to communicate and receive messages effectively, ensuring everyone is on the same page. With the Clarity Tool, teams can better achieve their goals by ensuring everyone is aligned with a shared vision. Listen to our latest 100x Leader Podcast with Leon, Dean and Paul to learn more about how breaking projects down and applying a little ‘clarity’ can help your team reach its full potential!
Unlocking Clarity: How the Clarity Tool Can Help Your Team Reach Its GoalsWhat is the clarity tool?Clarity empowers effective action. And action generates results. How do we know when something is obvious? We might think something needs to be clarified only to find out what we're talking about or have forgotten too quickly.
The Clarity Tool is a practical resource that helps people establish and maintain clarity when leading or serving teams. It gives us an easy checklist to help us filter our plans, products, and ideas to make sure it's sticky enough, powerful enough, and valuable enough to generate meaningful results. The tool also encourages participants to think about how messages will be communicated and received to ensure everyone works towards shared goals and vision.
By using this tool, leaders and service providers can be confident that their intended audience understands what is being communicated and can take action accordingly.
Today the boys have been identifying projects they're working on and asking these questions:
- SIMPLE: Is this easy enough to understand? If not, how do I make it more clear?
- SUSTAINABLE: Is there a system in place that is sustainable?
- SCALABLE: Can everyone get on board with it? Is it scalable?
To any idea, product, or plan, we should ask, "Is it Simple, Scalable, and Sustainable?". Simple techniques or products can be understood easily and communicated clearly to others. They reduce friction and excuses for lack of execution.
Scalable plans and effects allow you to grow smoothly and avoid unnecessary problems. Sustainable strategies and methods ensure you don’t burn out your people or resources but rather continue adding value that generates meaningful results.
Dean uses a great example of a challenging monthly task he once thought only he could do. Still, he applied the clarity model and has been able to delegate his task effectively and sustainably by creating a process, breaking it down and giving his team the tools to carry out the job in his absence.
With complete clarity, your team and service offerings will live up to their full potential and performance. It’s not just about you thinking things are clear, but about making your people think.
Full Blog at www.think-cloud.co.uk
In this Hack episode, Leon, Paul and Dean talk to the former Vice president of the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World, Florida, on how to magically lead a team and offers insights into creating a positive culture that encourages creativity, collaboration and innovation and customer success. Dan talks candidly about his lessons and how to generate creative ideas in a team environment and create a magical customer experience.
During his time as VP at Disney, Dan managed a team of 12,000 cast members and entertained over 20 million guests annually. In this role, he oversaw all operations of the world-renowned resort and maintained Disney's impeccable reputation for providing top-notch customer service. He also worked tirelessly to ensure that the guest experience was consistently excellent, leading to record-breaking guest satisfaction scores across all properties in his tenure.
After fulfilling an exciting 26-year career with the Walt Disney Company, Dan and his wife Valerie decided to set out on a new venture and start their own consulting and speaking business https://dancockerell.cm/. His experience in the industry makes him one of the most sought-after advisors in the business.
Bringing the Magic into Your Business
Parks and Resorts have been Dan Cockerell's lifelong passion. He remains a leading innovator in the field, pushing the industry standards for customer service and creating memorable guest experiences worldwide. He will always be remembered for his commitment to excellence at Disney Parks and Resorts, which helped make it one of the most beloved travel destinations.
To bring the magic to your business, you need to get the basics right, take time, focus and consistency; put yourself in your customer's shoes-see what the experience is like from customer'scustomer's point of view-talks to your employees to bring the right approach to your business.
Full Blog over on www.think-cloud.co.uk
2023 is just around the corner, and several new technology trends will shape how we live, work, and play. Some of these trends are already taking hold, while others are still on the horizon.
In this podcast, Leon, Paul and Dean discuss 10 of the most important technology trends we need to keep an eye out for, as they are sure to have a significant impact on the way we do business and life in general over the next few years.
1. Artificial Intelligence (AI)
An explosion of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is adding rocket fuel to Process Automation. Today humans account for 58% of all work, with machines managing the remaining 42%.
AI is already making a huge difference in business operations, from customer service to analytics. As AI technology continues to become more advanced over the next few years, it will become an increasingly important tool for businesses of all sizes.
Our phones are packed with Artificial intelligence - the virtual assistant Siri makes your life easier. It helps send texts, make calls and make reminders for important tasks. Other AI applications include delivery robots, facial recognition software, and more.
2. Process Automation
Businesses increasingly turn to automation for mundane or repetitive tasks, such as customer service and bookkeeping. Automation helps companies save time and money by freeing up resources directed towards more productive endeavours. Examples include chatbots, robotic process automation and workflow automation. The trend of automation has been growing for many years, but with the introduction of AI technology over the next few years, automation is sure to become even more widespread. Automation is already being used in many industries, such as manufacturing and retail, helping businesses streamline processes and increase efficiency.
Automating processes can also improve employee satisfaction by freeing employees’ time for more critical work. Not only can automation technology enhance workflow efficiency, but it can also reduce costs associated with manual labour and help ensure accuracy on complex tasks.
3. Zero Trust Security
Cybercrime is rising, and organisations of all sizes must take security seriously. Zero Trust Security is a more effective approach to security, which assumes that all users and networks are potential threats rather than trusted entities. As businesses adapt to the ever-changing cybersecurity landscape, Zero Trust will become an essential tool for keeping data safe; examples include multi-factor authentication, encryption and access control.
From a security point of view - don't trust anyone or anything!
4. Exceeding Your Customer's Expectations
There is loads of technology that can help improve the customer journey and needs, from data collection and customer surveys to website chatbots. Customer expectations are constantly changing, and businesses must be ready to adapt to stay ahead of the competition. Technology can help make this easier by providing better insights into customer behaviour and preferences and more sophisticated marketing tools.
For the full blog, please go to the Think Clouds website
In this episode of the 100x Leader podcast, Leon, Dean, and Paul discuss identifying and multiplying what you do well for your team. They explore strategies for identifying key skill sets and multiplying them effectively so everyone on the team can benefit. They also discuss the importance of recognizing any underlying assumptions we may have as leaders that might not be benefiting the team.
As a leader, you know that your experience and expertise can be invaluable in helping those on your team succeed. You may have built up many skills and perspectives over the years, but it's not always easy to pass them on to others. As a Sherpa, you are the one going ahead of your people and preparing the way – In this episode, the boys explore how you can leverage your experience to develop your team and ensure they have the skills and knowledge to do their job well.
What is your "Super Power"?
The skills, perspectives and techniques you have gained over the years are what have helped you to succeed. These "Super Powers" are invaluable and can be used to support your team to reach their full potential. But before you can make the magic happen, you need to effectively identify, Communicate, And then Multiply those Key Skills!
We all have skills, habits and behaviours we are competent at but unaware of. You do it without thinking. Unconsciously competent learners have learned to carry out a task without consciously thinking about it. They can do the job quickly and accurately, but if asked to explain the steps they take to complete the task, they cannot articulate them. An excellent example of this is driving a car. After going for a while, you no longer have to think about the steps required to complete the task. You can do it without thinking.
PROBLEM-SOLVING AND CREATING VALUE Our hosts, Leon and Dean, are joined by Azam Jaafri, a seasoned entrepreneur with decades of skin in the game across multiple sectors, food manufacturing, retail, health and wellness, e-commerce, real estate, leisure, and Web3, to name but a few!
Being an entrepreneur is not for the faint of heart. It takes a special kind of person to be able to take an idea and turn it into a successful business. Azam is one of those people and a confessed problem solver who is always looking for ways to improve people's lives.
His genuine interest in people's needs and wants has led him to build thriving businesses. In this show, he shares his tips and tricks for success as an entrepreneur. These tips are sure to inspire anyone looking to start their own business. If you're feeling stuck or need motivation, read on to learn more about Azam's story. You might find inspiration to take your business to the next level.
Problem-Solving and Creating Value
Azam now lives in Dubai but was born and raised in Yorkshire. He started his journey as an entrepreneur in the property business, buying and renovating houses, then started larger-scale brownfield developments. Through that process, he discovered that building products were wordy, and people started buying things on the internet. He decided to try and sell stone products online. He felt It just made a lot of sense. It could be easier to shop for on the internet and make it more affordable; "everyone laughed at me and said, who would buy anything on the internet? And I said, well, I'm assuming they will. And so that was my first e-commerce business back in 2004."
Since then, Azam has built various other businesses across dental, mental health, and web 3 with different purposes and goals. One of his most recent ventures is within the health and fitness space called Graftism. The first of many is a London-based gym that helps people achieve fitness goals, social aspirations, and personal needs.
Azam has yet again used his knowledge acquired over the years to understand what his consumers want and need to create added value for them.
In our latest podcast, our hosts Leon and Paul are joined by Dan Scott, Director of IT Nation Community - EMEA at ConnectWise. Dan has over 15 years of experience in the UK technology community and knows a thing or two about leadership.
A recent study shows that people who report to positive leaders are more likely to be satisfied with their jobs and less likely to leave their companies. But what does it mean to be an effective leader and accomplish your goals?
What’s discussed?
A Fish Stinks from the Head Down
We all know the saying, "A fish stinks from the head down." meaning that when something is wrong with an organisation, it's typically because of poor leadership. But what does it takes to be a great leader?
Dan believes that “people who don't feel as though they've got a vision, mission, strategy, appreciation, recognition, encouragement and someone who believes in them and challenges them, and it makes them far more of a flight risk.”
He says, “We must focus on the people, then we focus on the services we build, then we focus on the clients, and the pounds will take care of themselves.”
Positive leaders believe in their team's ability to do great things. They know that every team member has the potential to contribute in a meaningful way, and they work to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to be nurtured to grow, be supported and appreciated.
Go to Think Cloud for the full blog.
As a leader, setting clear expectations is crucial to your success. If you set unrealistic expectations, you will quickly lose the trust and respect of your team. On the other hand, if you set clear, realistic expectations, you will empower and motivate your team to reach new heights.
In this podcast, Leon, Dean and Paul are back discussing the importance of setting effective expectations and how to do it effectively to motivate and inspire people to create a 100X culture. They also look at the different types of expectations and how they impact team performance.
So, how can you set clear expectations that will empower your team? First, you need to understand the different types of expectations. There are four main types of expectation setting:
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Outcome Expectations: These are what we expect people to achieve, and they should be specific, measurable, and time-bound.
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Process Expectations: These are the expectations we set for how people do their work, and they should be clear, attainable, and aligned with our values.
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Behavioural Expectations: These are the expectations we set for how people behave, and they should be positive, respectful, and consistent with our culture.
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Attitude Expectations: These are the expectations we set for how people think and feel about their work. They should be realistic, positive, and aligned with our mission and values.
Learning to set Effective Expectations: The Expectation Scale The expectations we set for people can either empower or inhibit them. Learning to set effective expectations is a crucial leadership skill, and it will empower your team to achieve more than they ever thought possible.
When setting expectations, Learning to set clear, realistic, and effective expectations is crucial to motivating and bringing out the best in everyone.
Remember the different expectations you can set: outcome, process, behavioural and attitude. If we do not, we will limit our people, burn them out, or create confusion that inhibits our culture and performance.
Understand the learning path:
- Unconsciously Incompetent
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Consciously Incompetent
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I Do You Watch
- You Do I Help
- You Do I Watch
Read full Blog at Think Cloud
Do you sometimes feel like you're not in control of your emotions? If so, you're not alone. Emotional mind management is a term used to describe the process of understanding and managing emotions.
In this week's episode of The Hack, Our hosts Leon and Paul, along with guest host Sam Cawley are joined by Glenn Mead - a coaching psychologist who specialises in the neuroscience of decision making. Glenn explains how emotional mind management can help us get the better out of ourselves and other people and talks about the importance of accepting our emotions.
EMOTIONAL MIND MANAGEMENT Glenn Mead is currently a Coaching Psychologist and Director of Face Value Performance Psychology Limited. He specialises in individual and organisational performance at all levels, using techniques and approaches grounded in neuroscience and occupational psychology.
With services ranging from individual executive coaching, and small group facilitation to masterclass workshops and keynote talks, he aims to help clients to improve effectiveness and efficiency through team engagement and retention, reduced stress, and increased resilience, communication and leadership.
Glenn has previously worked with Steve Peter's company Chimp Management Limited as the Director of Corporate Programmes. His role was to help improve performance and change organisational settings for big companies, Supermarkets, NHS etc., by explaining how to use emotional mind management to get the better out of yourself and other people.
Building on the “Chimp paradox” developed by Prof Steve Peters in “The Mind Management”, Glenn compares the independent emotions of our “inner chimp” generated within the limbic system of the brain that leads to an initial uncontrolled emotion or reaction with the executive, logical and learned responses that come from the frontal cortex. It is essential to recognise, know and “reflect” on your “natural” CHIMP, what triggers it, know your reaction and be prepared to articulate and control it.
He knows how to communicate with employees and, during the podcast, explains that "it's normal to have emotions. If you can understand where they're gonna come from and what the triggers are, then you can work out your options. When you're in a calm mind, you'll be better off when the moment does happen. And it's important to accept it and accept that's the way we are; we are human beings-We do get emotional."
To get the better out of ourselves, we need to understand and manage our emotions; this is where emotional mind management comes in. Emotional mind management is a process that helps us to understand our emotions and how they affect us so that we can control them instead of them controlling us.
Full Blog - Think Cloud
Investing Formal vs Informal Time with Your Team: What Matters Most?
As part of The Hack's 100x Leader Challenge, our hosts Leon McQuade, Paul Longley, and Dean Buffield are back to discuss the latest developments in technology and business processes. Today, they're talking about how to be a better leader by consciously investing both informal and formal time into your people.
What’s discussed? As a leader, investing your time in the right ways is important. Some time is more valuable than others, and it's essential to understand the difference between formal and informal investing. Formal investing happens in a structured setting, while informal investing happens spontaneously. Your team needs both kinds of investing to be productive and grow.
This mini-podcast will explore the importance of investing formal and informal time with your team.
How we spend our time matters to those we lead But not all time is the same. To improve as a leader, you must consciously invest informal and formal time in your team. The skills and relational dynamics that each sort of investment fosters are essential.
It’s a bit like walking a tight- rope, but both have benefits to productivity and growth; On one side, we've got:
- formal and structured time.
On the other
- informal and spontaneous time
This balancing act is not an exact science but an art form. Leaders must intentionally provide a balance of both to their people, helping them get to 100% and multiply that with others.
Read the Full Blog over at Think Cloud!
Do you ever feel like the world is just too much? That you can't keep up with the demands of everyday life? If so, you're not alone. In today's podcast, Leon, Paul and Jo chat with Dr Christopher Westoby, Programme Director of MA Creative Writing at the University of Hull. They discuss the value of mindfulness and other creative pathways to becoming more focused and content and accepting the challenge of change to cope with our hectic world.
In this episode, Chris tells us that his first book, The Fear Talking: The True Story of a Young Man and Anxiety (2020), is a true story of how his mental condition collided with his early adulthood. He now applies the same research techniques found in Creative Writing to other subjects, including gender inequality in higher education institutions and social media’s effect in the aftermath of a suicide. Chris believes that educating others about his experiences is critical and assisting others in the process helps him just as much.
What's Discussed? Mindfulness The team discuss how mindfulness is being aware of the present moment and not getting caught up in thoughts about the past or the future. It can help us focus on our actions and be more present in our lives.
Chris explains how he tries to bring mindfulness into his everyday life by paying attention to the simple things he does, like walking or hugging someone. The point is to focus on the sensations you're experiencing in the present moment rather than letting your mind wander off.
The books that most greatly influenced his life includes “wherever you go, there you are.” and “Full catastrophe living”, both by Jon Kabat-Zinn's which are based on his renowned mindfulness-based stress reduction program.
Chris explains how his "mind is too trapped in catastrophising and thinking of different scenarios that he is afraid of. Mindfulness is a way to try and pay more attention to the surroundings and hence kind of like snap out of whatever it is I'm thinking about, even if it's just for a second."
These two particular books are about learning mindfulness and meditation practices but being aware of the lives that we live in and what and how that might take shape.
Practice is key to meditation and it's important to be consistent with mindfulness. It takes time to make a change in your life. You have to keep at it; eventually, it becomes second nature.
Read full blog - Think Cloud
In this week's podcast, Leon, Dean, and Paul discuss how the responsive leader understands the importance of people within the organisation and works to ensure their success. They delve into how this type of leader recognises that each person has unique needs and strengths and how to work to create an environment where everyone can thrive.
Responsive leaders can create a positive culture within the organisation, they know how to build relationships and trust, and they work to create an environment where everyone can feel valued. This type of leader understands the importance of communication and collaboration, and they use these skills to bring people together to achieve success.
Imposter Syndrome The guys talk about how Imposter syndrome may affect you as a leader, especially if you are a first-time leader. Imposter syndrome plagues many people in leadership positions, and it's the feeling that you're not really supposed to be there and that sooner or later, someone will figure it out.
They talk about how important it is to be confident in your abilities and trust yourself, even if you feel like a fraud. Leadership is hard. But being a responsive leader can help you overcome some of the role's challenges.
Sometimes insecurities can come across as ignorance or a general lack of confidence. It can become a self-fulfilling prophecy, where you believe you're not good enough and so you don't try or give up too quickly.
You may even become a Resistant leader, someone who doesn't know their worth. Resistant leaders do not recognise that they have influence and do not understand what it truly means to be a leader. Resistant leadership of self and team will create pride, arrogance, and insecurity, all of which undermine productivity, effective growth, and communication.
To read The full Blog visit Think Cloud
We're back and have the wonderful John Hotowka joining Leon, Paul and Dean in the studio. John is a motivational speaker who enables individuals and teams to build resilience and manage change to become even more productive and effective. How? He talks about life experiences, shares proven practical insights and tools that can be applied immediately bringing comedy and magic into his talks so people can learn through relatable fun!
What's Discussed? Audiences love John’s unique ability to make them laugh while delivering powerful messages that resonate long after his talks are over. He doesn’t just motivate people – he equips them with the mindset, skillset and toolset they need to navigate change. John’s talks are based on his life experiences and proven practical insights from the University of life!
John talks about how change can be challenging, but we all must go through it. He shares some tips on how to deal with change, how to stay positive when things get tough, and the importance of having a support network.
The guys talk about focus; if we have a challenge or a problem we're often focusing on, we need to change that thinking to focus on the solution. We all have challenges in life. John describes how the majority of his challenges have been self-made because of how he thought. We often know this, we know what we need to do, but do we put it into action? "One of the greatest talents we have as human beings is forgetting."
The one book that started everything for John was Psycho-Cybernetics by Maxwell Maltz; it was the very first, first help book he read. And it was brilliant because it talks about visualisation and the power of the mind. And that's when he realised that for us humans, "it's what goes on between our ears", which makes the difference.
The Power of the Mastermind After a crisis in confidence, John explains how he realised he needed a team of people around him, a support group of some sort. He read the book Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill, which talks about the power of the mastermind and subsequently formed a group that meets every six to eight weeks. Members each bring issues, challenges, and opportunities that they might have and need to discuss and put into perspective.
It is easy to focus on the negative when things are not going our way, and the brain is looking for threats and trying to protect us. But if we take the time to focus on what is going right in our lives, we will be much happier and more productive overall.
Surrounding yourself with a group of people who will challenge you in a supportive way often gives you the reality check you need.
Check Out The Full Blog at Think Cloud
Is it easier to just do it yourself?
On this week's straight-talking smart tech podcast, The Hack hosts Leon, Paul, and Dean talk about 100x Leader Developing others. They examine the subject of developing others within teams and how to overcome the challenges and manage the process effectively when delegating to different kinds of people.
"It takes hard work to develop others, but it doesn't have to be difficult."
What's discussed? The first step in becoming an effective leader is developing a clear understanding of your strengths and weaknesses. Once you have a good sense of your capabilities, you can begin to identify the areas in which you need to develop others. One of the most important aspects of effective leadership is the ability to help others reach their potential.
Dean quotes, "Sometimes you don't necessarily feel like you are leading and developing others effectively. It’s not just skills; we focus on developing people based on skills and past experiences."
The five levels of leadership! A book which has inspired Leon recently by John C Maxwell-The 5 Levels of Leadership, has a great quote where John says: “nobody achieves anything great by giving the minimum, no teams win championships without making sacrifices and giving the best.”
We often have to give more than the minimum to develop others effectively. We have to be willing to sacrifice our time, energy, and resources to help others reach their potential. Doing so can create a legacy of greatness that will outlast our lives.
Maxwell's book shows you how to go from being a boss to becoming a genuine leader, get people to follow you without relying on your position, and create a legacy that will endure the test of time.
To read The full Blog visit Think Cloud
This week, we are joined on The Hack by Faz, a great friend of Leon who has just emigrated to Canada.
But before he left, we got him to do a quick Podcast with us...
Join Leon and Paul with guest Faz (Faisal) Balouchi talking about how their love for rugby created a friendship and bond that will last a lifetime.
What is Discussed? Paul was Leon and Faz’s rugby coach when they were both youngsters, and over the years, the pair grew to become more than teammates but also good friends. Faz was among the first people who helped Leon get Andy Mans Club off the ground after an inspirational discussion in the pub!
Faz admits he struggled with mental health in the past. He had a high flying job and had some fantastic experiences. But when he returned from the Middle East, it broke him. He had confided in his close friend Leon, which hurt his ego.
He still bears the scars from that experience, but he is a much stronger person now. Faz has shown that it is possible to come out the other side and rebuild your life.
Silence is Golden when it comes to Listening.
Faz found talking things through in a safe environment hugely beneficial and is now trying to master the art of being a good listener. Listening is an important skill and isn’t always easy when trying to help solve a problem; you need to be more conscious and in the moment. Silence is golden and powerful…
If you want to be a great listener, you must learn to be silent. This way, you can hear what is being said!
It can be challenging to keep quiet, especially if you’re eager to offer your opinion or share your own experiences. Taking the time to listen to someone indeed shows that you respect them and value what they say.
Read the full Blog at Think Cloud
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In this week's Podcast, Leon and Paul host the show with guest Noel David Parkinson, ex-footballer, businessman and mentor.
Noel can tell you one thing for sure: it's not easy to make it as a professional football player. Noel was born in Hull in 1959 and is a former English footballer who played in the Football League as a midfielder, beginning his career at Ipswich Town, but he had to retire from football earlier than he would have liked due to injury. However, he didn't let this stop him from achieving future success.
After retiring from the game, he became a radio sports reporter in Humberside and a photocopier salesperson. Following this, he was employed in car sales and became a director of e-commerce. He was made redundant from his job in 2004, but he used his redundancy money to start wewillbuyyourcar.com, a nationwide vehicle-purchasing website, which now ???? turns over more than £20 million per year.
So how did Noel go from a football player to a successful businessman? We sat down with him to find out as Noel shared his insights on staying "on top of your game" and "earning your right to play!"
These days he supports other entrepreneurs with their business growth through mentoring and assisting with research and development. He sees himself as a project gamekeeper specialising in business operations and sales. Noel attributes much of his success to his positive attitude, determination and "hates to lose." You've got to want it more than anyone else; You've to be prepared to put the hours in and make the sacrifices. For him, football is like life. "Everything that goes on in football happens in day-to-day life."
Earn your right to play
During the podcast, Noel talks about the two inspiring quotes his football coach Sir Bobby Robson used to say, "don't forget; earn your right to play, which Noel explains; "you need to get on top of it, doing everything right yourself and on top of your opponent so that you can then go on to express yourself."
"So if you think about that in any terms, that's where you want to be. You want to be on top of your own game, doing the things that you do well and right and getting on top of what might be your competition. That way, you'll reap the rewards," Noel feels he has done all along.
The top two inches are everything
His second favourite quote from Robson is that "the top two inches are everything", which refers to the top two inches of your head. Noel explains this means "you're tactically astute. You're mentally attuned. Your competitive spirit is there, and you want to win, and then you piece it clinically all together while you're playing, then you are flying!"
The top 2 inches are the difference between success and failure-referring to mental strength and are vital to success, particularly in sports, as it often separates the good from the very best.
Noel talks about the lessons he has learnt from failures, how he went through a divorce, learned to take stock and understands he had a part to play in that and that the losses can teach you a lot about yourself; he recognised he was working too much with too longer hours which added to the breakdown.
"You learn as you get older, you are going to lose at times, things are not going to go right, you are going to get beat."
Head over to Think Cloud for the Full Blog
We all have limiting beliefs of some sort. They can be about our abilities, worth, or what's possible for us. And these beliefs can keep us from achieving our goals and living the life we want to live.
It doesn't have to be that way. We can overcome our limiting beliefs by identifying them, understanding their origins, and creating new, more empowering beliefs. So, what exactly are limiting beliefs? They are simply ideas or thoughts that we have about ourselves that hold us back somehow. Maybe you believe you're not good enough or don't deserve success. Perhaps you think you can't achieve your dreams or that it's impossible for you to be happy and fulfilled.
These are all examples of limiting beliefs, which can significantly impact our lives if we let them. Limiting beliefs can keep us from going after our dreams, trying new things, or taking risks. They can make us feel stuck and like we're not in control of our lives.
But here's the good news: we can change our limiting beliefs. Just because we have them doesn't mean we're stuck with them forever. We can choose to believe something different. We can create new, empowering beliefs that will help us achieve our goals and live the life we want to live.
I'm a huge fan of Bob Proctor and his definition of a limiting belief or paradigm. He better describes the software we have unknowingly installed in our heads that keeps us from achieving our full potential.
Bob explains a belief is only a thought that we keep thinking about, and a paradigm is a set of those beliefs. When we change the paradigms in our heads, we change our lives. It's not easy to do, but it's worth it. I challenge you to look at your own life and see where you might be holding yourself back with some self-limiting beliefs. Then, change those beliefs and watch your life change for the better. You'll be glad you did!
What Is A Paradigm?
When we think about a paradigm, it's like installing software in our subconscious. A mental program with almost exclusive control over what you do habitual behaviour-wise!
Stop and think about it. Virtually everything we do is habitual. Even things that you might not consider habitual, like getting out of bed to head off to work on time to go to sleep at night, are routines that you follow daily. And the way you eat, exercise, work, and relax are all habits you've developed over time. Even the time you wake up and go to sleep is usually based on habits you've formed.
So when you think about it, virtually all of your behaviour is habitual. And while some habits might be more challenging to break than others, the fact is that all habits can be changed if you're willing to put in the effort.
Now, let’s look at other aspects of your life that your paradigm has enormous influence over.
Your paradigm controls many aspects of your life, like how you feel about yourself and others. It also controls your…
- Use of time
- Perception
- Creativity
- Productivity
- Ability to earn money
- Effectiveness
- Logic
The box that is your mind can be tough to break out of, but there are no limits once you do.
Read More of the blog on our webpage: Think Cloud
100X Leader We Had A Fight - Storming Forming Norming and Performing With The Secret We Learned From The Red Arrows!
Welcome to the hack podcast! In this episode, Dean, Leon and Paul are sharing how they dealt with conflict in our team using 4 simple lists. Plus, we share the secrets we learned after spending the day with the red arrows.
Team leaders can learn a lot from the Red Arrows about how to deliver feedback. The Red Arrows have a very clear process for dealing with communication and feedback as there believe there is never such thing as a perfect flight!
When it comes to conflict, the Red Arrows handle it in a very constructive way. They understand that conflict is a normal and necessary part of a healthy team's development.The Red Arrows have a very clear process for dealing with communication and feedback as there believe there is never such thing as a perfect flight! This process can be applied to any team in order to help them resolve conflicts and improve communication.
If you're having conflict with your team, try to see it as an opportunity to grow and learn together. And if you're a team leader, don't be afraid to step in and help guide (share this podcast with your team) through the 4 natural phases we share in this video. Remember, this is a normal and necessary part of a healthy team's development!👊❤️🌍🚀
The Hack podcast is back once more, and this time hosts Leon, Paul and Jo talk to their special guest, Laura Greenwood. This particular show aims to discuss new ways to lead business and marketing. There is an emphasis on the timid amongst us and how people with this trait can still thrive within these settings. The podcast draws on some of Laura’s own real-life experiences within this environment.
The team look at how literature can influence business practices, and Laura discusses three books that she feels greatly informs those practices. She mentions the influence that Pam Featherston has had regarding personal coaching. Another notable shoutout was Carol Dweck’s work on the mindset used much more generally to prepare oneself for everyday life.
One highlight of the podcast is the quartet’s discussion on the power of intention and what this can do, especially for parents. It stresses the importance of setting yourself clear intentions because if not, what are you ever going to look for or work towards. The example used in the podcast is to look for a green car or a cow on the way to work. It sounds simple here, but these skills can be developed and transferred to a marketing background.
Throughout the podcast, Laura looks back on her career. She highlights the importance of looking back and being able to say that she went for various opportunities and challenged herself. Laura talks about how intention can be applied to this. She intends to look out for opportunities and continue to attempt them throughout her career. It’s more admirable than drifting along without a specific purpose.
The podcast also looks at the importance of building a team and how to achieve this effect. An honourable mention from Greenwood is Chet Holmes’s 12 key strategies to create a sales orientated team. One tactic applied in workshops is to get a team to note down a practical list of what a tenant doesn’t know about a business. This list is put into a folder, and each week, the sales team examines this list and decides how they can hone in on making these features and turn them into a strength.
Tune in to learn more about how to improve market practices today!
Laura and her company, Your Lead Generation, work in your sales funnel and support you to get your world to generate leads at the level your business needs, either on a one-off project or retained monthly work. Your Lead Generation offers comprehensive and transparent telemarketing and outreach package. Some clients need the telemarketing work as part of a very smooth, systemised and automated journey which they have already worked out. Other companies reach out for telemarketing and fuller support to get their world in order and create the prospect journey and lead generation system – every scenario is different.
Laura would love people to follow her on LinkedIn as she uses the platform everyday https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauragreenwoodleadgeneration/
Sign up to my email tribe https://bit.ly/2OyC5Ye
Website - https://yourleadgeneration.co.uk/
Sponsored by: Talk suicide
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On this week's straight-talking smart tech Brand new podcast, The Hack hosts Leon, Paul and Jo are joined by Craig Frankin, Head of Marketing at Hull KR.
Being More Inclusive This week's The Hack episode, hosted by Leon, Paul and Jo, features Hull KR Head of Marketing Craig Franklin, discussing his role at the professional rugby league club which competes in the Super League.
In this episode, Craig explains how fans across all sports are changing how they consume content in the digital age and that competition for fans’ attention and interest has never been greater.
Craig was involved in a two-year process to redesign the club crest evolving it to a format that would maximise their exposure on digital platforms broadcast media and provide better commercial opportunities to secure the sport’s future whilst ensuring it
kept the club’s strong identity and respected its history, inspiring a new generation of supporters to carry their rich tradition forward.
Be Bold to Drive Change Craig identified that change was needed, and a world-class identity was the reason underpinning the period of transformation the club needed to go through to rebrand and find a fresh new look.
During the initial research phase, fans were keen to ensure this was a natural evolution rather than an overhaul. They recognised the club needed to evolve to move forward in the digital world. After numerous variations involving the input from supporters aged 4 to 75 get engaged alongside key partners, former players, and club historians, the final design received overwhelming approval from the sounding fan board.
Everyone at the club is now focused on moving forward and building for the next 140 years of club history. The new badge merges the original concepts or the crown and the robin with a simple modern appeal, and changing for the digital future has enabled the club to tell their story in an 8mm x 8mm digital space!
We need to Rebrand Mental Health. Similarly, the team discuss how we need to rebrand mental health.
‘Mental’ does not have the right connotation for health for a start. Clinical and medical environments can be daunting and feel unnatural. Often the best support can come from those around us, people we know and trust who we can open up and be honest around in day to day life.
Buddie schemes and learning to talk naturally by being around people we can trust to listen without offering to fix things. This is especially important for younger people. Therefore, changing the culture early on is essential, so it becomes a natural part of what we do!
Likewise, in the rugby word-despite being Rugby rivals. Hull FC and Rovers have a lot they can learn from and give each other, their community and their city. The clubs will always benefit by being there to help each other out.
You have to put the work in before getting the results. Planning and preparation are essential for success. If you want to succeed, you have to work hard. Like the athletes, you dedicate time to practice. Both during training sessions and on your own, prepare yourself for the task ahead.
The day you wake up and dread going into work is the day you should quit! If you’re not happy, either fix it or solve it. If you find yourself in a situation where you’re not enjoying it anymore, take a step back and determine why.
Sometimes you need to work through conflicts, plan, be ready, commit and don’t look back! It can be challenging to walk away, but we have one chance at life and need to be happy.
Change doesn’t always have to be a bad thing; It can be the thing that propels you to new heights.
Remember, good things take time, take more fulfilment from your experience and embrace change!
This week's The Hack episode, hosted by Leon, Paul and Jo, features the brilliant guest Andrew Grill to discuss his career as an actionable futurist, what that entails and how technology is transforming the world around us.
Looking into the future professionally.
In this fascinating episode, Andrew Grill discusses his career as a futurist and what it takes to look into the future and predict what might happen. He takes the team back to when he started in Adelaide, Australia, writing an essay for his degree on the future and a brave new world and how this led him towards actionable futurism. He describes how he has to stay months, rather than decades, ahead of his clients and how near term futurism can be more practical and useful than flying cars.
Transformative technology.
The team discuss recent innovations in the technology sector, like Facebook's new Metaverse, NFTs and office communication tools like slack. They also talk about the challenges that come with a rapidly expanding tech sector, the new skills we have to learn and how hard it can be trying to keep up. They also talk about the huge way technology can improve lives and make things easier, with online video calls instead of flights across the world, but also the joy of finally getting back on stage. As always, the recent pandemic has shifted communication online more than ever before and it has also brought a range of challenges for people as they rethink their careers.
A collaborative workspace.
Talking about the power of collaboration, the way technology enables this and how to work out loud, they look at how businesses can communicate better. They also think about the leaders of the future, whose first phone was an iPhone and how they might use technology to open communication throughout organisations. They talk about having the right IT support in place to handle the recent surge in online communication, from cyber security measures to cloud platforms.
Learning from experience.
Whether working with major companies like IBM, Telstra and Optus to helping young startups, Andrew Grill shares his unique experiences and insights and how we can all try and embrace the future together.
Sponsored by: Talk suicide
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Join your regular hosts, Leon and Paul, talking to life coaches Gemma Gibson and James Ash in a brand new The Hack podcast-the straight-talking smart tech podcast, where we discuss the ever-changing world we live in. It's time to start thinking differently as Hull and East Yorkshire’s very own digital tech experts talk transformation and change, focusing on people, process and technology.
For their first podcast of the year, they were catching up on where they left off from their 90-day challenge that turned into 183 days and still going, where they see 2022 professionally and personally.
They talk about what they will be taking into 2022, from what they learned in 2021—learning from mistakes and deciding whether it is best to make a new year's resolution or just to find better solutions?
Gemma says, 'A breakdown happens before a breakthrough.' So this year, she will help the men smash through that wall of inconsistency. What happens is people go hard and give themself challenges but then burn themselves out, so never continue. It's about doing one thing or small things consistently, rather than lots of big things inconsistently.
Trying to find solutions rather than setting resolutions is essential
It's good to have something in life that you want to achieve; 90 days is an excellent way of ticking things off your list and making progress. It challenges people with weight loss, fitness, bad habits or even just with business goals and aspirations.
It is long enough for people to see results, but it's not too far away, so they are still driven and are good for people to start with if they don't have many ideas or just starting out. While 90 days isn't too long, it is about giving yourself a starting point, and then what happens is when you've reached 90 days, you'll be thinking, "I'm nearly there," and that will push you on!
This year, Leon and Pauls aim to keep consistent, living by the 80/20 rule. 20% fitness and 80% in the kitchen. They explain how 80 per cent of your happiness comes from 20 per cent of your activities and that 80 per cent of your results come from 20 per cent of things you do.
The 80-20 rule principle is to identify an entity's best assets and use them efficiently to create maximum value. (Pareto principle - Wikipedia by Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto)
Eating well is the highest on their list as they feel they have a good balance of fitness. It's about working out what you are most likely to succeed at and what's most important, sometimes this can be something as simple as making more time for yourself!
Leon and Paul have even upped their game by joining a fancy new gym (Nuffield Health). They realise that there is value in paying a little more for something that will be more worthwhile and will pay off by helping them achieve their goals while improving their physical and mental health too!
Goal setting for 2022 This week, in a Christmas special, hosts Leon, Paul and Dean discuss goal setting for the next year and how to shift your mindset to be able to achieve the goals you set yourself.
Christmas is a time of year for reflecting, so they talk about what they have achieved this year and where they want to take that next year. From mental health, fitness, and growing your technology business, you will be able to use this advice to further yourself going into the new year.
What’s discussed?
Goal Setting Mindset
The hosts talk about the tendency to reflect, without stopping to look at how far we have come. An important part of goal setting is being able to recognise your achievements, and to get rid of the negative voice inside your head that will hold you back, instead of thinking “I can’t do this”, saying “I will do this”.
Goal setting technique
In order to set goals effectively, they speak about a three-column process. The first is a list of things you want to experience, from being a better leader in business to spending more time with your family. The second lists what you need to achieve to have the experiences you want in column one. This could be training in marketing or cyber security, creating a healthier routine for yourself or delegating from a leadership position. The third is to list what you want to give back after having achieved everything in column two and experiencing everything in column one. This could be giving back to people in your community, family or a charity.
How to set achievable goals
The hosts stress the importance of being specific when setting yourself a goal. They discuss ten questions you can use to make sure your goal is quantifiable and will help you grow. They talk about how this year has been the hardest but also the most rewarding, and how to push out of your comfort zone.
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wellbeing #productivity #networking #mentalhealth #itsupport
In this episode of The Hack Podcast on IT from Hull, Leon, Paul and Dean take a look at how to maximise influence, by looking at the subject of relationship before opportunity. They consider the importance of taking time to build relationships both at work and at home as well as who has had the most influence on them in their lives and how to be vulnerable to grow connections.
Prioritising relationships
In this honest podcast, the team discusses how important it is to build up trust and relationships slowly over time. They consider different ways that people can become a leader through building relationships, from IT support to encouragement to lowering walls and letting people in. They talk about how important it is to have a collaborative culture and how remote working has changed the way we maintain relationships with our colleagues.
Appreciating influencers
By diving deeper into what influence is and how relationships impact us, the podcast looks at how we can learn from those who have influenced us. In this personal episode, they discuss who influenced them the most and what they have learned from them, from wise lessons from Dad to football management techniques. They also think about appreciating the influential people in their lives and making sure they know what impact they have had.
Leadership qualities
When it comes to leadership, relationships are so crucial, as are the personality traits that can help with building these. They consider how important it is to be a people person as a leader and how to work on understanding other people. They talk about the importance of being competent and credible in order to be trusted by those you are trying to influence. By prioritising relationships, it can become easier to have people follow you as they have that connection already.
wellbeing #productivity #networking #mentalhealth #itsupport
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Welcome back to another episode of The Hack. This week, the guys reflect on the recent training they have received on self-preservation and explore tips on overcoming self-preservation.
Nothing is off-limits in this week's podcast as the hosts discuss the topic of self-preservation in terms of grief (reflecting on the loss of their fathers), conflict in the workplace and redundancy. One of our hosts explains his own experience with being made redundant and how this impacted his personal self-preservation.
The podcast kicks off with a fact that may surprise some listeners: humans are born with only two fears, the fear of loud noises and falling. Everything else is a learned behaviour. This information can put other fears, such as the fear of failure, into a unique perspective and explains why many people default to self-preserving tendencies.
The hosts discuss overcoming self-preservation, which calls out your own behaviour and holds you accountable. To be effective, the questions must be answered with total honesty.
In addition to reflecting on overcoming self-preservation, The Hack podcast hosts offer advice based on their own experiences working in IT support, suggesting one of the most effective ways to overcome self-preservation is to stay in your own lane, learn from your own mistakes, and focus on yourself rather than making frequent comparisons to others.
Listen to the full podcast here for more detail or get in touch with The Hack team for more information on cyber security and IT Hull.
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wellbeing #productivity #networking #mentalhealth #itsupport
This week's podcast was recorded after hosts Leon and Paul attended Ant Middleton's tour, 'Mind of over muscle'.
Ant Middleton rose to fame in 2015 when his show 'SAS: Who dares wins' first aired on Channel 4. He continued to be the primary host and instructor of the show until 2021, when he was terminated from the position due to his controversial behaviour on social media and reports of misconduct towards members of the crew on set. Middleton has landed on his feet despite this controversy and has found success by touring motivational speeches based on his books.
Leon and Paul discuss on the podcast how they were both struck with Middleton's ideas on mindsets and how many of us operate in a negative mindset, whether in our personal or professional lives, without realising it. Instead of being indulged, negative voids must be filled with positivity. Both Leon and Paul share personal experiences with loss and explore this subject about negative mindsets.
The hosts note that the talk's timing was particularly poignant as Middleton presented an analogy about World War 2, exploring how the British public was forced to adapt, adjust and build due to the war; this is particularly relevant due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Although pandemic restrictions may be out of our control, both men agree we've got to get on with it, and we've got to make the best out of it.
In addition to sharing what Paul and Leon believe to be the best advice given by Middleton, such as 'change starts with you' and 'there's no growth in comfort, they share their own experiences such as the fear of committing to change and the fear of failure.
Listen now to learn more about overcoming the fear of failure and the importance of having a positive mindset when running or starting a business in a pandemic. Alternatively, for more information on cyber security and IT support, contact Think Cloud Inc for IT Hull based.
wellbeing #productivity #networking #mentalhealth #itsupport
During this edition of The Hack, with Leon and Paul, the guys sit down with special guest Phylip Morgan and dish on leadership and all things tech. They aim to wake listeners up to what life would be like without the tech in our lives – especially in the healthcare sector, without specific cancer treatments and MRI scanners, etc. Also, they discuss how technology has shifted these days from NASA sending a man to space in 1961 to how Elon Musk is decarbonising his Tesla vehicles in 2021, etc. This blog post aims to capture the standout moments from this podcast – giving you three reasons to listen in.
The importance of switching off!
Throughout this podcast episode, all three talk about the importance of reaching into your bag or pocket and switching off your phone. It can be empowering to put this to the back of your mind and focus on your work or what you enjoy. However, they acknowledge how complicated this process can be. What if I miss out on something important? It's an acknowledgement of the grip that technology can have over our minds.
How technology saves time!
Around the midpoint of the podcast, induction to chargers is made. Usually, one is kept in the car, the other in Leon’s person. This is a note on how technology is used to save us time. By placing our phones on induction chargers, we’re still free to carry on with whatever we are doing. We’re saving ourselves time as we’re no longer chaining ourselves to desks or having to take time out whilst waiting for our tech to recharge. However, we pay money for this, and it’s a rather interesting notion that we pay more for technology that saves us time.
The importance of technology to businesses!
Throughout the podcast, one point is that knowing all there is to know about repairing a particular brand’s motorbike is a lot easier than doing business out of it. This is because of the technological knowledge that people have to have on administrative processes before they can even think about becoming leaders in that area.
wellbeing #productivity #networking #mentalhealth #itsupport
The Hack hosts Leon, Paul and Dean are back this weeks for the 100x Leader episode 13 – exploring people, processes, and technology in more depth.
How to build trust and maximise influence
In this episode, Leon, Paul and Dean focus on how to build trust and maximise influence – whether it be in a team or individual context. In particular, the hosts talk about the impact of character and credibility on people’s ability to influence others and inspire them—understanding how morals and values can affect leadership to owning your processes.
What’s discussed?
For this instalment, the team examine how character, chemistry, credibility, and credibility – the four C’s if you will – are essential when it comes to building trust and maximising influence.
First, the team discuss the importance of leading by example rather than for positional power in inspiring others and building trust. By setting an example through strong morals and principles, you’re able to filter these values down your team and foster a positive work culture. For Leon, Paul and Dean, trust isn’t earned through pestering others to comply with your view, but rather channelling your views into how you operate as a leader.
The Hack hosts discuss the role that character and chemistry play in one’s ability to influence others. Who is this person? What do they stand for? What are their values? These preliminary questions help determine whether someone is a good cultural fit. If the characteristics fit the team, you can build on their skills and competency.
The team talks about competency and credibility and how these skills easily translate into strength and power. With competency, you must establish transparent processes and own them. When someone critiques these processes, it’s crucial that you listen and don’t take it personally. You want to show your ability to adapt and get the most out of your interactions with other team members.
Once you have all these characteristics in check, you’re on the road to creating a collaborative team that trusts your opinion and values your influence. This episode of 100X Leader is worth a listen. You can learn more about how to motivate others through your characteristics and set clear examples for those looking to follow in your footsteps. Give it a listen today!
productivity #networking #mentalhealth #itsupport
The 100X Leader podcast is back, and this time, Leon, Paul and Dean are talking about a range of communication techniques to help you better engage with people and boost your leadership skills. From stages in the communication process to developing your skills and applying them in the workplace, this episode of 100X Leader is a must-listen. First, the team discusses the 5Cs of communication. By going through each step - critique, collaborate, clarify, care and celebrate - you can wrap communication up into a much broader plan of action for your company. Failing to prepare is preparing to fail, and being unable to communicate your goals to staff members is only likely to cause even more issues for your company's long term success. Communication is a skill that you can build over time, and the practical implementation of solid communication skills can support your company's process for years to come. Later in the podcast, the hosts discuss nonverbal communication. In any workplace, getting your ideas across through body language and the way you act has subtle benefits in putting you ahead of your rivals. You can better understand the wants and needs, the effect you have on them and the best way forward for you to make the most of future interactions. Learning from verbal communication is essential, but non-verbal communication conveys a story that your client may be too shy to tell deliberately. Finally, listen to a deep dive into the topic of two-way communication. Whilst listening skills are excellent for helping you to absorb information, and strong communication skills can help you convey a message to others, finding a perfect balance between the two in two-way conversations is key. This allows you to understand conversations as they develop, establish the direction in which they are going and interpret what is being said correctly before responding appropriately. If you feel like you struggle with communication in the workplace and need to improve, this episode of 100X Leader offers you the tools needed to take your communication skills to the next level without resorting to technology. Be sure to give it a listen today! Sponsored by: Talk suicide Powered By: Think Cloud
The straight-talking smart tech podcast is back, and in this episode, your hosts are joined by Antonio Tombanane. Who has recently been welcomed onto the Forbes Business Council, a growing networking organisation based around some of the most successful business leaders. He has been named one of the 50 most prominent black voices in the UK tech space, and we were honoured to have him in the studio to share some of his wisdom. The gang started with our typical question surrounding the books that have shaped and guided the life of our guests. One of Antonio's answers, Compound Effect by Darren Hardy, offered an exciting insight into the mind and behaviour of an entrepreneur, discussing the management of wealth and how to look after what you've made for yourself. His other responses make for fascinating listening before he and the guys delve into the very nature of influence and ask, "What does it mean to be influenced?". We also talk to our guests about social media. Facebook, Twitter and Instagram all have such outstanding impacts on our lives. Our discussion with Antonio about how it helps and hinders our ability to see and understand mental health issues offers a lot to think about. Compassion and understanding since the start of the pandemic are crucial to getting through difficult days. So being able to understand better the way that technology is impacting our ability to emphasise can help us relate to others better. Finally, our hosts discuss self-care and physical health with Antonio. By focusing on dance and being himself, Antonio has lived a healthy and happy lifestyle without needing to drink or rely on things like alcohol for instant gratification. By focusing on eating well and going to the gym, Antonio has developed a lifestyle that he enjoys without putting undue stress on himself. If you're interested in learning more about Antonio Tombanane, his achievements and the way he lives his life, make sure you listen to the latest episode of The Hack. Sponsored by: Talk suicide powered by Think Cloud
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In this week's episode of The Hack podcast, your regular hosts, Leon and Paul, talk to Gemma and James. From catching up about each others' lives after months of being apart to in-depth discussions about mental health conditions, learning difficulties and the processes used to get through them, this is a jam-packed episode.
The gang also talk about the role of emails and the ways that we communicate in the workplace. With email increasingly becoming a core aspect of our day to day lives, the role of technology in our work is evolving all the time. Topics include whether an email is simply being used as a tool for people to push their agendas or if it has the potential to amplify the voices of those in leadership roles, empowering them to work from a position of greater communication.
In addition, the team talk about broader purpose. The group theorise about what the true meaning of life is, the importance of saving a life, and whether the real point of life is to leave a powerful legacy behind that people can be proud of.
If you are affected in any way by the topics discussed in the podcast, check out Andy's Man Club. The Hack is proud to support Andy's Man Club, a men's mental health organisation set up to discuss and resolve men's mental health issues in a safe and secure environment. If you have any concerns about your mental health or that of someone you know, it's important you (or the person you know) get the help and support you need.
Stick the kettle on and settle into another fascinating episode of The Hack today.
Leon McQuade and Paul Longley are back to host yet another edition of The hack, the smart-talking tech podcast that isn't afraid to dive into a range of issues. In this episode, the team from Dopamin drops in to discuss their work, society, and what social media can mean for the average person going forward. Firstly, the conversation delved into what Dopamin does. A Los Angeles based media company, Dopamin offers free photoshoots to the black and LGBT communities, attempting to level the playing field. This has webbed out to include video work thanks to one of the founder's experiences in sound design, and the company has grown ever since. In a returning regular segment, we get to find out what the founders of Dopamin have been reading. This week we learned about a book centred around a man that pushes himself to the very limit of both physical and mental endurance, offering readers a significant change in perspective for anyone interested. If you want to find out what book inspired our guests, listen to the episode and you may just find your own mindset shifting. Later on in the podcast, our guests discuss failure and the role that it can take in our day to day lives. We all deal with failure at some point in our lives, and the founders of Dopamin are no different. We learned all about how they use failure as a learning opportunity, and a chance to ask questions and grow from the experiences they've faced. As always, The Hack is proud to support Andy's Man Club, a men's mental health charity that is there to listen when you need someone to talk to. They offer mental health support groups every Monday all across the country and can help you in your time of need. Check out Dopamin Media: Website Facebook Instagram Twitter Sponsored by: Talk suicide Powered By: Think Cloud
The Hack, hosted by Leon, Paul and Dean are back, and this time, their focus is leadership. The hosts delve into the ‘5 gear action plan’ and the benefits of challenges. For any entrepreneurs, this is a podcast you don’t want to miss out on.
The group begin by recapping their last episode, which focused on the 5 gear action plan, which is the different gears you need to be in at different times of the day to succeed, which include:
Gear 1: The recharge: when you need it, take time off to recharge and recover from a stressful time.
Gear 2: Connect mode: get connected again with the people who matter the most to you, like your family and friends.
Gear 3: Social mode: being present with people, such as your workforce.
Gear 4: Task mode: focus on the processes and tasks you need to complete, and multitask when necessary.
Gear 5: Focused mode: get fully centred on the task at hand so that you can succeed.
By mapping out your daily routine into these different gears, you can designate the right amount of time to each, which Leon, Paul and Jo all say has improved their productivity.
The Hack hosts further go on to talk about the importance of challenging others when you are a leader. What challenges do your employees need in order to improve and succeed the most? What support can you give them? How can you further challenge your own work to find ways of improving at every turn?
Challenging ourselves and others can help us to develop, innovate and grow successfully, but we also need to take the time to appreciate each other's hard work and understand how all of us support each other.
Whether you are looking for ways to support your staff more at the office, learn how to manage your time and get more productive, or just want to hear expert advice on technology from business professionals, make sure that you catch up with The Hack podcast today to learn more. Leadership is about finding out what is your best use and then working together with your team. Supporting and challenging each other. If you would like to look at the great platform GiANT use the following link for a free trial. https://www.giant.tv/thinkcloud
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Some people embrace change and some resist it? The Hack is back again with hosts Leon McQuade, Paul Longley, and Jo Kent. This time, The Hack is joined by guest Gale Acaster.
In this episode, we open discussion on the books that have greatly influenced or changed our lives - to quote Gail who quotes Francis Bacon, knowledge is power, after all. We then move on to looking at the positive side of life following all of the negativity that more than a year of COVID-19 has brought us. We also begin by talking a little about how our pasts have shaped us, whether that be for better or for worse. However, it's important to remember that our pasts do not necessarily define us in the present or even in our future selves.
How schools have changed in recent years and how we can learn from these changes is also a big part of this conversation. Video games, violence, natural aggressions and more all make an appearance. Spreading love and kindness in the modern world is something our hosts and guests also discuss, alongside daily mantras, meditation, and gratitude journals. So, yeah, quite a bit of contrast in the topics talked about.
Much of this episode's discourse is led by the idea of the chimp paradox, based on the book of the same name by Professor Steve Peters. The chimp paradox is a mind management model that allows you to understand and take care of your own emotions, overriding the primitive response of fight, flight, or freeze. Stepping back from the complexities of the modern world is something that our team today has learnt with age, whether that be by going for a walk or listening to music.
We finish off the episode talking about who in history we would like to talk to about modern society. Einstein and Princess Diana are two of the prominent names featured. Take a list to this week's podcast with our brilliant guest Gail Acaster, Personal development (putting you on your path in life, work, personal and professional. Providing the tools to succeed.) Why not check Gail on her social platforms: https://www.facebook.com/GARecruitment/ http://linkedin.com/in/gail-acaster-0868b2b2 www.gailacaster.co.uk Gail Acaster on Twitter GA recruitment on Instagram
The Answers We Seek Are Already Within Us ! I've really loved having Evie and Blake on this weeks Podcast what amazing answers to questions that often have many of us stumped about life ! When it comes to living life to the fullest, for me kids are the real gurus of happiness. They truly understand life better than most of us adults do! Evie and Blake have a way of teaching me the most essential things about life that I've sometimes forgotten as I've grown older. I thought as I write this (dictate to Siri) what are six things I've learned about life from Evie & Blake:
1 Honesty is pure. Keep it that way.
2 Every day is a new day.
3 Stop worrying about tomorrow
4 Stop and smell the roses.
5 Even when you fail, it is always important to try again.
6 Always remember to have fun
let me know what you think
happiness #motivation #leadershiplessons
Join our hosts Leon, Paul and Guest host Dean this Thursday on The Hack. All the way from the USA, none other than Grammy Award Winning Rapper Murphy Lee, best known as a member of the hip hop group St. Lunatics. CEO of his own label, U C Me Entertainment.
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Do not fear, The Hack is here and we're going worldwide! Leon McQuade, Paul Longley and guest host Dean Bulfield are joined by Brooklyn native and hip hop superstar Etcetera. Etcetera has gone from "The grind to the Grammys" and his appearance on the show provides the hosts with a wide range of interesting topics to discuss. This episode is the first in which Leon and Paul have Dean at their side, and what an episode to welcome him to the show with! Etcetera has been lucky enough to share the stage and the studio with some of the biggest names in the business, from Busta Rhymes to Kanye West, and is currently gearing up to release his sophomore album 'Sagittarius'. Etcetera's career has seen him produce as well as perform and even narrowly miss out on Oscars contention with his song 'Brawler' from the film 'Bare Knuckle Brawler' starring Danny Trejo. As always, our hosts are on hand to provide thought-provoking questions as we seek to peer behind the curtain and into the man. What are the three books that changed his life? What's been the driver behind his career? As ever on the show, there is a focus on people, processes and technology and while the New York rap game seems a world away from the North of England, Etcetera's appearance on the show provides yet another area uncovered until now as we learn more about the music industry, the roots of rap and even the luxury of Lamborghinis! Etcetera's career has been one of highs and lows and he is quick to point out that self-belief has been key in him achieving what he has to date. 'From the grind to the Grammys' isn't just a catchy line but one that reminds him where he's come from. So listen now to another episode of The Hack - you won't want to miss it! Sponsored by: Talk suicide Powered By: Think Cloud
The Hack is back, this episode with special guest Luke Scott. Luke's visit to the podcast was all-encompassing and jumped across a range of fascinating topics, leaving it as an episode that you won't want to miss.
The guys start by talking in-depth about some of the things Luke is passionate about. From the music that gets him pumped up and ready to take on the day, to the books that he's read and the topics that truly grab him, this podcast offers you a much deeper insight into the mindset of a business winner, and how listening to Adele can be one of the best things to do in a difficult time.
The main point of discussion on this week's episode was surrounding mental health. As we all know mental health is something that affects all of us on a day to day basis. The guys talk about an issue that has affected many people recently, and that is the way that lockdown has had an impact on all of us. From difficulties in staying as active as we were before the pandemic to the support networks that we all need when we're struggling, this episode hits a lot of important notes that any of us need to hear in difficult times.
There is also a thorough discussion surrounding Andy's Man Club. Andy's Man Club is a mental health support network set up following the unexpected passing of the founder's close friend. It's a place that men can go to find support and help, allowing people to reach out and talk about the problems they've faced.
The Hack is proud to support Andy's Man Club and will continue to do so in order to support those that need mental health support in modern society. If you find yourself affected by any of the issues discussed in this episode, don't be afraid to reach out and get the help you need. Sponsored by: Talk suicide Powered By: Think Cloud
The newest episode of The Hack has been released, with your hosts Leon McQuade, James Ash and Paul Longley, as well as guest Gemma Gibson, all making the most of their time on the air for you. This episode offers everything from nutritional diet discussion to digital distraction, and what we can do to keep our productivity high in today’s technical landscape.
The discussion opens up on diet, lifestyle, and what a positive change can mean for both your physical and mental health. James’ visits to a health coach are the centre of discussion, and he teaches the guys a few things about habit changing, and how adjusting your behaviour over long periods of time to become healthier can be more difficult than short, sharp changes in your day to day routine.
From here, the discussion turns to the idea of a healthy balance in your life, and what the introduction of social media and the necessity of phones might mean for you. Social media has had such a fundamental impact on everyone’s lives, and we hear first-hand stories from a schoolteacher around the impact phones have on something as simple as eating lunch. The conversation, as usual, returns to business, and how we can apply a step by step ideology to improving our lives. Another idea we explore in this episode is the concept that where you can find a business solution, you can often find a life solution and vice versa.
As always, The Hack is proud to support Andy’s Man Club, a men’s mental health charity that seeks to ensure that men up and down the company have a safe space they can visit to discuss their thoughts, feelings, and to spend time with others. If you have any concerns about your mental health and wellbeing, visit an Andy's Man Club session near you and get involved.
wellbeing #productivity #networking #mentalhealth #itsupport
As part of The Hack's 100x Leader Challenge, our hosts Leon McQuade, Paul Longley, and Dean Buffield are back to discuss the latest developments in technology and business processes. Today, they're talking about the five gears and how they can be used to balance work and life for busy professionals juggling career and family. The five gears are distinct energy modes: recharge mode, connect mode, social mode, task mode, and focus mode. In this podcast, we discuss the difference between the five gears and how important it is to understand which mode you're operating in at any time. Even when you're just on recharge mode, it's so important to switch off, disconnect, and make sure your time is spent away from screens to make the most of this gear shift - so that you're ready to launch into focus mode when you need to. Leon, Paul, and Dean get into the details of the five gears, discussing which ones they identify working in the most and how people, colleagues, and family members working in different gears must work together and practise shifting gears to align themselves with others when needed. Understanding the five gears and how they can be used as a template to understand and control your working patterns is key to efficiency and productivity in busy modern workplaces. Suppose you're trying to understand your working processes, and you're looking for tips on how to recharge or improve your focus and collaborative skills at work. In that case, this podcast is full of advice that can help you control switching gears and make the most of your free time and your focus time. Listen to The Hack today to hear exclusive insights, as well as work and social hacks that can transform your day-to-day life. Sponsored by: Talk suicide Powered By: Think Cloud
wellbeing #productivity #networking #mentalhealth #itsupport
The Hack is back for the big one! It's Series 10 of the 100x Leader Challenge, our popular mini-series. Hosts Leon McQuade and Paul Longley are once again joined by Dean Bulfield, as our presenters discuss leadership, technology and their personal usage of social media platforms. The 100X Leader series podcast sees our presenters invite listeners and guests with them on a journey to establish just what exactly leadership is, how you can spot it, and a range of attributes you need to excel in the world of business leadership. In this episode, our hosts take a deep dive into a range of subjects, including a topical look into the marketing of COVID 19 vaccines and how these give us lessons on how to present our products and the role of choice in modern markets. Behavioural science also plays a major role in this episode as Leon, Paul and Dean discuss the science behind refusing to go to bed as a child and how it relates to "decision fatigue", an issue that we all face in our day to day lives. Making decisions is at the heart of management and leadership, after all, working out how and why particular decisions are made can be key to making the most of leadership roles. If you'd like to learn about all facets of leadership, from networking to communication to decision making, there's no better resource than this episode of the 100X Leader Series. The Hack and 100X Leader series strives to promote the great work done by Andy's Man Club, a non-profit mental health organisation focused on getting men the support they need to resolve issues and improve their mental health. Listen to The Hack today for more insight that you can't hear anywhere else. Sponsored by: Talk suicide Powered By: Think Cloud
wellbeing #productivity #networking #mentalhealth #itsupport
Returning for another episode of The Hack, the ninth instalment of our 100X Leader series is now available. It features our hosts Leon McQuade and Paul Longley, who have once more been joined by the dulcet tones of Dean Bulfield. As always, the guys take a meander along the path of leadership, exploring new ideas and leadership concepts along the way. Early in the podcast, your hosts dive headfirst into a discussion around failure and rejection, what that can mean for your self-confidence, and how an effective leader can move past these issues. Converting failure into success is one of the most important things a leader can try to do. That's why striving to make the most of every failure sets poor leaders apart from the pack. Your hosts also delve into a discussion around development and the role of production evolution in modern markets. Technology is moving faster than anyone could have anticipated, which can be worrying for companies that feel somewhat stuck or have a set product that doesn't evolve. Aside from product development, the lads discuss personal development. Leadership courses and personal attributes play a vital role in the world of management today, and if you're not able to develop as either a manager or an employee, you'll get left behind. Focusing on growing as a leader and improving your workplace attributes can put you ahead of the field, something we explore in much greater depth in the episode. The Hack, and the 100X Leader mini-series alike, are proud to support Andy's Man Club, a mental health charity based in the north of England, focusing on ensuring that men get the support they need to live a happy and fulfilling life. You can improve your leadership prospects and even simply have a good time by listening to The Hack today. Sponsored by: Talk suicide Powered By: Think Cloud
The Hack is back and what a show we have in store for you this week as your hosts Leon, Paul and Jo are joined by none other than Hull rugby legend Lee Radford. Lee is a former England international rugby player who spent most of his career representing Hull. He had a hugely successful spell at the Bradford Bulls sandwiched in the middle, going on to coach the club he represented on over 190 occasions. Lee is now set to become head coach of the Castleford Tigers, where he will look to add to the honours he won as a player. Lee's career provides a perspective not yet covered on the show and one especially poignant with regards to the 100x Leadership challenge which our hosts are also doing on our spin-off series, 100x Leader. To have a leader in elite sport on the show provides a wide range of thought-provoking topics to discuss, including effective leadership, building a team and developing potential. As always, The Hack focuses on people, processes and technology and it's especially interesting to learn the process that goes on at a top-level sporting institution. With Lee set to start a new role as head coach of Castleford Tigers next year, this episode provides an insight into the man himself as our hosts try to discover what makes him tick. From books that have changed his life to small purchases with a positive impact, we're able to learn more about Lee than just his rugby exploits. With his role with the Tigers looming large in his mind, we're able to get a sneak peek into what the club might look like under his stewardship, his plans for the team and his ambition to align the club with the local community. The Hack continues to support the fantastic work of Andy's Man Club, a non-profit organisation in the North of England seeking to provide a welcoming environment for men struggling with mental health issues. All this and more make for another fascinating episode of The Hack that you will not want to miss! Sponsored by: Talk suicide Powered By: Think Cloud
Supervillain today for us and everyone listening, whether you're an entrepreneur, a parent or a high achiever, is a digital distraction. Think of social media, count up how many messaging platform alerts and app updates you get in one 24hr period. Then look at all of the dopamine hits our brains are subjected to as a result of this. Do you know how many times the average person opens up, let’s say Instagram? It’s 150 times. Even if you open it less, that still means some are opening it up a whole lot more! We only have to stop and think, why is it we do this? The answer is super simple to understand ……… It's because it's by design! We get this dopamine flood into our brain that drives our habits or addiction for one of a better word. These tendencies form our patterns, influence our actions which have consequences and shape our reality. If you want to jump-start your brain in the morning routine or evening routine, we all want to be more, do more, and get more, which comes from looking at our daily habits.
We're back once again like the renegade master! This week sees us bring you the seventh instalment of The Hack's spin-off mini-series 100X Leader. This week we have a new host joining the team, as Dean Bulfield joins our regular masters of ceremonies, Leon McQuade and Paul Longley, on their journey learning leadership and life skills from the Giant Platform 100x Leader. 100x Leader is a leadership platform developed by GIANT and introduced to Leon and Paul by former guest Steve Cockram. The mini-series of the same name has seen our hosts invite the listener along on the journey with them as they explore and evaluate a wide range of topics and discover what it means to be a successful leader. This latest episode is no different as the hosts dig into the difference between the definition of a boss and a leader, direct and indirect leadership, and how the internet impacts knowledge and intelligence. As always, people, processes and technology are at the heart of the discussion, and this series has seen us get to know our hosts a little better. This extended episode sees Dean join the pair to contribute to the discussion around the program as the trio work to evaluate how we, as individuals, can improve and improve as part of a team. Later on in the show, the lads discuss challenges to personal growth, what might help someone struggling with self-belief and the role of confidence in developing your personal and professional life. As always, The Hack and the 100X Leader mini-series promote the fantastic work of Andy's Man Club, a non-profit organisation in the North of England seeking to provide support and solidarity for men struggling with mental health issues. Listen now to another thought-provoking episode of The Hack. Sponsored by: Talk suicide Powered By: Think Cloud
It’s that time again people! Your hosts Leon McQuade and Paul Longley return for another thought-provoking episode of The Hack’s sassy side series 100X Leader, a mini-series devoted to the Giant platform the boys are learning life and leadership skills from.
As always people, processes and technology are the centre of conversation as the hosts continue their exploration of the platform they were introduced to by former guest Steve Cockram.
This mini-series has seen our hosts challenge themselves, and the listeners, to go on a journey of self-improvement and reflect upon their own personal and professional experiences to become even more effective leaders.
This episode focuses on prohibition and inhibition - who says you can’t? Our hosts explore the idea of being prohibited and inhibited what that means professionally and institutionally. There are things that outside factors prohibit us from doing but our own inhibitions often prevent us from doing things too, this episode explores this to try and work out how we can be uninhibited.
Our hosts have enabled us further insight into their lives across this series and this episode is no different as the 100X Leader Challenge allows opportunities to reflect upon their personal and professional relationships.
As the hosts explore what it means to be an effective leader, it’s evident the platform is starting to create more questions and opportunities for development in their respective lives.
As always, The Hack and this 100X Leader mini-series work to promote the amazing work of Andy’s Man Club, an organisation both Leon and Paul have helped to develop, focusing on promoting positive mental health in men and a supportive environment to discuss their issues.
wellbeing #productivity #networking #mentalhealth #itsupport
The street talking, smart tech podcast is back! The Hack is here with an all-new episode. This time around, your hosts Leon McQuade and Paul Longley are joined by none other than Dr. Andrew Steel of the Plant A Tree Today Foundation. PATT was formed in 2006 in Thailand after a mini-bus trip to the village of Sangklaburi where they carried out their first tree planting project. Now the foundation continues to honour its name by planting trees every day, so many in fact they've planted over 3 million trees already! Naturally, given Andrew's appearance on the show, this presents the opportunity for discussion around the environment, how we can protect it and what donating to the PATT foundation will allow them to do. As always, our hosts are on hand to lead the thoughtful discussion and try to find out what helps Andrew tick, from books that have changed his life to that amp up a song that gets him raring for the day. Andrew opens up on his founding of the PATT foundation, his family and even his sporting pedigree after competing in the first-ever rugby league game on Asian soil. The insight into the Plant A Tree Today foundation provides a reminder of the importance of nature on planet earth. The foundation has 10-15 dedicated team members ensuring over 3,000 trees are planted per day and they want that number to keep growing! Andrew explains how technology is vital to the process of planting trees and the foundation's mission. The Hack, as a podcast, focuses on business, mental health and online working and always endeavours to promote the amazing work of Andy's Man Club, a mental health organisation based in the North of England seeking to promote better mental health in men. Please pay the PATT Foundation a visit at www.patt.org and support the wonderful work Dr. Andrew Steel and his team are doing to help keep our planet alive and healthy.
It's that time again, folks, another new episode of The Hack's new mini-series 100X Leader as our hosts Leon McQuade and Paul Longley discuss and discover the new life skills they are learning from the Giant platform former guest Steve Cockram introduced to them.
As always, conversation centres around people, processes and technology as Leon and Paul ponder what life might start to look like now regulations are easing and what we, as people and organisations, can do to grow and prosper in the wake of the pandemic.
This mini-series has seen our hosts explore their professional and personal development as they seek to understand leadership better. The show focuses on the important topic of self-improvement and the opportunity to get to know the hosts a little better. This episode is no different; 100x Leader has asked the listener to come along on the journey and reflect on ways to improve.
As the episode continues, the hosts discuss working effectively as a team, leading to successful leadership and managing an effective cohort. There's also a focus on how technology can aid our leadership abilities and our team's strength in reaching their goals. Thoughtful discussion continues around the five challenges to face leading in a digital post-covid world and how leaders need to adapt and change in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
All this and more makes this another episode you won't want to miss!
The team at The Hack are dedicated to promoting the amazing work of Andy's Man Club, an organisation both Paul and Leon have helped to develop in the North of England promoting positive mental health in men.
This week sees your hosts Leon and Paul bring you another thought-provoking episode of The Hack's sassy sister series, 100x Leader. In this episode, your hosts further examine the new Giant platform through which they are gaining new life and leadership skills. This time around, our hosts discuss circles of influence, the difference between intentional and accidental, and the power of being a liberated leader. The mini-series has provided a new insight into the lives of our hosts and this week's instalment is no different, Leon and Paul provide heartwarming tales and thoughtful reflection upon some of life's issues that we all face. The 100X Leader series has asked the listener to join along for the ride and perhaps reflect and apply some of these skills and techniques to your own life. They consider how these personal experiences and techniques can be applied to the wider world, for example in business and career environments or social situations. They talk about the different types of self-care and how to keep the balance with what's expected of us and what we need to do to look after ourselves. Other discussion focuses on talent, skill and practice, and the differences between those things. How much of what we're good at is talent vs. skill? Whilst always at the heart of every episode of The Hack, this latest episode sees special attention paid to the wonderful work of Andy's Man Club and how it came to be. Leon and Paul's experiences and endorsement of the organisation continue as they discuss the positive work that the organisation does. Listen now to this week's thought-provoking episode of The Hack's 100X Leader mini-series.👊❤🌍🚀
wellbeing #productivity #networking #mentalhealth #itsupport
The latest instalment of The Hack's new mini-series, 100x Leader, sees your hosts Leon McQuade and Paul Longley explore further the Giant Platform that's giving them new life and leadership skills.
This episode sees our hosts tackle how we support and challenge ourselves and what we can do to improve rather than 'reinventing the wheel'. The lads talk about how we as humans operate and what it is that makes us tick. They discuss personality testing and the intricacies of human psychology.
The Giant Platform 100x Leader, which is the focus of this new mini-series, was introduced by the previous guest Steve Cockram. As our hosts go along this journey, you are invited to explore the platform for yourself and develop your own leadership and life skills along the way.
The platform has provided an opportunity for the listener to get to know the hosts a little better and this week is no different as Leon and Paul delve into people, processes and technology as they reflect further upon their personal and professional relationship. This sees the duo not only reflect on their experiences as a pair but also individually, providing an honest insight into their own lives and mental health.
Listen now to our latest fresh and insightful episode. 👊❤🌍🚀
wellbeing #productivity #networking #mentalhealth #itsupport
This week The Hack is back to business with people, process and technology at the forefront of yet another fascinating episode. Your hosts Leon, Paul and Jo, are joined by Steve Phillip, founder of The Jordan Legacy CIC. Prior to founding the charity, Steve was a successful business owner providing social media training and consultancy. However, Steve's life tragically changed when his son Jordan decided to take his own life at the age of 34. Following Jordan's death, Steve decided he must focus all his energy on preventing suicide. As a result, he founded The Jordan Legacy CIC and now works with Champion Health as Head Of Mission - helping to deliver personal health assessments, bespoke action plans, company reports and mental health training programmes with the goal of saving lives. What does The Jordan Legacy CIC do? Steve and his amazing team provide support to people who are struggling with their mental health or considering suicide. They raise awareness through the ‘Zero Suicide Community Strategy’ to empower businesses, individuals and families to help prevent suicide. What can businesses do? Introducing workplace wellbeing initiatives is vital for any business. The environment and culture you create for your staff can have a significant impact on their mental wellbeing, recovery or willingness to be vulnerable and share when they’re struggling. As you know, The Hack is all about promoting positive mental health and breaking down the barriers of everyday life. Steve's appearance on the show is particularly poignant, with his professional and personal experience providing a wide range of subjects for the group to discuss. As always, the hosts are on hand with inquisitive discussion and thought-provoking questions; what are the three books that changed your life? What small purchase under £50 has improved your life the most? Interestingly with technology always at the forefront of the show, it's the first time an App has answered that question—another example of the ever-changing and developing role of technology in our lives. This and more make this another episode of the street talking smart tech podcast that you won't want to miss. The Hack works to promote the work of Andy's Men's Club, a non-profit organisation in the North of England seeking to create friendships and a healthy discussion about mental health. We would also ask our listeners to please look into The Jordan Legacy and the #Hope4Life events to support Steve's fantastic work in raising awareness. Sponsored by: Talk suicide Powered By: Think Cloud
In this second episode of The Hack's new mini-series '100X Leader Challenge', your hosts Leon McQuade and Paul Longley dig further into what makes a successful leader, questioning whether your tendency is to protect, liberate, abdicate or dominate. This series focuses on the 100X Leader program, a new Giant Platform offering leadership and life skills. In the last episode, Leon and Paul took on the Peace Index, examining the points which make up their percentage. This episode continues that exploration with the duo contemplating their own leadership styles and areas in which they would like to develop. As we further explore people, processes and technology, this mini-series provides an opportunity for the hosts to take listeners on a journey too, seeking to educate and explore alternative methods for self-improvement. In Episode 2, Leon and Paul discuss elements of their friendship, reflecting on the past and planning for the future - something we should all do with people we care about. They provide a refreshingly honest promotion for men's mental health issues. Conversation centres on the subject of mistakes, and how we pick ourselves up after one. They provide personal anecdotes from their careers and sporting lives. With this new mini-series focused on the 100X Leader platform, rather than a guest appearance, we're able to learn more about our hosts and the way they tick. Inspired by former guests and challenges, the duo's journey allows the listener to develop an understanding of the men behind the microphone and ponder what techniques could help in our own lives. As always The Hack seeks to promote the wonderful work of Andy's Man Club, an organisation both Leon and Paul work with to promote positive mental health in men. Sponsored by: Talk suicide
wellbeing #productivity #networking #mentalhealth #itsupport
We've got something new for you this week as your hosts from The Hack, Leon McQuade and Paul Longley, begin their new mini-series, 100x Leader. The duo digs further into people, processes and technology as well as the Giant Platform they are learning life and leadership skills from. 100x Leader is a leadership training platform based around The 5 Ps of Performance. Over the course of the episode, Leon and Paul dig into what the program means, how you can apply it to your life and the infinite loop of continual improvement. The hosts go through the Peace index and offer the opportunity for the listeners to engage and go along on the journey with them. The 100X Challenge is focused on spreading knowledge and positivity with the 100 referring to your percentage health and happiness and the X being the intention to multiply into others. This Giant leadership program offers a framework for personal self-improvement and provides a useful tracking tool. The Peace Index specifically can be a useful way to digest and reflect with the goal of self-improvement, something often difficult for mental health sufferers. As the show goes on Leon and Paul get the chance to open up on their relationship with the program and how we can plug in and charge up to 100% in our own lives. The thoughtful conversation provides useful techniques we can all apply to our own lives and provides a bit more insight into our hosts' background. With this mini-series, we invite you to join us along the journey to reach your very own 100% and be the best you that you can be! As always, the podcast aims to promote the wonderful work of Andy's Man Club and this show is no different, with the hosts touching upon their experiences with the organisation.
wellbeing #productivity #networking #mentalhealth #itsupport
Once again, The Hack is back and here to attack with more thought-provoking discussion around people, process and technology. This week your hosts Leon and Jo are joined by digital marketing expert Jack Foster, Head of Brand at 43 Clicks North, a digital marketing agency based in Hull. Founded three years ago, 43 Clicks provides international clients with unparalleled service from its base in Northeast England. Aiming to help companies achieve digital success online and beyond, Jack's role in the company is developing branding. He provides valuable insight into what 43 Clicks could do for your company. Jack's appearance on the show allows the hosts to delve into a variety of wide-reaching subject matter. His expertise in marketing provides a fresh and honest take on the role of social media and the benefits from an institutional, as well as individual, perspective. Plus, the group continues to talk about the role of social media in our lives, maintaining a healthy relationship with your phone and using technology for self-improvement. Discussion continues to centre around the effectiveness of work, motivation and process, with Jack providing some thoughtful insight into the world of digital media and how companies are targeting consumers. Throughout the show, there remains an emphasis on how we learn; how we as humans process the information in front of us. This is a topic which perhaps has been complicated by our ever-evolving relationship with technology. As ever, the show aims to promote better mental health by opening the floor to honest discussions. In examining and dissecting the growing role of technology in our lives, the group are able to provide some compelling personal stories of their own. With each of the groups offering some insight into which techniques they use, there are valuable tips and tricks that we can apply to our own personal relationship with our phone and social media, something often overlooked in our day to day lives. One thing that is for sure - your phone is good for listening to this week's thought-provoking episode of The Hack! Sponsored by: Talk suicide Powered By: Think Cloud
On this week’s The Hack podcast: Separate your emotions from thinking! Join our hosts Leon & Paul this Thursday talking about the great podcast 'Unlocking your hidden superpowers!' with Steve Cockram
wellbeing #productivity #networking #mentalhealth #itsupport
Creating an emotionally intelligent business culture The Hack is back with more of the same and a slightly longer episode today, so we have made it into two parts. Your hosts Leon, Paul and Jo, are joined by Steve Cockram, co-founder of GIANT Worldwide and an international speaker, author and business consultant. Steve is an expert in personality and wiring, organisational leadership, emotional intelligence and interpersonal communication. Steve has also co-authored two books, 5 Gears and 5 Voices, and developed a leadership and management model utilised worldwide. Oh, and a brilliant TEDx Talk. Watch the TEDx Talk What’s discussed? As always, people, process and technology are at the centre of discussion as the group talk about recovering from failure and the mental blocks to success in business. Our hosts are on hand to deliver some challenging questions as we learn a little about what makes Steve tick. Steve "changes people's lives forever", so what books changed his? What music helps to motivate him? What little purchases have positively improved his life? Perhaps the most interesting debate in this week's show centres on honesty and responsibility. A refreshingly honest insight into the lives of the hosts as they're given the opportunity to reflect on their relationship with themselves and each other. Steve's expertise in leadership enables discussion around the creation of culture in business and the power of reinforcement. Steve's past in America enables interesting discussion around the cultural differences across the pond, with the gang also pondering what it is to be British and the power of communication. Britishness has often been at the forefront of discussion over the last couple of years during the Brexit process. But as the dust has now settled, a conversation separate from politics delivers a genuinely fascinating insight into the British psyche and how it differs from the American one. Find yourself a comfy spot, stick your kettle on and settle into another fascinating episode of The Hack. Sponsored by: Talk suicide Powered By: Think Cloud
Creating an emotionally intelligent business culture. The Hack is back with more of the same and a slightly longer episode today, so we have made it into two parts. Your hosts Leon, Paul and Jo, are joined by Steve Cockram, co-founder of GIANT Worldwide and an international speaker, author and business consultant. Steve is an expert in personality and wiring, organisational leadership, emotional intelligence and interpersonal communication. Steve has also co-authored two books, 5 Gears and 5 Voices, and developed a leadership and management model utilised worldwide. Oh, and a brilliant TEDx Talk. Watch the TEDx Talk What’s discussed? As always, people, process and technology are at the centre of discussion as the group talk about recovering from failure and the mental blocks to success in business. Our hosts are on hand to deliver some challenging questions as we learn a little about what makes Steve tick. Steve "changes people's lives forever", so what books changed his? What music helps to motivate him? What little purchases have positively improved his life? Perhaps the most interesting debate in this week's show centres on honesty and responsibility. A refreshingly honest insight into the lives of the hosts as they're given the opportunity to reflect on their relationship with themselves and each other. Steve's expertise in leadership enables discussion around the creation of culture in business and the power of reinforcement. Steve's past in America enables interesting discussion around the cultural differences across the pond, with the gang also pondering what it is to be British and the power of communication. Britishness has often been at the forefront of discussion over the last couple of years during the Brexit process. But as the dust has now settled, a conversation separate from politics delivers a genuinely fascinating insight into the British psyche and how it differs from the American one. Find yourself a comfy spot, stick your kettle on and settle into another fascinating episode of The Hack. Sponsored by: Talk suicide Powered By: Think Cloud
On this week’s The Hack podcast: The Fifth Industrial Revolution and how it will change work life and play! Join our hosts Leon & Paul this Thursday talking about the great podcast 'How to embrace masculine energy, life and business?' With Jason Rickaby. Learning about his journey through business, life and wellbeing.
wellbeing #productivity #networking #mentalhealth #itsupport
On this week's straight-talking smart tech podcast, The Hack hosts Leon, Paul and Jo are joined by none other than Jason Rickaby. Jason is Co-Founder at HMN24. Host of the Live on Form podcast. Investor. Co-Founder and ex CEO PhD Nutrition. Jason formed PhD in 2006 with Mark Bowering and set about taking on the big boys of the industry with a refreshingly honest approach, helping to create a "brand that cuts through the BS". That's certainly something we all need when it comes to nutrition! As always, The Hack team is here to dive into the important topics with an emphasis on people, process and technology. With this episode's focus on sport and nutrition, we delve into the mind and body benefits of looking after your physical fitness. What’s discussed? Having an industry expert like Jason on this week's show presents an opportunity to discuss the link between the body and mental health, as well as masculinity and the very nature of being a man. Jason talks us through his favourite books, his routine, and recovering from failure - something we can all relate to. Jason's journey to the top isn't your typical story. Having started PhD at 28 and working hard to get it to where it is today, he has some wise words to impart to our hosts and our audience. Now in his 40s, Jason is keen to reflect on his journey to becoming the man and the business person he is today. Being at the forefront of a nutrition company in the fitness field means Jason has a fascinating insight into the connection between physical and mental exercise. Jason's experience suggests that finding comfort in your body can transmit comfort to your brain, allowing you to recover from the stresses of day-to-day life, let alone the last year of uncertainty. It might not be a magical cure-all, but there are definitely benefits to be found in exercise and nutrition. All this and much more make for another episode of The Hack. It’s not one to miss. Sponsored by: Talk suicide Powered By: Think Cloud
On this week’s The Hack podcast: Our hosts Leon, Paul & Jo, take a look back at the brilliant James Ash podcast from last week.
What did you learn from it? Take a listen to what the host take home from the podcast was!
wellbeing #productivity #networking #mentalhealth #itsupport
When you think of corporate life and entrepreneurship, you don't necessarily think of mental wellbeing right away. It's still not recognised and discussed as much as it could be in many organisations. However, it's exactly what we're here to talk about today. James Ash is a successful entrepreneur who has intentionally prioritised his own mental wellbeing. As you can imagine, this has had a positive effect not only on his inspiration, health and happiness – but on his work, too. James shares valuable insight into his challenges and discusses how he was able to harness his own ADHD to become a success. What is discussed?
James' story; from working in mental health to navigating the fashion media marketing world
Top tips for business & wellbeing success
How to enable effective communication
Overcoming mental health challenges
Lockdown has led to more mental health challenges for many, and the ever-increasing presence of social media and technology in our lives doesn’t always help. In a time when our freedoms have been limited, it can be hard to access the necessary support and safe spaces required to feel revitalised. For example, not travelling to see loved ones, exploring new places or just not being able to have a holiday somewhere sunny can feel suffocating for those who struggle with their mental health. This, in turn, can lead to a lack of motivation and inspiration at work. Our temporary solution is to daydream together – where will we go when all this is over? What do we want to do next year that we couldn't do this year? James and our team found comfort in focussing on what the future holds, and dreamt up everything from holidays to interviewees and fundraising projects. If you want to join our conversation about mental wellbeing, entrepreneurship and James' dog Dorothy (who just had ELEVEN puppies!), then don't miss this episode of The Hack. As always, The Hack seeks to support and promote the work of Andy's Man Club, a UK-based institution promoting better mental health within men, allowing them to speak and find a community of supportive, friendly ears. Take a listen to this week's podcast. Sponsored by: Talk Suicide Powered By: Think Cloud
This week on The Hack, host’s Leon, Paul & Jo look back at Martin Johnson founder of Trans2 Performance podcast. Discussing the surprising truth of how we learn as humans. Take a listen to this week's Podcast.
wellbeing #productivity #networking #mentalhealth #itsupport
Sponsored by: Talk suicide Powered By: Think Cloud
On this week's episode of The Hack, host Leon McQuade is joined by Martin Johnson CEO of Hull's Trans 2Performance, a consultancy specialising in delivering coaching around leadership, management and customer service with an underlying psychological understanding. T2Performance aims to process human behaviour to enable increased productivity. The pair discuss a wide range of topics including the difficulty in utilizing communication and collaboration, the impact of the pandemic on online working, technology and business. Technology is at the heart of this episode as the pair consider what the future may look like in organisations and ponder the possibility of automation, as well as reflecting upon the challenges of an ever-changing workforce. As CEO of T2Performance, Martin's position in the industry has enabled him to speak intelligently on a wide range of subjects and this episode is no different. By using his industry knowledge, he offers a fascinating take on a variety of subjects. Martin's passion for his company comes across, but more so does his passion for understanding the human being. The thought-provoking discussion continues throughout as the pair ponder a variety of technological advancements with psychological implications. Whether a high tech future sounds like a dystopia or utopia, it's important to think about these topics now. Martin asks us to consider that "you're not going to use your phones in 20 years, you're going to be thinking a thought. And through artificial intelligence, it's going to appear on your phone or on your screen" This episode provides a remarkable insight with regard to mental health as the pair focus on the idea of challenging behaviours as an organisation and an individual. Through healthy debate, out-of-the-box thinking, and an exploration of ideas, this episode offers some lockdown friendly entertainment. This is an episode of The Hack you won't want to miss. Listen now. Sponsored by: Talk suicide Powered By: Think Cloud
Ben Rainey is a house DJ and producer. A self-described "mental health facilitator", Ben is quickly developing a reputation with his live stream mixes across the internet. His YouTube mixes are growing in popularity and are sure to perk up the dull lockdown days. During this episode, Ben and host Leon McQuade discuss a wide variety of subjects including mental health, social media and business. They ask, what role does social media have to play in maintaining our mental health? As an online creative entrepreneur, Ben's DJ work has seen him carve a unique career path for himself and hold a position of influence, so he reflects upon his position as a positive influencer, sharing honest updates about his life with his followers rather than sapping constant holiday snaps. This becomes a key focus of the chat, as the pair discuss Ben's work to shine a light on men's mental health issues and the amazing work being done by Andy's Man Club to get men talking to each other about their mental health. Over the course of the podcast, Ben and Leon discuss their own mental health, business and what lessons they've learned recently. The pair discuss and listen to some of Ben's music, with him revealing his favourite work to be a cover of Stonebridge 'put em high', saying "the reason that's my proudest is that it was the beginning of lockdown... it was the point when I was the most anxious and down. All of a sudden, I've got this track and it's breaking multi-millions history." The perfect way to bust those lockdown blues, we explore Ben's music and work as well as bringing you some light-hearted chat. Covering all of this and more, tune in to the latest episode of "The Hack" now. Sponsored by: Talk suicide Powered By: Think Cloud
At first glance, new year's resolutions can seem like a wholly positive endeavour, especially for someone struggling with their mental health. It's an opportunity to create a whole new me' - a fresh start or a new look. With millions volunteering to give that glass of wine the boot for dry January or attempting to get more sleep, it can feel like a massive personal attack the moment you realise you've failed. But is a black and white resolution the only way to make a positive change going into the new year? On the first Pig Wrestling Podcast of 2021, our host’s Leon, Paul and Jo discuss the positives and negatives of new year's resolutions when it comes to mental health, and suggest some alternative strategies that have worked for them in the past. With COVID restrictions ever-tightening across the UK, and the uncertainty reaching an all-time high, a lot more people are concerned about their own mental health or that of their friends and family. This is a particular problem for men, who have the highest suicide rates in the UK. In this episode, the hosts talk about the launch of the new online service Qwell, designed to help men with mental health issues who often struggle to seek help, as well as their own positive exercise habits in lockdown and how to avoid the pitfalls of technology and social media. Later in the podcast, they compare their daily routines for a positive day in lockdown and look back at what worked well for them in 2020 that we can learn valuable lessons from to take into the new year. If you're looking for some reassurance or ideas for how to start 2021 in the most positive way you can, make sure you give this episode a listen. It might just help you with that fresh perspective, even if you've already given up on your new year's resolution. Learn all about Leon’s 7 steps challenge and how the technology he uses help’s him be more organised. Sponsored by:Talk suicide Powered By: Think Cloud
Angus Young recently had a guest appearance on the Pig Wrestling Podcast, in which the Gateshead-born journalist talked through some of his past experiences with us. He answered our regular ten questions in enlightening detail. One fascinating answer that Angus offered was the advice that he’d give his former self, and it applies to millions of young people today. Angus’ advice was to have confidence in yourself, and not take no for an answer. Although the first part of this advice may seem to be reasonably straightforward, it’s genuinely enhanced by not taking no for an answer. One famous phrase says “You can get in anywhere with a clipboard and a hi-vis”, the same applies for taking every day with confidence and the belief that you can be anywhere. You’ll look like you fit in, and this confidence can bring you opportunities that you wouldn’t have otherwise. In today’s world, it can feel almost impossible to get ahead, so putting yourself out there more can only work to your advantage as you set yourself apart from the pack. Young also discussed some advice that he shouldn’t have taken when he was younger. When he was younger, his dad suggested that he avoid a role in the police. Instead, Angus took what was seen as the “second worst” option as a journalist. These are both jobs that lead to something of a work-life balance problem, as Angus says when he talks about it being “difficult to switch off at times”. The job could always come calling, so you need to make sure you’re doing what you love and not just following someone else’s suggestions. Otherwise, you could lose your best years to an exhausting job, not living the life that you’d always planned out for yourself. If you’d like to hear more from Angus Young’s appearance on the Pig Wrestling Podcast, give his episode a listen. Covering topics from West Yorkshire crime novels to Victorian architects and Guild Halls, Angus’ arrival is not one to be missed for the avid listener, or anyone with even a passing interest in journalism.
Sally Wray is a customer-focused businesswoman that looks to improve her hometown of Hull wherever possible. Having started in a position of little business knowledge, Sally has quickly developed into a prominent businesswoman in the area. The learning never stops, and as long as you can keep growing yourself, Wray thinks a perfect world is one in which you can do what you genuinely enjoy. As one of the Pig Wrestling Podcast’s regular features, we asked Sally who she would most like to interview, whether they’re from the past or the present. Her response, in her own words, was “a bit of a cliche” with David Attenborough coming out on top. The amount of the world he’s seen, his travels are indeed a fascinating subject for anyone to listen to. The offer of such a deep dive into the life of a national treasure is too good to pass up. The environmentalist’s vast range of experience and people that he’s met would be a fascinating discussion to have any day of the week. With the amount the world has changed in his lifetime, there’s no end to the talks you can have. Just one of many questions we asked Sally on her appearance, but one we didn’t get round to was asking about her future ambitions. Her drive summed up well, as she stated that “it feels like there’s someone’s hand on my back, just pushing me along”, and having just recently bought a company in Grimsby there’s no sign of slowing down for one of Hull’s most driven businesspeople. Her drive is truly something to be admired, and who knows, maybe an Attenborough meeting could be on the horizon. If you’d like to hear more of Sally’s story, be sure to listen to her appearance on the Pig Wrestling Podcast. Attenborough is just one of the vast range of topics in an interview that touches on personal health and “shiny syndrome”. If you’d like to know what makes Sally Wray tick, be sure to give this episode of the podcast a listen. Sponsored by: Moodbeam, Hopen, Talk suicide Powered By: Think Cloud
Liam Woods has a vision for HU6, centred around making the area a great place to live. As the Project Manager for Unity in Community, the goal is to bring the local community together to build somewhere that people want to live, rather than happen to live. Working in such an inspiring role means he must have some powerful quotes in his back pocket, so we asked his favourite quote on the Pig Wrestling Podcast. Liam’s response was one passed on to him by his dad, being that “If there’s a will, there’s a way”. The idea that if you want something, or need something to happen, you can plug away at it and keep on pushing yourself to make it work eventually. One or two simple barriers can’t be allowed to stop you from completing your goals and reaching your dreams. The idea of if you feel down, you get back up again, is undoubtedly an inspiring one, and one which is somewhat representative of the work that Unity in Community is doing in Hull when attempting to revolutionise the area. Another quote mentioned by Woods was a great Wayne Gretzky quote, “100% of the shots you don’t take don’t go in”. Somewhat similar to the first quote, but it emphasises the idea that if you want to try something, go for it. It’s better to have a chance of succeeding by doing something than having no chance at all because you didn’t try. At the heart of Liam Woods’ ethos, and a combination of drive and willingness to try anything means that his successes are often and wide-ranging. If you’d like to find out more about Unity in Community’s work in Hull or just more about Liam himself, be sure to give his recent appearance on the Pig Wrestling Podcast a listen. In a conversation including both local projects in Hull and the excellency of Wayne Gretzky’s career, you can learn a lot about Liam Woods and how he’s achieved the success he has so far in his life.
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Roger Grannon is a major figure in Hull’s construction scene. Currently the Chief Operations Officer at KWL, Roger started his career at Hull City Council as an electrician before gradually climbing the ladder to where he is today. His constant search for positive change in his life has led to a positive outlook on life, and by combining this with adding new habits to daily life, Roger is always taking significant steps forward in his life. Because of this, he found our question about what habit has had a positive influence effortless. Roger picked up the habit of reading books on holiday, and always found himself thinking “I should write something down”. This thought developed into a writing habit, he most commonly writes about his life in the way that he saw it, and although he’s not yet shared his work with anyone else, he looks forward to the day he can let people take a look, otherwise “those memories are just going to vanish”. This led nicely into the next question surrounding “What advice would you give to yourself?”, which was resoundingly answered by Roger in a way that suits his habits, being always to take any opportunity that comes to you. Roger started writing as an impulse that stemmed from reading plenty of books, and that’s taken him a long way in putting together a memoir. By taking as many opportunities as you can, you’re putting yourself in a better position for success in the future. Trying everything you can gives you a new level of confidence that makes you more likely to succeed, and makes you happier whilst you do it. If you’d like to learn some more about Roger Grannon and his story, listen to his appearance on the Pig Wrestling Podcast. Roger’s experience makes him a profoundly thoughtful person with some great stories to tell, so don’t miss out and listen to this life-changing podcast as soon as possible. Sponsored by: Moodbeam, Hopen, Talk suicide Powered By: Think Cloud
Jerome Whittingham is a renowned freelance photographer, writer and podcast producer, commissioned by a wide range of organisations and enterprises to tell their stories. Such a background in storytelling gives a natural interest in books and writing, so learning about Jerome's most impactful books was an intriguing part of his appearance on the Pig Wrestling Podcast. The first thing noted by Jerome was that the majority of the work he reads is non-fiction, whether that's reports, academic books or books about journalism. This makes some sense, as someone so integrated into the world of journalism and non-fiction writing is likely to find themselves fascinated by whatever work comes from that same world of telling real-life stories. This also shows the passion with which Whittingham views his profession, as something to be engrossed in as often as possible rather than just a meaningless job that he can switch off from at 5 pm on a weeknight. One author that Jerome was sure to mention was Hans Rosling, a statistician with a passion for presenting data in interesting and entertaining ways. One study that Jerome specifically talked about of Rosling's was one in which he asked chimpanzees and people of a range of demographics a similar series of questions, resulting in not a single group scoring higher than the chimpanzees because of their natural biases. This made Jerome feel better about his role as a journalist, as it was demonstrative that people were negative to the job because it's "our biases that are making us feel this way". Rosling's work has been revolutionary in the world of statistics, and it's easy to see why a non-fiction writer would feel so drawn towards these intriguing representations of the very world that we all live in. If you'd like to learn more about Jerome Whittingham, his profession, and exactly how he sees the world, listen to his appearance on the Pig Wrestling Podcast. He goes into depth in a wide variety of fascinating topics, making this episode a must-listen for anyone seeking to broaden their horizons or expand their method of thinking. Sponsored by: Moodbeam, Hopen, Talk suicide Powered By: Think Cloud
Laura Jarvis recently appeared on the Pig Wrestling Podcast, where she talked all about her time as a senior chartered manager working for the Charity Alcohol and Drug Service. She has a high level of expertise in dealing with these issues and has had in-depth discussions with hundreds of people. However, there are plenty of people that Laura hasn't had the chance to interview yet, so we asked Laura who her dream interview subject would be. Laura's response was a powerful one, saying that her dream subject would be Martin Luther King Jr. She admired the way that he was a "fascinating person" in his time and wondered exactly what sort of impact MLK would have had in today's world, given the extended reach of so many campaigns stemming from the growth of social media. In addition to this, Jarvis wondered just what King would think of the last few months in America. With very similar race protests arising in a tumultuous time, she would ask for his thoughts on just how much of an impact King believes he has had on the world and if the decades following his famous protests have gone the way that he had imagined. Laura's first answer was somewhat more off the cuff and less impactful. Her first suggestion was a member of the popular musical group Take That! However, she almost immediately backtracked from this response as she thought it was a bit of a cop-out. Instead, she chose MLK, who is in all likelihood a more intriguing interview subject to really dig into and truly get to know the mindset of. If you're interested in learning more about Laura Jarvis and hearing her answer a range of questions, from advice to her 18-year-old self to lessons she's learned from past failure, listen to her appearance on the Pig Wrestling Podcast. By listening to this discussion of just under an hour you can start to understand the mindset behind one of Hull's most successful business people, and take her advice to drive yourself forward in both the world of business and wider life. Sponsored by: Moodbeam, Hopen, Talk suicide Powered By: Think Cloud
Darren Peacock is your typical working-class boy turned businessman story. Having started his life as a borrow boy at the Fruit Market on Humber Street, he has gradually built a business that employs 102 employees, and when he exited the firm it was worth more than £10 million. Now a finance broker, Peacock has made the most of his lot in life. However, he does have some advice he would like to give his 18-year-old self, to make the most of what he missed. Peacock started by mentioning how a lot of advice comes from the wrong place. People, when they offer advice to others, tend to discuss situations and offer guidance based on how they personally see the world rather than from a perspective that's helpful to the person seeking advice. Unless the person that's giving the advice truly and deeply understands the position the person is in, they should probably take it with a pinch of salt. Darren did give one piece of advice that he considered to be universal in business, that was quite simply "Don't be a dick". He went on to discuss how you can't "win" in business because it's not a game that has an end, and nobody necessarily has to lose. Business can be win-win in all cases, and you don't need to try and force all you can out of someone you're making a deal with to profit. If there's a way to make everyone happy, you should strive for it. There was one final piece of advice Darren had to offer his past self, and this was more about life than business. He said that "life's about creating memories, not collecting things", and that it's more important to enjoy yourself than simply be wealthy in your old age and have nothing to show for it. If you'd like to hear more from Darren Peacock, listen to his appearance on the Pig Wrestling Podcast. His appearance was full of nuggets of wisdom and is a wonderful listen for anyone seeking guidance from someone with a wealth of life experience. Sponsored by: Moodbeam, Hopen, Talk suicide Powered By: Think Cloud
Doctor Kate Yorke initially came to Hull to go to university and train in psychology but ended up staying. She now lives locally with her partner and dog and is hunting for more wisdom that might be brought on with age. After all, she acknowledges that she might be actively going through a midlife crisis. She brought that wisdom to bear on her recent appearance on the Pig Wrestling Podcast. When asked what one to three books really had an impact on the way she lives her life, Kate first discussed northern author Millie Johnson. She writes with around four characters per book with primarily female characters at the core of her stories, which centre around various different phases of her life. By doing so, the stories are able to humorously explore intricate concepts such as coercive control in relationships and other issues you might come across in day to day life. Dr Yorke also discussed a book entitled "Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine". The book centres around a girl who was raised in care, went on to experience an abusive relationship before becoming a lonely character with no friends and only an annual social worker's visit. This allowed the author to explore concepts around loneliness and personal development. Of course, as a psychologist, Kate was able to find a significant amount of interest in this book, and although it explores dark themes, it is one that you can learn a lot from. This all relates to Dr Yorke's deep interest in people, which has been an avid fascination of hers for years now. Keeping an eye on how people tick and what makes people work has been of interest to Kate since her youth and was one of the reasons she took up a career in psychology and loves the books that she does. If you're interested in finding out more about Dr Kate Yorke and the wisdom she brought with her to the Pig Wrestling Podcast, listen to her recent appearance. For an hour of easy listening jam-packed with wisdom, give the Pig Wrestling Podcast a listen today. Sponsored by: Moodbeam, Hopen, Talk suicide Powered By: Think Cloud
In his recent visit to the Pig Wrestling Podcast, Hull composer Chiedu Oraka talked through a range of subjects, from his best recent purchase to habits that have changed his life. One interesting answer was his response to how he feels he has learned from failure in his life. Chiedu discussed how he spent some time in HMP, which “made me [Chiedu] the person I am”. It was in jail that Oraka decided to turn his life around, and three years after his short stint in the clink he got a degree in sports development and coaching. Chiedu views this as a “massive success story”, and it’s fair to say. Many people who spend time in prison will often find themselves without support on the outside, and slip back into old habits and potentially criminal tendencies. However, the young composer found himself needing a change and forged himself a new path (difficult for someone that sees himself as “not an academic person at all”). As someone who never saw himself following the academic path, Chiedu sees this as his “proudest moment”, which came from his time and development when he was in prison. He went on to discuss the responsibility of being a composer that people feel able to look up to, and the fact that many people view him as a role model puts him in the unique position to use his past when guiding people and giving life advice, rather than avoiding his past. As he said in the interview, “I understand the responsibility because of where I come from, because there’s no one that made it in the genre of music that I have”. As a trailblazer, Chiedu aims to do what he can to improve the lives of young people, whether that’s taking a picture with a fan or replying to everyone on social media. He aims to make a positive impact in any way he can, because there’s “no better feeling” than helping someone through a tough time. You can hear the rest of Chiedu’s open and honest interview on the Pig Wrestling Podcast, and get to learn the Yorkshire musician and poet’s story.raka Musical Artist want to know more about Chiedu Oraka check out his facebook page https://www.facebook.com/chieduorakaofficial/
Andrew Horncastle on the habits and beliefs that have changed his life Andrew Horncastle, a recent guest on The Pig Wrestling podcast, is a highly successful property entrepreneur, and his unique insights and views on running a business have positioned him perfectly for business growth and prominence. He has a record of delivering many projects affordably and often ahead of time, with his business ideology powering him on to the precise requirements provided by a demanding clientele. As the High Sheriff of the East Riding of Yorkshire, you need a certain level of discipline. Andrew's achievements have also driven him to an MBE, and as a founding member of For Entrepreneurs Only, there is no end to his achievements in sight.
In Andrew's recent appearance on the podcast, he was very candid about what habits he has adopted to change the way he works for the better. The first of these was avoiding the news. Andrew said he is "definitely a happier person" without watching the news, partially because of the nature of the 24-hour news cycle. He discussed getting engulfed in the news and the fact that most of it can tend to be negative. Of course, the bad news is what sells, so you can find yourself struggling to live in the moment because of the deeply negative way the world is presented.
Another habit that Horncastle picked up is "being more careful with my [Andrew's] diet" following bowel issues. With a proper personal trainer, Andrew was able to focus on getting his body into the best possible condition, and of course, a healthy body means a healthy mind. This, along with making sure "you can fit into your life what you need to fit into your life", gives you the ideal combination of productive work life and happy home life. Getting in the best physical and mental space possible opened up a world of opportunities that would have been missed had this not become a focus.
You can hear more about this topic and many more by listening to Andrew Hardcastle's recent appearance on The Pig Wrestling Podcast. Andrew has an inspiring story, and his advice could be life-changing. Sponsored by: Moodbeam, Hopen, Talk suicide Powered By: Think Cloud
On this week's Pig Wrestling podcast we are joined by Ben Milhench. Ben offers his unique insights into the sporting world, as he played both professional ice hockey and golf before beginning a flourishing career in professional sport. A self-confessed highly motivated, intelligent and enthusiastic person, Ben sets high standards for himself, whether that's playing sport, studying sports companies or raising his 16-month old, Freddy. For over 6 years Ben has lived with Freddy and his wife Charlotte in Beverly. To his name, Ben has a series of awards and accolades, including England and Great Britain International Ice Hockey Player, Assistant Captain Great Britain under 18’s Ice Hockey Team, East Riding and Yorkshire Golf Team member, member of the Grey Goose Gateway and Hooters tour and former member of the Professional Golfers Association. Despite this list of achievements, Ben has a self-deprecating view of his sporting career. He confesses on our podcast, "I was an ice hockey player turned professional golfer. Turns out I was shit at both, and then started working in professional sport and have done ever since." When Ben's time as a professional golfer ended, he did not view the end of his professional golfing career as a loss. Rather, he saw it as an opportunity. "I've believed throughout my career is as soon as one door closes, another one opens." For Ben, another door did well and truly open as he began a successful career in the business side of professional sport. He reveals on our podcast a quote he has always lived by is "you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take." He continues to use this phrase to inspire his life and encourages our listeners to "take, take. Don't be afraid to throw yourself out there." Many people don't shoot their shot due to fear of rejection, but Ben takes a unique view of this. "I was always scared of the word no. And evidently, that's the best word in the world. Because if somebody says, no, you don't have to waste your time on them anymore." Listen to this week's podcast with Ben Milhench as we cover everything from the importance of following your gut to the cheap purchase that keeps his toddler endlessly entertained. Sponsored by: Moodbeam, Hopen, Talk suicide Powered By: Think Cloud
17 Years - Think Cloud - Once we were seventeen years old, our story got told.........
We celebrate our 17th anniversary of being in business this month. To commemorate this outstanding achievement, co-founding directors Scott Clark, Leon McQuade and Chief of Operations Dean Bulfield have sat down together to record a podcast covering the trials and tribulations Think Cloud has faced during its 17 years in business.
Think Clouds success is built on earned knowledge acquired over the past 17 years helping Local Government, Education, Ministry Of Defence Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Engineering, Financial, and Charity sectors, succeed through digital technology.
Think Cloud started small as a Hull IT Support company. 'Scott had a desk.' Dean recalls, 'and I think the day I started, I had a laptop, pen and paper.' The room itself they began working in was similarly bare, as the team remembered 'no windows, no nothing'.
In today's economic market, being in business for 17 years is no easy feat. In the past 17 years, Think Cloud has successfully navigated the double-dip recession and are now facing the 2020 COVID-19 recession. On their success, Scott confirms that 'Yeah, we always do our best by the customer.'
It is this dedication to their customers that have allowed Think Cloud to grow into the company it is today. Scott explains their company ethos in more detail, stating 'we'll always want to be the best, but we also want to be the best for the customer, we want to be their partner, we want to move the customer forward. We want to see a customer grow; we want them to be a success.'
Leon describes his and Scott's first encounters, telling the story of what it was like to be a customer of the, then Virtual Networking. Recalling a time he refused to accept Scotts advise when he wanted to use G Suite to digitally transform a company founded way back in the 1940s. Scott adding " he wanted me to migrate him to Google G Suite and Xero and to add he told me a week before Christmas. Back then, we were Microsoft; it was what we know and what everyone was using, not GSuite."
Leon Admitting he needed to call upon Scott and Dean to rescue him when he took it upon himself to migrate the business anyway. Admitting "moving to the Cloud, I got it wrong. It was chaos. But what I would say is, you've always had my back, and you sorted everything out in the background, and you got everything I lost back up, and you got it working. The technology-enabled us to communicate quicker, improve on costs and productivity, make decisions quicker. Which resulted in an eight-figure growth and allowed expansion with an international reach that stretched as far as Europe, America and the UAE"
It is not just the company ethos that has made the company what it is today, and it is the relationship, dedication and passion of the Think Cloud team. Dean admits that recruitment was of vital importance to Think Cloud. From their early days, revealing 'I think it just takes one bad employee within an organisation to disrupt the full team…and that for me is the culture [of Think Cloud], the team, we're all there to help each other grow, and we want to be winners. That's what I love about working for Think Cloud'.
Scott echoes this sentiment on this week's special anniversary podcast, stating 'we always have each other's back as customers and obviously as friends.'
Learn more about Think Cloud's 17-year journey by listening to the full podcast now!
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For over 23 years, Jess Clark has been immersed in the PR industry, working in-house and with agencies for various sectors, including oil, fish and charities. In 2009, Jess began to truly dominate the world of PR, by opening her own PR company, Divine Clark PR Limited. Jess joins us for this week's podcast and discusses everything from owning her failures to what she has learnt from the COVID-19 lockdown. Since 1997, the PR industry has changed wildly, due to the introduction of social media and the widespread adoption of innovative technology.
Instead of resisting change, Jess embraced industry advancements and created Divine Clark PR to utilise social media to create exciting PR campaigns. Jess explains on our podcast, "I've got a PR company based in Hull called divine club PR, and I work together with my husband. We're both business partners, and we've got two children, Ruby and Casper." It hasn't always been the easiest journey for Jess, but she reveals that one of her biggest life lessons has been "not to be ashamed of my failures".
From a young age, Jess recalls being ashamed of her failures. She explains, "The biggest thing that stuck with me for quite a long time was that I failed my GCSEs, and I never used to tell anybody what my grades were because I was so embarrassed about it and ashamed." Rather than letting this fear and shame hold her back, Jess looked to the teaching of Marisa Peer, particularly her 'I am enough' message. 'I am enough' is a quote Jess has lived by for all of her adult life. She explains this in detail on our podcast, expressing, "you can apply it to absolutely any area of your life or any negative thoughts…whether that's school grades, your body image or your family situation or friends. Whatever it is, it's enough, you're doing enough, you are enough." Unlike many of us,
Jess refrained from making any extravagant purchases during lockdown but admits to indulging in plant purchases. "I didn't really buy anything through lockdown apart from food obviously… and plants, I just went mad on buying plants." Plants are not the only thing Jess has taken from lockdown, she also recognised how infrequently she was allowing herself to take a break and now plans to give herself mandatory 6 weeks holiday throughout the year, no matter
Take a listen to this week's Podcast.
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Phil is a husband and father of 4. He was educated at Marist Brothers College Ashgrove Brisbane. Phil is from a very sporting family; his father Jack played for Souths and Queensland. His cousin Mick played for Australia, and another cousin Tom played Test Cricket for Australia. He's also the brother of Greg Veivers, who captained Australia in rugby league. Growing up, he spent two years living with his sister and husband, Wayne Bennett. Who also was a Rugby coach, and his coaching was second to none.
Wayne read many books; Autobiography mainly got Phil into reading. The first book that he read was by Bill Walsh, an American football coach, called Finding the Winning Edge. Phil says “This had a major impact on how I looked after people—looking after my players when I was coaching them”. Phil moved to England in 1984, Where he started his Rugby career. Starting at St.Helens with a player, you might remember Mal Meninga, in the rugby league Hall of Fame. Mal returned home, and Phil Stayed here to have a sterling career. He was going on to Play for Huddersfield and Swinton in the UK and South in Australia.
He also represented Scotland in 1997 against France; he was able to play for Scotland as his Grandfather was born there but later emigrated to Australia. He was also part of the coaching set-up for the Exiles. Phil not only played Rugby but went on to coach at Huddersfield, Bradford, Wigan, Salford, and Workington. After rugby & Coaching, Phil has continued to achieve great success. Now as an NVQ Assessor & Tutor, State of Mind ambassador, Assistant manager at FIT UK, Director of Inspire Talks Match, and on the review panel for the RFL, to name a few. Phil is now a Keynote Speaker at the company PJ VEIVERS Ltd. He has over 20 years of leading, coaching, managing and motivating people for common goals to gain success.
We are joined by Steven Wilson, humanist, socialist, Lord mayor, and Grandad on this week's podcast. Born in Hessle in 1960, Steve Wilson was the son of a trawlerman and attended Penshurst County Primary and then Hessle High. He left school with an A level in History and began his career in a bank. Although the bank was a stable career, it was not a job role that ignited any passion in Steve.
For this reason, after a few painstakingly long years working at the bank, he left to form a business partnership with his brother-in-law. The business was often slow, so Steve found a part-time job working as the cashier at Hull City Council. Steve accepted the position at Hull City Council due to desperation, not knowing this was the first step in a flourishing political career. Steve progressed from a cashier to the city treasury, eventually finding himself in the housing department in 1988. And so began his life-long career in social housing.
On our podcast, Steve admits one of his most significant flaws is impatience and expecting too much of others. He explains, "I think my biggest problem with myself is I'm impatient. And I also expect that every job I do wherever it's been, or wherever it is, is that everyone feels as enthusiastic and committed to it as I am." During his time working in social housing, Steve worked as a Young Persons Support team member with the Homelessness Team, as a hostel site manager and in a housing association for Pickering Homes. One quote Steve has always chosen to live by is 'Be nice to people on the way up because you might have to meet them on the way down.' This has no doubt shaped Steve's compassion for working with the homeless.
After ten years with Pickering Homes, Steve continued to grow and expand his career, working as the director of Dock House, Hull's emergency night shelter and as a hostel manager for asylum seekers at the Philanthropic Society in Lincoln. Finally, in 2003, Steve joined the Hull Resettlement Project and is still there today, providing hostel bed spaces for the homeless.
On our podcast, Steve reveals that if he could give one piece of advice to his younger self, it would be to "listen to people trying to give you advice from experience." Steve has had an entire career and shares his career advice and experiences in more detail. In 1992, Steve became a Hull City councillor and was chair of the social services department. In 2014, he won his seat as the Labour Party chair in North Hull. Steve's political career did not end here, though. In 2016, Steve married his husband Karl and eventually became Lord Mayor in 2019, with Karl as his consort.
Pam Medhurst is now an Independent Celebrant having had an incredibly varied career, including being self-employed for the past 10 years. She was married with two children in her early 20s. Pam enjoys spending time with her family and friends and walking her dog on the beach in her spare time. She also loves to read.
We asked Pam about some of the books that have influenced her life. She said, “anything by Brenda Brown.” She continued, “I love her writing, particularly on vulnerability and being authentic. Showing your true self, and not hiding behind that façade that I think lots of us have.” Pam initially worked in hospitality before attending university as a mature student once her children had started school. Having continued working at the university working with other mature students, she gained a PhD from writing about their success stories.
10 years later, Pam ran a successful pregnancy yoga business that is also for GPs, midwives and nurses. She continues to teach yoga for a local cancer charity, as well as for the Limbless Association. Pam became a Celebrant following a health scare, where she was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. One of Pam’s favourite quotes is “this too will pass.” She continued, “going through cancer or going through chemo, by remembering this too will pass, we’ll get through it.”
Recognising that she may need to cut back physically, she began using her brain more. She now offers bespoke ceremonies for weddings, funerals and naming celebrations. In many ways, Pam believes that her previous work was training her for this role. She said, “A lot of it has trended over the years to get to where I am. And it is knowing that I can do it, which is really important. It takes practice, but it’s also using my yoga training. I’ll be found somewhere underneath a tree doing some breathing exercises beforehand, so I’m absolutely in the right headspace.
This is my job today and I need to perform to the best of my ability for this family here and now. And that’s what I do. Tune in to this week’s must-listen podcast with Pam Medhurst.
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Max Leo is an up and coming singer, songwriter and recording artist from Patna, East Yorkshire. Aside from his passion for music, Max enjoys the benefits of being a season ticket holder at Leeds United FC. Max has been surrounded by music for the majority of his life, having begun performing and writing music at the impressively young age of nine, with Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Frank Ocean being some of his primary inspirations. He said, “I was surrounded by music all the time with my parents. “My mum was very much into her acoustic music. “Whereas my dad was into his bands like Oasis and Red Hot Chilli Peppers. I feel like I got a perfect balance between the two.”
In the following few years, he started by gaining a following within his hometown and became an integral part of its music scene. Later, Max went to University, which he regrets – “I was listening to people around me too much. “My advice would be to do what your gut says.” Around five years ago, Max moved to London to pursue his music career further. He has recently been recording in Spain and has spent the past year working on his debut project. We asked what the glitz and glamour of the music scene are like. Max says, “I think the thing people don’t see is the struggle of getting to where you’d like to be. And it’s quite a lonely job. If you work in an office or retail, you’re constantly surrounded by people, but as a musician, unless you’re on stage, you’re on your writing songs.”
The one thing Max has learned from a book is to not care about other people’s opinions. He said, “When someone says something negative about you, it doesn’t affect anything; nothing happens other than you caring about it. If you can release that care, it can never impact you. That book taught me to not give a damn about anything.” This week’s podcast is a must-listen, so tune in to hear and come to artist Max Leo.
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Heidi Dobson is a Life Coach with a Counselling Fitness Mental Health Wellbeing Service, offering one to one in an attempt to encourage people to invest in themselves and their organisations. Outside of her work as a life coach, she is a national league ballroom dancer and has been doing the sport for 8 years, starting strictly. learning to dance for Dove House Hospice.
She also used to do gymnastics, but at age 13 she scored 1 on the bars and gave up. Reminiscing, she said: “I got on top of the bars and instead of swinging around underneath, I went straight over the top.” Heidi is now a mum of three. At work, Heidi helps people deal with stressful situations such as relationship and career issues by improving health, fitness, positivity and confidence. “I wasted so many years fearing doing stuff and I don’t want to do that anymore. And that’s what I like to teach other people – don’t let fear stop you from doing things in your life.”
Heidi is transparent about her own experiences of life’s difficulties, hoping that this will encourage people to talk. Heidi believes that going digital due to the COVID-19 pandemic has meant that more people are coming forward to tell their stories. She said, “I just think it’s great that going digital is helping more people come forward. She continues, “I actually just think anybody who’s come to see me is so brave.” Heidi’s favourite quote that she would share with everyone in the world is “It’s good to talk.”
Because, as we point out, talking saves lives. We asked which book has influenced Heidi’s life significantly and positively, and her response was A Man’s Search by psychiatrist Viktor Frankl. She says: “He found hope from really horrendous situations. So, for instance, if somebody died and he got a pair of shoes, that was a good thing that happened. So I just absolutely love the fact that he found positives in such a horrendous situation.” Tune in to this week’s podcast to hear Heidi’s inspirational backstory and the incredible work she has done since.
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Joe Bvumburai works as an architect at Eznat Architects in Hull but was born in Zambia during colonial times. Joe is now married to his wife Marion and has two daughters. Joe remembers Zambia before it became independent in 1964 when the division between white and black people was extremely prevalent. Joe says: “When I was young, I just thought, well, that’s how life is. Once you get a little older, you begin to question why things are the way they are.” With parents that always instilled the importance of education, Joe aimed to study hard throughout his life. Surprisingly, this mindset taught him the benefits of architecture and encouraged him to thrive in the industry later in life. Finding it hard to concentrate at home, Joe’s parents had a builder add an extension onto the house to be used for his studies. This was the first time Joe saw the value of extra space. He says, “In a way, I am where I am today because of that little extension that had a lasting impact on me.” When talking about his own extensions in Hull, Joe recognises that “the change in people’s lives is absolutely phenomenal.” Wanting to study something close to architecture, Joe joined the Zambia Institute of Technology. However, he knew that if he ever wanted his own practice, he needed to become a legitimate architect. Having written to architectural schools all over the world, Joe was eventually accepted to the School of Architecture in Hull in 1982, where sponsorship from the Swedish International Development Agency allowed him to embark on his dream of becoming an architect. He says, “I couldn’t believe my luck at the time.” When asked which quotes he would like to share with the world, Joe said, “Never give up. If you’re going to do anything, do it to your very best. I think if everybody can just follow these two things they can’t go wrong in life. No matter how bad things look, if you keep going you’ll come to the good things.” Tune in to this week’s podcast to hear Joe’s amazing and inspirational backstory! Sponsored by: Moodbeam, Hopen, Talk suicide Powered By: Think Cloud
Rob Daysley is a highly successful Managing Director from Hull who focuses on service to clients in Europe and nationwide. Aside from business, he is a Hull KR fan, and his favourite sport is rugby league. Daysley’s favourite song is the Rocky theme tune: “It gets you off your seat and pumped up!” Daysley believes that running has had a profound effect on his life in the past five years. “It gives me that time when I’m not thinking about anything. All I’m thinking about is breathing. I feel 100 times better for it.” After launching Designs in 1993, Daysley’s business has grown and developed. By appropriately investing in staff and technology, he has impressively established Designs as a market leader in vehicle livery, signage and digital prints. The initial business was a sole trader operation with just 30 employees.
This year, the company is celebrating its 25th year and doing business from a 10,000 square foot purpose-built workshop on Innovation Drive. After winning a contract to install all graphics and signage at the KCOM Stadium in 2003, Daysley saw an opportunity to expand and move into stadium branding and therefore created Sports ID. With Daysley’s second business taking off just as successfully, his clients now include Premier League and European football clubs, rugby league and union sides, and indoor competitions such as snooker championships and world darts. Both of Daysley’s businesses are now operating under the Designs name.
By bringing the two teams together, his clients are offered more support. Daysley said: “Our Sports ID customers will continue to work with the same contacts and benefit from dealing with a larger organisation with more people. This is a very positive move for Designs and comes as we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the company this year.” Being such a successful man, we were interested to know Daysley’s opinions on failure. He said: “I always believe that if you never make a decision and never fail at anything, you’ll never learn. If one door closes, another door opens. Over the time I’ve been in business, I cottoned on to that very quickly. When you’re chasing a deal, if you don’t win, it’s not the end of the world.” Tune in for an exciting and inspiring conversation with Rob Daysley on this week’s podcast!
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Nathan Freer (born 21 May 1989) is a former professional rugby league player with a passion for sport, having been involved with it for most of his life. He is now Head of Youth Strength and Conditioning at Hull FC, and has two daughters with his wife, Amie. Aside from his sporting life, Nathan enjoys listening to '80s music, especially when he’s cooking: “We have a bit of special time on a Friday night and the '80s go on and I’m loving it!” Before his professional rugby career began, Nathan attended the University of Hull and Bishop Burton College, where he would later go on to be a lecturer specialising in Sports Performance. Nathan played professional rugby for Hull FC, York and Featherstone. He is now involved with England Academy where he oversees the strength and conditioning, having previously worked for England Youth. He also looks after all the programmes for the young players at Hull FC with a specific focus on strength and conditioning. Nathan is invested in improving conditioning and strength in young athletes. One of the first books he read was Michael Boyle Functional Strength Coach, which he believes may have started him out on certain career paths. Nathan says: “That’s fantastic. And that’s probably one of the first books I read. And in terms of SMC, it started me on that path.” Having learnt from his career, when faced with a failure, Nathan always tries to find the positives. “I’m pretty positive I think for anything. I can’t remember his name but I was listening to a podcast with a guy the other day. And he was just taking failure as feedback. Thinking, 'what is this trying to teach me', is a game-changer in terms of your mindset." Knowing the optimum training techniques can be difficult as a young athlete. Speaking with Nathan on this, we asked: “So knowing what you know now, what advice would you give to yourself at 18? And what advice should you have ignored?” Nathan says: “Looking back, it’d be to eat more protein. And probably don’t spend as much on supplements. And don’t put people on a pedestal. Don’t sit back, and just do it. You’re good enough.” This is a must-listen, so tune in to the successful and inspiring Nathan on this week’s podcast! Sponsored by: Moodbeam, Hopen, Talk suicide Powered By: Think Cloud
Rebecca is from the southwest of Bristol, she lives with her husband Marcus Rebecca says: we've been together for a very long long time! They have two children together, a son 24 and daughter 19. She loves to keep fit. “I love Chocolate as well. So I have to exercise to enjoy chocolate”. Rebecca has a true love and passion for business. At the age 32. She started in the transport business, when she trained for her Heavy Goods Vehicle licence. Working for her father's company (Lane Group). After a period working as a driver in grocery distribution, she joined the sales force. The Business grew from 7 Million in new business in just 12 months & went on to employ 1000 members of staff. Rebecca's dreams started back in her early 20s after reading the book by Tony Robbins and it's called ‘Awaken the giant within’. Rebecca says: “That book amazed me because it made me realise that you Don't have to be the cleverest person in the world to be successful. And that was a relief to me because I came out of school with a number of GCSEs. I didn't go to university. But made me realise that I had the power within me to achieve my dreams. And I had to set my dreams, right. So that book was really impactful”. Being a woman in the business world isn't easy. Speaking with rebecca on this: ”I did a survey on LinkedIn asking female managers, what is the biggest challenge to their role? And it was three simple questions. But the results were that the biggest challenge is having the support and recognition to take their role to the next level, which is really surprising. And they all felt that they were highly effective in their roles. So what is stopping them from getting to that next stage? You know, I think it's just, it still baffles me. So I'm highly supportive of encouraging women to kind of go for the bigger opportunities. Support them as much as I can to achieve that. Take a listen to the inspiring Rebecca, on this week's podcast! Sponsored by: Moodbeam, Hopen, Talk suicide Powered By: Think Cloud
Damian Browne (born 17 May 1980) is an Irish former professional rugby union player. Browne has been capped by Ireland at U-21 level. He has played for Connacht, Northampton Saints, Brive, Leinster and Oyonnax.Damian began his career with Galwegians before getting contact with Connacht in 2001 and going on to sign for Northampton Saints. Browne then signed for Leinster in May 2011. Damian is from a rugby family, with his younger brother, Andrew playing for Connacht also. Having many years of professional rugby under his belt, Damian set himself some massive goals, by taking up adventures in extreme environments, to test his physical and mental capabilities. Trekking through the Sahara Desert on a 257 km marathon, He then went on to be an extreme adventurer. In 2017 Browne completed the Atlantic Challenge solo after 63 days, six hours and 25 minutes at sea. Damian decided to take it up a notch. From July 2018 until May 2020, Damian planned to scale the highest peaks of all seven continents. This was put on hold because of the current pandemic the world is going through. We doubt that this will hold him back and we know as soon as he is able Damian will be back to reach his goal. Damian has spent the majority of his adult life, pushing himself to his full limits. He learned that once you realise the rewards that come with pushing yourself, you become more autonomous. “Being able to push yourself into these states of struggle or stress and coming out the other side, finding a way through it and learning about your mind and your body and how it all works. That, to me, is fascinating and that is why I keep delving further and further into it. It’s why I search out these challenges and endeavours because rugby is finished for me now and you have to have some sort of avenue or channel to do this. I use the world and its extreme environments.” This is a must listen to podcast, full of excitement and none stop adventure. Sponsored by: Moodbeam, Hopen, Talk suicide Powered By: Think Cloud
Danny Ward (born 15 June 1980) in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire. English former professional rugby league player. As Danny's Father, David Ward also played for Great Britain And Leeds Rhinos, coming from a rugby family. Danny played for Great Britain, Leeds Rhinos, Castleford Tigers, Hull Kingston Rovers, and Harlequins.
He is even scoring a try against our Hull FC in the 2005 Challenge cup finals. Danny is currently Andrew Henderson's assistant coach at the London Broncos since 2015 and previously head coach of the u19s. Speaking of the first book he loved, 'A Kestrel for a Knave' (which the great film Kes was created from), Danny says: "is absolute classic".
But it was a great Teacher of his, Mr Butler, that helped him in his school years. Having a great teacher like him helped him through his English language and literature GCSEs. Being a young kid, he wasn't bothered about the school, but having a fantastic teacher helped change his outlook of school life, which Mr Butler did just that.
Danny talks about the failures he's had in his life: "I don't try to dwell on the losses too much or look at it, but throughout my life and playing career, being an adult, there have been lots of lots of failures. I think you can't dwell on them. Learning to move on from your losses is just as important. When it can be challenging and not probably something, I've learned.
As I've got older, I wished I got a grasp of it as a young kid. You spend so much time worrying about what's up and any mistakes you've made. It's just about moving on from it and learning best you can".
Take a listen to this week's Brilliant Podcast with Danny Ward.
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Motu was born in New Zealand; he is married with five children. He studied at De La Salle College, Auckland; then, he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in The Open Polytechnic Of New Zealand. He also attended the University of Huddersfield, studying for a Master of Business Administration when he was over in the UK.
He started playing rugby for Marist Saints in the Auckland Rugby League Competition. Before being signed for New Zealand Warriors. He has played professional rugby league for New Zealand Warriors, Brisbane Broncos, Castleford Tigers, Hull FC, Wakefield Wildcats, making 177 appearances, scoring 52 tries. The big one notably for Hull FC in the 2005 Challenge Cup Final against Leeds Rhinos. Motu also played for the New Zealand national team on numerous occasions.
Once Motu finished playing, he became the General Manager at Hull FC, where he was a massive influence, not only on the pitch but off it too. Motu loved his time in Hull, saying, "I enjoyed playing for the club and working at the club—being in the city with the people, seeing how genuine they were.
How much they cared for their rugby team. That sort of struck a chord with myself and my family straight away. That's why we stayed in Hull for so long." Another love apart from his family and rugby is reading. Motu says, " I love a good book. So reading is probably one of my favourite hobbies. I've got a bit of a career journey mapped out.
When I finish sports administration, I'd love to be a food critic, and I'd like to get paid to read books, so you know those are my pipe dreams." One of the first books he recalls reading is 'The Autobiography of Malcolm X as told to Alex Haley'. "It taught me just how you've got to stand up for what you believe! As a young boy, I got that from that book quite early."
His second book was by an American entrepreneur named Russell Simmons. "He preached just to be yourself and be authentic and operate respectfully, never lose sight of who you are." Motu has carried this throughout his Rugby career. Now Motu is back in his native New Zealand as General Manager of high performance at the New Zealand rugby league. Very similar to the job that he held at Hull FC. To develop the next lot of senior Kiwis or Kiwi ferns (the female senior team in New Zealand).
His role is to ensure that the young players who pick up a rugby ball can go to the top, whether it's professional or international.
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Hayley is a wife and mum to four children. Hayley lived with depression and anxiety, feeling something wasn't quite right when she was 21, after just having her first baby. During her fourth pregnancy in 2018, when her mental health difficulties reached a crisis point, Hayley accessed the Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Services.
Throughout her recovery, she raised awareness of perinatal mental health difficulties. She is helping to shape and develop the local perinatal mental health services through engagement work. Hayley now has things that help her, "My moods can be easily affected, if I watch the news and it's quite stressful or sad, that can affect my mood. But it is helpful knowing that works the other way as well.
So if I listen to uplifting music, that helps make me happy. So I've recently got a radio which is now in the kitchen. We're spending so much more time in the house now. I'm making the most of having music on all the time." Learning in lockdown, what things she will carry on doing. "In the future, I'll certainly be planning less. Everything was a massive struggle; just being upright was an enormous struggle. It was a coping mechanism to prepare something to do for the next day.
Even if it was a tiny thing, like, get up and unload the dishwasher, that was my thing, We've got a wall planner, and I started planning the days on there, so I think that's how I got into it. I suppose now; I don't need to hold on to that anymore. So now I can let that go a little bit and be more relaxed about not having things to do. So I'm certainly not going to be over planning."
Take a listen to this week's New Piglet Podcast with Hayley.
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Originally from Hull, Shane has lived in Majorca for the last 20 years. Shane attended Malet lambert High School Hull, then moved to Wilberforce college studying Business Travel and Tourism. Shane says, "If I'm honest, I left college because I got disillusioned. I didn't have a clue about what I was going to do. I then got myself a part-time job at McDonald's on St. Andrews Quay. It then became a full-time job very quickly." He went on a lads holiday back in 1999 to Magaluf for two weeks.
After getting offered a job entirely randomly, life changed from there. He took the job and still lives on the island now. He was Managing bars and nightclubs. I worked in the same club for 11 years, working my way up from barman, promotions manager, and general manager and running the club. He then moved on to a different bar just down the street called the Midline for two years.
After returning to Hull for a short time, he started to consider a career change. Shane says:" It was a big problem for me to be fair. I loved what I was doing but knew I wasn't going to do that forever. There's no way you're going to be standing outside a nightclub at 45 or not for me anyway". Coming back to Hull, he opened his eyes to the world of Marketing.
He was working with Alex Hall at the time and our very own Leon McQuade. They all shared an interest in personal development and training. I was attending The Wolf of Wall Street and Tony Robbins seminars. Knowing when he came back to England, it wasn't for him. Shane said: "I've been away for that long. I didn't feel like it was right for me. I knew I was always meant to come back here." So Shane went back to Magaluf, taking what he had learned and ready for the next chapter.
With a new mindset, instead of just thinking he would run a bar, he knew there was something bigger he could do. "There's a big online world out there, which will help me work all year round. So I started to work and study on that". He was learning all the different tools that he needed. Shane now has his own company, Eagle Fish Media, which he set up from his apartment in Magaluf. He offers consultancy and training, helping tourism-based businesses attract more clients and customers.
By showing them how to make use of online marketing. Working from home, nothing much has changed for Shane's working life throughout lockdown. He's tried to keep a daily routine to help with his mental health and not lose focus.
Take a listen to this week's Podcast with Shane Fisher.
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This week's podcast is a little different, with some new questions. We are calling it our 'Piglet Podcast'. On our first Piglet, we are joined by the excellent Sarah Winn, owner of Fitsista. Sarah has a great passion for Health and Fitness. FitSista was established in 2010 after going through her own Health and Fitness journey.- "I was once overweight and unfit myself!" Now in her 40s and feeling fit and fantastic.
She truly believes that leading a Fit and Healthy Lifestyle brings so many excellent physical and mental benefits. Sarah loves her job as a Personal Trainer and Fitness Instructor as it enables her to Motivate and Inspire other people. She is helping them embrace this type of lifestyle too. Sarah says, "I provide Motivation, Inspiration, Support and Expertise – not just from my own experience (I have been there myself!) but from working with many different types of clients.
I am finding out what works and what doesn't for each individual". I am talking about the challenges she has faced with her business in lockdown and how she has managed to keep her business going. "The main challenge I've had to face was switching my business almost overnight. To do everything online. I've not got great IT skills at all. It's not something that interests me. It's one of those things I never get around to doing. Due to the situation, I've had to muddle through and Learn more. All Last minute to keep my business going! So that's been a pretty big challenge for me, but I'm quite proud of myself."
Take a listen to this week's Piglet Podcast.
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Ed (54) was born in Darlington but considered himself a Hull lad after moving here aged four. Husband to Jo, to whom he has been married for 30 years. Father to Dempsey. He attended Bransholme High School and then furthered his studies at Hull University.
He founded 'Ed Entertainments Ltd' back in October 2006. Ed has over 25 years of experience in the entertainment business, from organising events and performing with bands and as a solo artist. Ed's original idea to create a Glastonbury style music festival for tribute bands began with Tribfest, launched in 2007. Ed ran Tribfest for several years while trying to hold down his day job as a qualified social worker.
Managing and organising events is now his full-time job. He came up with the idea for Tribfest while touring with his own tribute band 'The Beautiful Couch' in honour of The Beautiful South. "We played to 10,000 at the Mathew Street festival in Liverpool, and I wanted to create a small festival in East Yorkshire". The first Tribfest was a year of floods with lots of tragic but (now) funny stories! Floating air beds, trench foot, crying in the middle of the wet field! Tribfest The Worlds Biggest Tribute Band Festival.
The event was Held at Sledmere House, East Yorkshire. Talking about failure and learning from it, Ed says, "We had a designer kids clothes shop in Beverley, called it Snap, we owned it for about five years, designing clothes for kids. Getting all footballers in and stuff like that! All these shops sort of suddenly appeared wanting to offer the same. So, we had a good year, about 18 months. It started to slide. I completely lost interest in it. Consequently, we closed that".
Ed tells us how he learnt from his past failure: "I think if I had become more focused on it a little more, we could have maybe continued. So a big lesson for me with the Tribfest in that first year was that I did some reading and research about business failure. I started writing things down. Writing things down was a big thing for me. That kept me focused if you just had it in your head. I get up now to write things down. So, it's about staying focused, but within that focus keeping, refreshing and looking for new ideas all the time, which we have to do in a festival." Tribfest is the summer's biggest tribute band music festival. Voted 'Best Entertainment/Leisure Venue' in East Yorkshire in the Best Bar None Awards 2018-2020 Take a listen to this week's fantastic Podcast with Ed. Learn more about the 'Man behind the Festival'.
Please, can you like and drop a review within whichever platform you are listening to us.
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Andy is a local lad from the great City of Hull. Starting his younger years at Bricknell Junior School and Hull Grammar School, then studied to become a Nurse at the University of Hull and went on to a full-time career in the Accident & Emergency unit at Hull Royal Infirmary.
Having a passion for first aid training set him on a journey to be self-employed. Helping to save lives with his unique style. This Helped Andy to find time to build his love of performing arts. A highlight was the Edinburgh Fringe Festival showcasing his talents. Which includes stand up comedy and street theatre.
Creating' The Gold Man,' he became synonymous with the City of Culture Hull 2017 bid. Growing up in a "traditional family" with the church built a perception of society, which put a lid on Andy being his true authentic self. Andy says about finally coming out, "I suppose I could sit in the closet forever. My sexuality is a bit complex.
People say that I'm a gay guy as it's easy to wrap your head around. I'm more what's called pansexual. Now, I don't know whether or not that's something that everybody gets. It's a bit more complicated than being bisexual. Because I've had relationships with women, men and also connections with trans guys". It lifted the lid on him if you like, then that's when the performance side, the more colourful side, the rainbow side of Andy came out.
Having Suicidal thoughts, Andy struggled to go to a point where he didn't quite understand—feeling a bit more miserable each day. Being the 80s, there weren't many people or places for Andy to turn to. Andy started to help out on the Samaritan's helpline as he knew how hard it was. Andy says, "Organisations like this existed. But You need people with either that experience or to have more insider knowledge".
He thought it was shameful that they were sending people out of town. To get the help, you'd need to contact somebody in either London, Brighton, or Manchester, where there was a higher concentration of LGBTQ. So they brought in organisations like masma, "they need to set up specific services that will cater to people. There is a massive gap in the market for supporting people questioning their sexual orientation around the whole thing about same-sex relationships".
Andy is a big advocate in helping the LGBTQ+ community. He is one of the many amazing people who run Hulls Pride. It runs every year in Hull's city centre. It just gets bigger and bigger. Andy says, "we've got such a fantastic team of people when an event gets that big and important you need that around you. Hull is currently a Euro pride, 2023 candidate". Hull is competing with many other cities in these wonderfully weird and scary times that we're in.
Listen to this fantastic podcast and hear more about Andy's story.
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Danny is a big family man. He loves to make memories with his wife Rachel and children Louie, Neave & Nancy. He has a passion for Rugby. He is starting young, playing for Skirlaugh. His Professional career came at Gateshead thunder & York City Knights. Starting his employment at Hull FC in 2010.
His first role at Hull FC was in the club's Foundation. Moving into the player performance department, alongside Andy Last. Danny became Head of Youth in 2013 when Andy became Assistant coach to Lee Radford. When the City of Hull formed in 2015, Danny became Academy Director. They were producing players to go on and play 1st team for Hull FC and Hull KR, representing their country.
The academy reached outstanding status year on year. Danny was due to Tour Australia this Summer ( August / September ) with England Academy under 18s before Covid-19. His personal development started around five years ago. Learning from some of his favourite books, one was Above the line. This Helps him not just in his professional career but in his everyday life.
What it takes to give you the best outcome. Having habits helps him stay focused, always looking for improvements, not perfection, with no significant failures, just some big mistakes. If one road is closed, his lesson is just focus and find a new direction. Instead of dwelling on the situation, just keep motivated.
Take a listen to this week's Podcast. Learn more about the man behind Rugby.
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Firstly We would like to introduce our guest co-presenter Jo Kent to the PWP team.
On this week's show, we have Rob. He is currently Hull FC Academy Manager, Married to Alexandra and has a Son called Finley & Daughter Pippa. He Played Rugby for Cottingham Tigers but was also a good footballer.
Rob has a long list of achievements. Hull City Tigers Trust Primary Sports Coordinator, Youth Development Coach for Hull City AFC Development Officer HKR, to name just a few. We learn what books Rob likes to read in his spare time, from Tim Ferriss' Tribe of Mentors to his daily read of Daily Stoik, reading a page a day to help reflect on life.
He motivates his youth team by helping through any struggles they may face and setting weekly goals to help drive the young lads. Rob is also involved with England Youth. He works closely with Steve McCormack with the community Lions. He was also featured in Men's Health magazine.
Take a listen to this week's Podcast.
Please, can you like and drop a review within whichever platform you are listening to us.
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This week we have gone international, with our fantastic Guest Nigel Moore who is severely addicted to helping people start, run and grow fun and profitable businesses.
Nigel is a father, husband and entrepreneur. He is currently part of Teeth Capital which he founded in 2016 and The Tech Tribe. Formerly running a successful managed IT Services business.
In 2016, he successfully sold his IT business and now focuses on one of his core passions - helping other entrepreneurs and business owners better run their Technology / IT businesses. Living on the beachfront just outside of Sydney, Australia. Spending time with my family or in the water he loves to surf, swim, snorkelling, scuba diving anything else to do with the water.
Take a listen to this week's Podcast, definitely not one to miss.
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Well, here we are back for part 2 of Martin's podcast,
Martin shares his wisdom and lessons in life. “If you don't believe in anything, you will fall for everything.” A great book Martin has learned from is Unlimited Power by Tony Robbins, teaching him what's going on with him and his experiences, isn't necessarily what is happening and to change your life map.
Martin is a great follower of Tony Robbins and took part in many of his workshops, doing the ultimate task of firewalking, which you have to change your mindset.
He is talking about all things that have helped him and he loves, down to his favourite song by van Morrison “on Hyndford street”, which transports him back to when he was young and spending time with his grandparents in Portugal, To finding his love for snorkelling with his wife in Sharm el sheikh.
Take a listen to this week's second part of Martins podcast.
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WOW, what a podcast, it was so fantastic we have had to make it into our first 2 part episode.
This week we cover all things Financial, Martin runs his company which is based in Beverley, Yorkshire. BRC Wealth Management provides a wide range of services as a Partner Practice of St. James’s Place Wealth Management.
They have financial experience spanning over 30 years, provide personal, face-to-face advice designed to ensure that they build, grow and protect your wealth. In the current situation, the world is currently experiencing.
Martin gives tips and advice on how to help move forward from life insurance, saving money and life in general. Take a listen to this week's Podcast and check back in next week for part 2, when Martin answers them all-important Pig Wrestling 10 commandments. PS. Please, can you like and drop a review within whichever platform you are listening to us.
Show Sponsors -Think Cloud, Hopen, Moodbeam.
Rugby player, who played for clubs like Hull KR, Leigh Centurions, Castleford Tigers, Bradford Bull, to name a few. Now on a new path in a whole new career. James currently works at A&L Financial Solutions and is Sundays Time's top-rated mortgage and protection.
He knew rugby wouldn't last forever, so he found a new path to follow. Reading one of his favourite books, Rich Dad Poor Dad, helped him find his interest in the property and, after buying his first home with his wife, gained a love to help others accept their new home and reach their dreams. After going through his mental health issues, James lives by the quote. "Don't Chase Money, Chase Happiness." Talking and getting things off his chest is very important and hit home after watching the documentary by Rio and Kate, and so they open up about the issues with which they had to deal with.
James started to find things hard when moving to a new big city with his wife to play for Leigh Rugby club. After just three months of being at the club, he got picked to play less and less. The final blow was not getting selected to play against Catalan dragons. At the same time, his wife had already purchased tickets to go along. James decided to not go instead of buying himself a ticket to Belfast.
Where he would be alone with his thoughts for a few days, upon telling his wife, she then had an anxiety attack which shook James. This was when he knew something had to be done, as this was now affecting the people he loved. Getting help from the Charity RFL Sporting chance set up by Tony Adams in helping sportsmen and women deal with their mental health.
Please listen to this week's compelling podcast and learn that it is ok to talk.
Christina is the director and Co-Founder of Moodbeam, a groundbreaking company whose aim is to turn the world of emotional development upside down. Her creation allows an entirely new way of showing how we feel and see how they think.
She was working out of the C4DI building. Christina's experience of her daughter inspired Moodbeam, then seven, to be bullied. Concerned about the mood changes this cyberbullying created, she was desperate to make sure she could track her daughter's mental wellbeing and prevent any adverse effects. She subsequently partnered with Hull-born Gadget Shop and Red5 entrepreneur Jonathan Elvidge to develop the Moodbeam wearable device, to help other parents do the same.
The project has taken off with interest from potential future users in fields like industry, education and health. They have just taken delivery of their first 1,000 manufactured units. Encouraging businesses and individuals to take them away, trial them and share their experiences to spread the word. Before her invention, She spent the last 20 years as an experienced journalist and freelance public relations specialist with a demonstrated history of working in the design industry. From Down High Grammar School with a BA Hons Degree from Surry Institute of Art and Design. T
ake a listen to this week's podcast with Christina, Powerful.
Joi Cole Lives in Downtown LA, Co-founder of 444 Management Group. One of 3 business partners, Joi's mentor, who came up with the idea, he used to be signed to Motown Records, a vocal artist, is how he got started in the industry. He also made the theme tune to The Addams Family Tv Show, to which he went on to sell the rights.
Joi's other business partner was signed to and produced for Quincy Jones sons Label. They were producing for great artists like Missy Elliott and many others. Joi was already managing before joining her team at 444 management group; She works at Derrty Deja Blu, who DJs for Nelly in Las Vegas.
The 3 of them are a force together helping new artists come through and shine, sitting on the board for the not-for-profit charity NEST, providing advice and support for young artists. Joi has Met people like Michael Jackson & Will Smith, but found the most important meeting was with Will Smith saying, "He was great, his energy that fills a room."
Listen to Joi answering the week's Pig Wrestling Questions: Powerful and Positive.
Finbarr Dowling was born in Cork, Ireland, in 1963. Following secondary school at Astron comprehensive core, an 18-year-old Finbarr spent a year travelling the breadth of the USA before returning to Ireland in 1982.
He began working as a production planner. This role started his love for engineering. Finbarr was then appointed Project Director to develop and construct the harbour blade manufacturing and service facility at Alexandra doc home. This development will establish the largest wind turbine production facility in the UK, to be operational in early 2016.
The Alexander dock project has a combined investment of 310 million pounds and aims to create 1000 new jobs. It's the most significant single investment that Siemens is making globally. Finbarr is passionate about Mental Health within the workplace. They have their health scheme, "Talk to me", where staff members can access mental and physical health help.
He's also fallen in love with the Great city of Hull, seeing everything the area has to offer and all the old history. Helping the city of culture grow in the town.
Listen to this week's Podcast, and learn more about Finbarr.
Freya is a mum of 2 boys, now 35 & 36 and a loving wife to Graham, who moved over to Hull when the boys were young to follow her husband's career in the pig farming industry, where she ended up being her husband's boss.
Freya, Is TheDeep'ss head of business and corporate. Twenty years ago, when The deep and the business centre opened their doors, Freya was there for the entire journey. The Deep, Which is the biggest success story of the National Lottery Funding, is one ofHull'ss most significant landmarks bringing in people worldwide. An estimated 3700 people a day in the February school holidays was recorded.
She also leads on promoting facilities at The Deep for corporate events and special occasions ranging from weddings to the Olympic Torch Relay, the Queen's Baton Relay for the Commonwealth Games and the draw live on BBC TV for the Third Round of the FA Cup. On the broader Hull and East Yorkshire business community, Freya took the lead in setting up a group of business centres to share best practices in the industry and encourage people to work together.
Take a listen to this week's Podcast.
Francis is a Hull-born lad whose career has taken him down south to London. He travels worldwide with his job as Head of Occupational Safety for EasyJet.
His career has taken him to jobs within Health & Safety and the Environmental sector, being a manager at Jet2.com in Leeds 2011 until 2018. Why does he do the job of Health and Safety Manager - for the People? That's what it's all about.
Through group and personal coaching, he also specialises in behavioural safety and mindset change. He has an excellent track record of changing mindsets and culture to reflect safety positively with proven business benefits. Listen to him talk about the mindset, the books he loves and the person he would like to speak to most, His Grandad and ask all about his stories of World War 2.
Local Lad Sonny age just 24, is an up and coming boxer, in Cruiserweight. With four fights, four wins under his belt.
Debuting March 2019, now getting ready to do his 5th fight at the Bonus Arena Hull on 29th February. Boxing is his passion, and he takes his training very seriously, although he doesn't like to train, he knows to be the best he has to.
Talking about his Sparring with the rugby league legend Paul Gallen. “He’s so tough and strong, like oak.” Hull is known for its great boxers with the likes of Luke Campbell and the recently retired Tommy Coyle. These guys have paved the way for the likes of Sonny to come through, showing Hull is firmly on the Map as a great boxing city.
Get behind Sonny this weekend for his 5th fight - 29th February 2020 Sponsors: Vulcan Learning, PHD Nutrition, My PAD Take a listen to this week's podcast and learn more about the man behind the boxer.
productivity #business #PersonalDevelopment #mentalhealth #technology
Born off Beverley Road and raised on Hull's Orchard Park estate. It had a fantastic sense of community and belonging. He considered himself lucky. His Dad was a builder's labourer, stay-at-home Mum of 4 children, of whom he was the eldest.
He made the big decision at 16 and left the family home to live with a friend's family. At 17, getting a bedsit of his own and, ironically, a job as a labourer following in his father's footsteps. Orchard Park was also the home to the UK's biggest and best baseball diamond. The local club was called 'The Danes' and were regular Hull champions, Humberside champions and even UK champions. Baseball played a big part in Tony's life.
Often in trouble, if it was not for baseball, he may have taken a completely different path! He decided that joining the British Army was far more exciting and rewarding than anything around here could offer. His mates didn't think he would last two minutes; "they knew I would struggle taking orders and loved to rebel," Tony says. He picked on and pushed to his limits, almost giving up a couple of times.
Tony was posted in 1984 to West Berlin. His duties included guarding the Berlin Wall itself and protecting the trains travelling across the then East/West German corridor. "Visiting Checkpoint Charlie and going through into East Berlin was certainly an eye-opener!" As part of his duties, he was assigned to join the guard of Spandau prison, guarding the notorious Rudolf Hess, Deputy Fuhrer to Adolf Hitler.
He came face to face with Rudolf Hess on one occasion, and even as an older man, he still portrayed a powerful and menacing presence. His mantra is to work, share, support one another and collaborate. The 'Business Culture Hull' with its 121s, group meetings, presentations and introductions, brings people together to help and be helped along their business journey.
The final destination is helping to realise all that Hull can be. "We don't have to look over our shoulders at other cities, we are Hull, and we have everything we need right here."
Take a listen to this great Podcast.
At just the young age of 21, Lewis Sylvester is an up and coming Boxer. Hull Lad made his first Professional Debut on 9th March 2019 in the LightWeight division. 5 fights, 5 wins, 0 losses!!!
Lewis surprisingly has only had 20 amateur fights under his belt. He is taking his training very seriously, as all professionals should. He does just that he gets ahead of the rest, making sure he's faster and more aerodynamic, as we were given a little secret by one of his close mates. Growing up on an estate, his life started to go astray. He found his love again for boxing when walking into Tommy Coyles academy for a complimentary session.
It brought back the love instilled in him by his family's love of boxing. Lewis says that learning life lessons from his Favorite book, The Secret: "not just a book a way of life. It had a massive impact on my life." Sponsors - CBD Asylum (use code LSB30 for 30% off), language is everything, Aquarius panel products Ltd, we love HU, Harrisons Joinery ltd, Heritage Cars, Chill Cryotherapy.
Take a listen to this week's Podcast.
On this week's Podcast, we speak to David Summerbell, a Barclays Eagle. He is an experienced Ecosystem manager with a vast history of working in the financial services industry.
He has been skilled in Banking, Commercial Banking, and Investment Advisory for 13 Years. He is working his way up the ladder with his love for helping people. Working from the C4DI Building on The Marina, a place which helps tech companies grow. Moodbeam a great company to build and grow from here is, which us here at the PWP are big supporters.
David Says: "we're interested in helping fledgeling businesses scale up and traditional businesses to innovate - so we match perfectly with C4DI's values." We learn about his passion for Arsenal, his favourite football team, the first book he read at age five (Roger Red Hat) that set him on his learning path. Now in the new digital era, his way of learning has changed watching youtube videos and reading up on Wikipedia.
Take a listen to this week's Podcast.
It's OK not to be OK—the Road to Recovery.
EXPLICIT CONTENT. Hull FC & Salford EX professional Super League player Jansin Turgut.
A Hull lad through and through, Jansin played professional rugby for Hull FC & Salford. He represented England Academy under 18s v Australia Schoolboys in 2014. He was going to make his professional debut in the Super League Match 5th 2015 against Leeds Rhinos. Jansin also captains Turkey's national side in the emerging nations 2018 world Championship. Sharing his love and passion for the game sharing stories of players he's had the pleasure to play alongside. As always, we dig deep on real problems, people wrestle, with none more significant than the battle Jasin has been tackling with his mental health. He was sharing for the first time that the Ibiza car park fall was an attempt to take his life.
We uncover how Jansin is now working to control his mind as he shares the tools and strategies he has put in place, from transcendental meditation to getting back into the gym. A great supporter of Andys Man club, Jansin is fired up like never before to run head-on and help to tackle the stigmas that still surround mental health. Sharing, "I didn't want to end my life; I wanted to end the pain I was going through." A lesson learned following him having to endure breaking both my legs, "I broke my pelvis in half. I fractured L1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 in my spine, and then I broke every bone in my face." He highlighted Tyson Fury's message of support as a particular inspiration. He said: "Laid in the hospital bed seeing that brought me to tears and I couldn't quite believe that he'd… for somebody who suffered from mental health and has put himself back into the game, the sport of boxing as well and overcome it. Jansin has never been more determined, given his "second chance" to run at the big thing. He is helping others by sharing his story and helping organisations such as Andys Man Club to bang the drum that it is OK To Talk.
Take a listen to this week's Podcast.
wellbeing #productivity #Networking #business #PersonalDevelopment #mentalhealth #ITSupport
International Superstar DJ & Music Producer Ben Rainey is on this week's show. We discuss what life's like headlining in Ibiza, Dubai, Ayia Napa and Antwerp — performing at The Ocean Beach Club, Ibiza for SIN Sundays, Zero Gravity, Dubai.
With Ben performing alongside Claptone, Roger Sanchez, Disciples and Europe's most prominent dance festival, Tomorrowland, a few. We ask what life is like as one of Hull's biggest Instagram stars. Ben is one of Hull's finest who takes the world by storm with his unique style. When he's not jet setting around the world, he is a resident DJ at Hulls Barrow Boys, and today he is in the studio for our Pig Wrestling Podcast.
We learn about Ben Rainey, a natural mummy's boy who loves nothing more than sharing kisses and cuddles with his mum, Gran, and sister he idolises. We uncover the roots of his love of music and his mum and dad's influence in shaping Ben's style. Discussing his passion for spending hours in the studio, making music can, at times, take over his life.
We dig deep and learn the tools and the tactics he uses to manage his hectic schedule. And what it's like to be an influencer on social media and how he works to unplug and unwind. And how helping others came back to allow him to save Luke Campbell's 30th birthday bash. With his new little 11-year-old protege Taylor coming to his rescue. Who he's helped carve out her international DJ career.
The power of gratitude, from lessons he's unearthed from his time spent with Revd Tony Cotson. A question we should have asked, but we didn't uncover Ben has a GCSE in Japanese. "こんにちは私の名前はベンです" "Hi my name is Ben "PPS. Please, can you like and drop a review within whichever platform you are listening to us.
Take a listen to this week's Podcast.
wellbeing #productivity #Networking #business #PersonalDevelopment #mentalhealth #ITSupport
This week, we kick off with our new "mini" podcast, the Piglet (Thanks to Scott).
We discussed a fantastic event we attended hosted by the Business Culture Hull, filled with magic and mindset! We've been busy Learning "Achievement Thinking" and how THIS MINDSET CAN BE LEARNED –
'Achievement Thinking' is a collection of simple tools to empower and help you find, keep and grow the strength to flourish, build resilience and manage change continuously.
We had the privilege to listen to John Hotowka, a business speaker, humorist and magician. We also looked back at when you don't have the right mindset or the skill set. It leaves you upset.
#productivity #business #PersonalDevelopment #mentalhealth #technology
On this week's Pig Wrestling Podcast, We have the brilliant Spencer Locker, who features on the channel 4 series SAS who dares wins with Ant Middleton.
Five ex-Special Forces soldiers recreate the SAS's secret selection process putting up to 30 men & women through the ultimate test of their physical and - more importantly - psychological resilience. Spencer talks about getting out of your comfort zone & resilience training.
Spencer is a Senior Consultant at Trans 2 performance, a position he has held since 2018, Married to Sharon with two wonderful boys. Spencer Volunteers as an experience Family mediator and community panel member at offending youth team. He is also a coach of an Under 7s football team.
In his early years, Spencer was in the Military. After coming out, he went on to study Social Work Degree, doing one year then pulling out.
In his words:
"I see it as a lucky escape. I don't think I would have been able to retain my sanity working in that industry."
His lesson 'be true to yourself & trust your instincts
Take a list of this week's Podcast
productivity #business #PersonalDevelopment #mentalhealth #technology
This week's Festive Special, We have the very inspirational Luke Ambler, Motivational Speaker / Entrepreneur / Founder & Chairman of Andysmanclub, and a few things he does these days.
Luke is a big family man, engaged to Lisa and has three lovely Children, Alfie Aubrey and Ada. Luke, a former professional Rugby league player, played for Salford, Leeds Rhinos, Harlequins on loan, York on loan, and Ireland.
He finished his career at his beloved Halifax, making 141 appearances scoring 32 tries. Luke is a fellow of Brathay, which is a charitable organisation. Their mission is to improve the life chances of children, young people and families by inspiring them to engage positively in their communities.
Luke is Chief Executive of Ambler Training LTD. He has his own Journal out for adults and Children, The Bee you Journal and The Bee You kids Journal.
Luke is also the Founder and Chairman of Andysmanclub 2016. Luke set up AMC when his Brother-in-law Andy took his own life in 2016. This has become one of the most significant mental health movements and now has over 21 clubs throughout the UK, Winning the award at the ITV National Diversity awards 2019.
productivity #business #PersonalDevelopment #mentalhealth #technology
On this week's Pig Wrestling Podcast we have the very Influential Jan Brumby, Named in the Hull Daily Mails 24 most influential women of Hull, she also awarded the Queen's Award for Enterprise promotion in 2006. Jan Is CEO at For Entrepreneurs Only founded in May 2012. Her career history includes the Financial ( HSBC ) Education ( University of Hull ) and Charity ( Young Enterprise ) sectors. Only 13 of the country's 350 biggest companies have women at the helm. But Jan is one of those women who drive Hulls economy and makes decisions daily, which shapes our city and the broader region. She is passionate about working in partnership with committed and inspirational people and organisations. Jan is also the female vocalist for The Brilliant Hull Band Beautiful Couch, a Tribute to the Beautiful South and Housemartins.
productivity #business #PersonalDevelopment #mentalhealth #technology
This week, we have Jason Kay, who has been honest and raw with his fantastic life story. He went through significant life changes from an early age and finally sat down with his wife. After he was made homeless at 17, losing his mum when he was 25 was a significant turning point in Jason's life. Having had many jobs in his early years and becoming very good at getting fired for "gobbing off," Jason has gone on to have his own company. He is Chief Executive Officer & Founder of LiveLead previously ( Director ) Market Place.
Take a listen to Jason's brilliant podcast.
productivity #business #PersonalDevelopment #mentalhealth #technology
On this week's Podcast, we have John Gilbert, Born at Hedon Road Maternity Hospital in 1980. John is one of 4 brothers raised in East Hull. John is married to Sally and lives in Welton with their sons, aged 12 and 13.
Having attended Malet Lambert in his teens, Wilberforce College and Hull University, John worked in engineering for two years before being made redundant. Aged 23, he went self-employed as a freelance marketer and has been involved in many successful businesses. He owns and runs a multi-award-winning social marketing agency, eskimosoup.
He and his team work with the NHS, Police and councils to creative media and marketing to achieve social good. Amongst many projects, he is currently busy producing a series of films based on the real-life experiences of young people who join organised criminal gangs.
Listen to John's fantastic story here on The Pig Wrestling Podcast.
productivity #business #PersonalDevelopment #mentalhealth #technology
This week's Podcast Guest is Gareth Alexander, the current Chief Operating Officer & Founder of LiveLead.
Gareth went to Sydney Smith High School, then attended Hull College. Gareth's professional History is astounding, working for the likes of BAE, Lockheed Martin, SAAB, and F-35 Global, to name a few, taking him worldwide. He spent a lot of time in the USA, moving over to Dallas in 2003 with his wife. His two children were born over in the USA. He worked with companies like American Global Aerospace, now back in Hull and Founder of LiveLead. Take a list of this week's Podcast.
productivity #business #PersonalDevelopment #mentalhealth #technology
This week, to celebrate his 38th Birthday, we have no other than Leon McQuade as a guest on the podcast. Born in Beverly 7th November 1981 - Husband, Dad, Son, Brother, Uncle & Friend. Leon started his early life moving from 11 different schools, while his mum and dad worked hard and ran pubs all over Yorkshire.
Leon became a joiner by trade and spent his 20s working in construction. At the age of 30 and being a new father, Leon wanted to do something different that was also helping him with his career and to help him move forward.
In 2018 Leon leapt in a new direction entirely, and in October 2018, he became a business partner with Scott. And Think Cloud was born.
Leon's Journey with Andys Man Club started in 2017 when he offered them IT, which at the time they needed a club opening in Hull more.
So along with close rugby mates, Andys Man club in Hull was born and has gone from strength to strength. He is now a Trustee of the charity. The club runs every Monday Night from 6.45 at Airco Training Centre, Goulton Street, Hull. Listen and hear all about Leon's Journey.
productivity #business #PersonalDevelopment #mentalhealth #technology
Andy Last Hull FC Assistant Coach In this week's podcast, we speak of people, processes and the technology that's shaped Andy into the loving father, husband, son, friend and brother. Today, we discover more about Andy Last, the person, and uncover some pigs he's wrestled with. Andy grew up on Hessle Road, signed for Hull FC as a junior player in 1998, coming from amateur team Eureka, making his first debut in August 1999.
He made 29 appearances, scoring four tries before deciding to join the coaching team following the 2004 season. Having spent two years as the club Head of Youth Development, Last became Assistant Coach, which he still holds today. While being an assistant to Richard Agar at the first-team level, his other main priority was that of head coach for the Black and Whites Under-20s team.
Andy has been involved in probably Hull FC's most successful part of their History during his coaching career at Hull, helping guide them to three Grand Finals and winning two. He has been responsible for the long line of homegrown players such as Josh Bowden, Chris Green, Dean Hadley, Reece Lyne, Tom Briscoe and Tommy Lee. A former England academy coach Andy received an outstanding contribution to the club award. Take a listen to this week's great podcast
productivity #business #PersonalDevelopment #mentalhealth #technology
Andy, known to most as Speedy, came to Andy's man club 18 months ago, one of the first men to attend the group. After overcoming struggles with his mental health, he became a facilitator, now helps men who come through the door every Monday night, and is the right-hand man to Paul—brought up on Boothferry estate, and becoming The Man of the house after the separation of his Mum and Dad when he was 9, From being the class clown to leaving school with 10 GSCE'S. He is now happily married and the father of two boys. He's a big family man and love self-development. Take a listen to this great Podcast and learn all about Andy's man club and Andy's favourite book, The Chimp Paradox and what both have done for Andy. We dig deep with our Pig Wrestling Ten Commandments, with Andy Speed being real & raw on this week's show. Thanks, Speedy.
productivity #business #PersonalDevelopment #mentalhealth #technology
Talking about life after brain injury, the lessons he learnt and how he's turned adversity on its head despite lasting damage. Paul is a big family man, Engaged to be married next year to Gemma, Father to Shannon & Reece. He has a Granddaughter Evie who he loves to spend time.
Paul was an Electrical Engineer until he sustained a terrible brain injury by one punch in 2012. He was left with a life-changing injury; he couldn't see his past and was an unemotional robot. After seeing the level of aftercare in the area, he started launching a service to help and support other Brain injury victims. Paul founded Paul for Brain Recovery in 2016.
He now works closely with the NHS. Paul went on to create Brain works bars that focused on health. The brain works bars are designed with a potent mix of products scientifically proven to aid Brain Development and recovery, reduce the trauma caused by illness and everyday stress, and fight off ageing brain cells. Pauls has done masses of inspiring fundraising events worldwide, from Marathons, Iron man UK and climbing Kilimanjaro in June 2018.
We dig deep with our Pig Wrestling Ten Commandments, with Paul Spence being real & raw on this week's show. Thank you, Paul, for sharing your story.
productivity #business #PersonalDevelopment #mentalhealth #technology
Jackson came to Andys man club in May 2018 and became a facilitator after overcoming struggles with his mental health. He now helps men who come through the door every Monday night. He attends The Hey Baby event at hull women and children's on the last Wednesday of the month, talking about everything Andysmanclub. Originally from a small town in Stroud, Gloucestershire, he moved to Hull to attend Hull University. Jackson Graduated 1st in his class and got a PhD in Marine biology from The University of Hull in 2014, and now works for The University of Lincoln. Andysmanclub is held every Monday at Airco Training Academy, Goulton Street Hull doors open at 6.30 pm. We dig deep with our Pig Wrestling Ten Commandments, with Jackson Sage being real & raw on this week's show. Thanks, Jackson.
productivity #business #PersonalDevelopment #mentalhealth #technology
We speak People, Process and Technology with Phil Winter, who is the Business editor at the Hull Daily Mail and Hull Live. Formerly a senior news reporter at Hull Live and Goole & Selby Times newspapers. He has also featured in Daily Mirror, Manchester Evening News, Birmingham Mail, Wales on Sunday, Ayrshire Post, Liverpool Echo, The FADER, Nottingham Post, Surrey Live, Mercury Extra, etc. Phil is a big Hull City fan who enjoys Traveling and discovering new music. Phil attended the University of Sheffield and studied Journalism from 2012-to 2015. We dig deep with our Pig Wrestling Ten Commandments, with Phil Winter being real & raw on this week's show.
productivity #business #PersonalDevelopment #mentalhealth #technology
We have Martin Johnson's T2 Performance on this week's podcast - The People Performance People. As always, we speak People, Process and Technology, uncovering the man and the team who are Digitally Disrupting the "Leadership & Business Management Training Sector. With the all-new T2-Hub, The company are arming their customers with winning tools and strategies so they can thrive. Martins Back Ground Gartner for six years Sales Leader Senior Account Manager Butler Group 4 years Sales Manager Senior Account Manager Warfare Branch - Operator Mechanic 4 years.
Served in 3 types 42 destroyers over that period served in the Med, Falklands, and the Far East in 2003 Martin received an Admirals commendation for his role during the grounding of HMS Nottingham. Rugby League background played for Ideal and Later Dockers and East Hull (we need to mention I never beat them we you lads drew once) not until I coached an under 8s side Bit of a story there.
Life as a published author of I Is Human 30 mistakes to success which Paul read on a beach in Australia and found transformational. I am Human lifts the lid on 30 of the most common subconscious errors and missed opportunities that we humans fail to correct or take advantage of. The book's key message is that only through self-knowledge can we hope to become the best version of ourselves. Covering: Being Conscious Becoming More Productive Learning Influence We unpick Martin's excellent talk on Social Excellence & Why values matter.
The key message of this talk is that we need to get out of the middle ground. We dig deep with our Pig Wrestling Ten Commandments, with Martin speaking real & raw. Listen on On Spotify Anchor FM Podcasts Radio Republic MORE PLACES TO LISTEN to breaker google_podcasts Spotify overcast pocket_casts radio public.
productivity #business #PersonalDevelopment #mentalhealth #technology
On this week's podcast, we have Rev'd Tony Cotson. Speaking People, Process, Technology. Born 1953 Somerset Street, Hessle Road. Married Jan 1976, we met as teenagers. Two children and 5 GC. After marriage set up home in Hampshire St, then St Nicholas Ave and finally Summergroves so lived off Hessle Road all my life. Worked (office work) in the fishing industry for 15 years (trawler owners) then 20 odd years manager at Homebase which saw me travel a little and then finally the church for the last 20 years. Proud to be serving my community as priest. First meaningful church contact on a surfing holiday in St Ives Cornwall at 19. Life-changing event. Love music/sport. Played both since childhood. Enjoy traveling and meeting people. Especially listening to people's life stories, I tell people, in many ways, I get paid to carry stories and inform the Big Story! In addition to my parish work I am Chaplain to FC, West Hull, Trinity House and our Fishing Heritage groups. Keeps me occupied. Recently Lord Mayor chaplain too. Quite an insight. My work brings me into contact with a cross-section of people from Archbishops to leading members of Parliament to homeless refugees and everyone in between. And everyone is valued equally.
productivity #business #PersonalDevelopment #mentalhealth #technology
This week's guest in the Pig Wrestling Podcast is the beautiful Jo Kent Suicide Prevention lead & Humber Coast & Vale Health & Care partnership / Humber mental Health NHS Foundation Trust. Jo is always talking about transformation, change and focusing on People, Processes & Technology. Essential talking points World suicide prevention day ( WSPD ) 10th September How the NHS want to work with local communities. Andysmanclub UK tour Breaking the stigma around mental health Suicide prevention training ( Details covered in the interview ) Pig Wrestling 10 commandments Lots more exciting topics.
productivity #business #PersonalDevelopment #mentalhealth #technology
In the Pig Wrestling Podcast, this week's guests are Paul Matson & Trevor Fishburn Hull 4 Heroes talking, transformation, change and focusing on People, Process & Technology. Paul & Trevor run the charity Hull 4 Heroes dedicated to helping local veterans which are becoming a massive success. Key talking points DIY SOS and how the charity was created How Hull for Heroes & Andysmanclub can work together Veterans Village 48 hour world record rugby attempt The vision of Hull for Heroes going forward and how they can continue to support veterans Pig Wrestling 10 commandments Getting men to open up regarding their mental health How talking and both the charities are helping guys grow and progress.
#productivity #business #PersonalDevelopment #mentalhealth #technology
We have a serious problem: one man every two hours in the UK take their own life's just stop and think about that. This week we have Paul Longley kick off our very first show. I'm driven to help break the stigma associated with "Mental Health". I've learned three prominent stigmas, weakness, burden, and embarrassment, stop men from speaking out. And with my work with Andy's Man Club, we are helping pave the way for men to know that #ItsOkayToTalk and break the stigma. For the past 2+years, I've helped create a safe environment for men to come and talk without these fears. I've become a regular speaker within the Hull business community, speaking to audiences of 800+ for the likes of Siemens, Arco, Smith & Nephews, Victoria Plum, ResQ, Department of Work & Pensions. I love to bang the drum for Andy's Man Club and share my "next man" talk, built on my own experiences and those gained in helping myself and now over 2500+men.
productivity #business #PersonalDevelopment #mentalhealth #technology
Wow, it’s our first ever podcast, and we are super excited to launch our teaser to the podcasts to come. We have lined up some amazing special guests and we will be recording each & every week thanks for listening, Paul & Leon.