Next Steps for Business: Recent Episodes
Dave Wilkes & Marie Ellis
Dave and Marie look to support businesses who are looking to grow and take the next steps in the business evolution. Each episode takes a component of running a business and discuss areas that need to be considered when running a successful business.
As we approach the end of another Financial Year end how have you fared?
Have you met your goals?
Reached your targets?
Adjusted your plan through out the year?
When you submit your figures to your accountant will it be a surprise where your business is at OR you have a good idea on what they will come back with?
You can't change the past but if you've not stayed on top of your finances throughout the year, then you can start to plan next year's finances.
Dave and Marie talk through what steps you should have been doing this last year, why its important and how you can gear yourself for the coming year.
They provide a list of tips and good practises for you to tackle this coming year, so you will be on top of your finances and have no nasty surprises back from your accountant!
What strategies do you adopt to ensure you are on top of your finances?
As you come to the end of the Financial Year end, what can you do with spare money to be TAX effective?
How can you combine this with planning for your future?
To help answer these questions Dave brings in guest, Neil Wattam, Director and IFA of Wattam Kirby Mee.
Neil draws on his extensive Financial Advice and brings a number of interesting ways you can invest your money, reducing Tax and providing for your future.
What tips do you have for planning for your future?
Are you prepared for your next phase of life?
Negotiation appears in so many ways
Both parties have requirements but how do you ensure both parties win?
Or do you go for Win Lose, where you walkaway the victor and heck ti their thoughts?
In this podcast Dave talks through where negotiation is required and some simple steps and examples on how you can walk away with what you want.
What steps do you follow in negotiation? Do you go for Win regardless of the other side? Do you often cave in when confronted with other situations?
Why?
Three powerful letters which should be the bedrock of your decision making.
How is it so powerful?
Well if you can fully understand Why you are doing the job you do, why you are working towards something then when the winds of hardship come blowing you will be able to continue rather than collapse.
It is the motivation top performers pick themselves up, dust themselves down and keep on keeping on.
In this podcast, Dave talks through the key aspects of know your why and how it can help you make 2022 to be a winner
What is your Why?
Hot on the heels of last week's Goal Setting Podcast we were asked about more details on goal setting and what you need to do to ensure your goals are successful
Cue this podcast
So how do you ensure you realise your goals?
What additional steps should you consider to succeed at your goals?
How do setting targets help achieving goals?
What aspects of targets do you need to focus soon to ensure the targets are relevant?
All of these questions are more are tackled by Dave as he runs through further fundamentals on achieving your goals.
What tips do you recommend to undertake to be successful in goal setting and achievement?
New Year, New Goals but how do you know you have set great goals?
A business should be annually renewing their goals at a minimum as well as monitoring their progress throughout the year.
What steps should you undertake to ensure your goals are fit for purpose?
How will you know if your goals are the right level?
Are there any steps you can take to ensure your goals stretch you enough for growth or are too ambitious?
Should you have over ambitious goals?
What is a good goal? What are they made up of?
Dave and Marie talk through smart goals and a second way of setting goals.
How often do you renew your goals?
Are your goals easy to achieve?
Everyone has a book in side them, so they say
Great
But what do you need to do to make it happen?
What steps should you take to undertake this?
Is there a process you can undertake to make it easier?
To answer all of these questions, Dave decided to bring Marion Parrish, The Accidental Manager who has recently published her own book.
Marion explains the steps she used to publish her own book successfully.
With this information, what is stopping you writing and publishing your own book?
Struggling to recruit?
Finding potential employees facing to turn up to interviews?
Struggling with a strategy to take on staff?
What steps should you undertake to be successful recruiting?
Dave is joined by Marion Parrish, Director of The Accidental Manager Coach.
Marion explains why the job market is like it is,
How you can take steps to improve your recruitment process, gain a higher uptake policy and retain existing staff
Procrastination is common but is a massive killer to productivity.
The tempting thing to put work off that you don't want to do by over thinking or "dilly dallying". Fear of failure, fear of it being too difficult, reluctance of what people will say all all symptoms of not starting work or starting it but not finishing it.
So how do you overcome it?
How do you recognise it in you?
Assuming you want to be highly productive then this podcast is for you.
Dave talks through steps you can take to recognise you are falling in to procrastination and what you can do.
What steps do you take to fight procrastination? Do you fight procrastination?
How well are you ready for the coming Holiday Season?
Have you considered how you are going to cope with your team out?
Your suppliers taking a break?
You taking a well earned break? Or should you?
Dave talks you through Short Term, Medium Term and Long Term planning, Additionally, this is activity you need to be performing NOW!
Give yourself a chance this December
What is High Performance?
How can your team achieve high Performance?
What steps do you need to undertake to make your team a High Performance Team?
Dave ponders this and brings in Coach, LinkedIn Live Streamer, Mentor, Leadership Expert and fellow Brummie Andrew Jenkins from PDX Consulting
Andrew has so many years working with Leadership teams that he helps organisations grow
Andrew brings in so much personal experience in to the show and explains how you can generate your own high performance team.
What steps do you take to ensure your team is high performing?
So many of us now are working from home or have a home office.
We had to make do during the Pandemic but now we get to choose.
Some of us have decided to set up a full time office at home, be it, converting a guest bedroom, set up a chalet in the garden, converting a brick building in the grounds or working from the dinning room table.
Whatever you decided is applicable to your circumstances, how do you make the most of it?
What steps can you do to ensure you are operating effiiciently?
Need some ideas on how you can improve?
Look no further, as in this podcast, Dave is joined by Adrea Yorston, Director and Chief Designer at Interior Squirrel
Andrea has so many years of experience as a designer and her views on how you can make the most of your work environment are superb. She shares her knowledge on what you need to consider, how you can keep your items safe and even how you can repurpose environments when you are not working.
You can even see some of their creations on houzz.
The 7 Habits of highly Successful People by Dr Stephen Covey
Why is it a must read?
How does it help a business leader in their personal and business life?
What are the 7 steps?
Who should read it?
All of these questions and many more will be answered by Dave in this podcast.
Dave walks through the 7 Steps and how he has applied them to his life, both business and personal. He takes time to highlights some of the key points on why you should read this book.
Rather being dictatorial on what you should do, Dave simply outlines how he has been affected by the book and gives you little tasters on some of the book's contents so you know how good it is,
Have you read it yet?
Is it about time you read it again?
Are you in control of your time or do you feel you are at the beck n call of others?
Looking for inspiration on how you can master your life?
What does mastery look like?
How would you feel if you lived your life on your terms?
Dave brings in super podcast fan Fahimah Adam, barrister and director of No 7 Legal Services to talk through her approach to life and business. Fahimah has been on an epic voyage for the last 10 years working out what is right for her. She candidly explains her motivation and her secrets in this no holds bared talk through her focus.
What steps are you taking to get the lifestyle you want?
A key attribute to being a business owner is Resilience
Why?
Lots is thrown your way. The battle between Getting Stuff Done (GSD) and developing yourself, people, products & services, direction of the business, changes in the market, compliance... the list goes on.
So how do you handle this?
In this podcast Dave talks through some components to this key attribute and how you can help yourself.
Worth listening for all business owners, senior management and aspirational career minded individuals
In life, like in business we have our "book"
To get the most out of life we need to balance our book, but what does that mean?
Dave takes you through how you can balance your book.
How you can consider looking after yourself, which we have heard on previous podcasts how important making time for yourself is. Dave outlines areas on where you can look after yourself and how you can get more out of life
What is your approach to life and work? How do you strike your balance?
Its so important to stay on top of the constant changes happening on Social Media to ensure you are maximising your reach.
Arguably an important part of your Marketing Strategy
So what's changing on LinkedIn?
What new features can you now use on your profile?
Who would know?
Well Dave called upon Chief Socalite, Queen of Social Media, Karen Cureton, Director of Cureton Consulting Ltd.
Karen covers all of the latest updates on LinkedIn, in her usual, friendly, straightforward manner. Explaining it well to Dave, so that he can understand
Struggling to get motivated?
Wondering how to get stuff done?
Struggling with symptoms of CBA?
Are there any techniques which can spur you on to delivering more? Doing the things you want to get done?
In this podcast Dave talks through some great techniques you can deploy which will help you through the minefield of being motivated
Dave uses real world examples on how he achieves so much in a day, week and year. All of this he does highly motivated. He shares this so you can go from strength to strength. Why not try his steps to motivation to get yourself going?
If i said to you I can give you an hour back a day would you believe me?
Are there any techniques you can apply to reclaim your day?
Are there any disciplines you could adopt to make you more effective?
Do you make time for self improvement, sleep, wellbeing?
In this podcast Dave talks through some steps you can undertake which will allow you to Own you day.
What techniques do you apply to take control?
What is the difference between Flexible Working and Hybrid working?
What should a business owner consider to support Flexible Working?
Are there any pitfalls for Flexible Working?
To help answer these questions and many more Dave is joined by Sue Grogan from joinedupwork.co.uk
Sue helps Dave learn about the pitfalls of flexible working and how you can avoid them
So we've heard about the apprenticeship from the Apprentice's POV (see episode 72) but what is the scope of Apprenticeships?
Who can undertake an apprenticeship?
What is the cost of them?
What does it take to undertake them?
What are the alternatives to doing an apprenticeship?
These questions and more we try to answer in this episode with the help of Mark Tonks from Orange and Blue UK. Mark has appeared on podcasts in the past covering leadership. To see how he brings his leadership training to the benefit of the apprentice
In a mini series thinking through apprenticeship and the benefits it brings to your company, the individual as well as the economy we ask the questions to guests who are affected by it. This not only includes business owner, HR professionals but also the apprentices themselves.
So from the apprentices Point Of View (POV) what is it like? A skivvy's job or do they learn much? What benefits do they see in performing the role? Why do the apprenticeship role? How does it affect their long term career? What will it lead to?
We aim to answer all of these questions and more.
What's special about this episode?
Well Dave interviews his own son, Jacob Wilkes, who is an apprentice at WorkPR
Jake, at 21, is possibly older than most apprentices however, he's had an interesting route to where he is and why he took the role on. He candidly explains the steps that lead him to working with WorkPR and how they are helping him form his career
Filming is easy right?
You've got a script. You've storyboarded what you're going to do. You've got your cast.
Is that all you need to press record?
Not quite... to take the mystery out of the other steps required Dave speaks to James from Johnson & Connolly
James handles all of the video production within J&C and happily tells Dave his top tips of what you need to consider before pressing record. He covers his 3 Cs and 3 Ss.
What tips can you suggest you need to do to prepare for fiiming?
Organic growth for your business is a sure and steady way to grow your business, however how do you attract the right people for your business?
How do you ensure you keep the right people at your business?
What steps can you perform to ensure your offer to a candidate is taken up?
Dave talks to Caroline Hunt from Emerald Starfish about recruitment. Caroline has years of experience in recruitment and not only wants to help candidates but works with businesses to ensure they get the right candidates to join organisations but also for them to stay there.
What tips do you have for your recruitment policy?
So how can diversity help a leader?
What do we mean by diversity?
One this podcast Dave is joined by Annette Cairns, Director of Green Shed Talent Development
Annette works with multiple disciplined industries in developing leaders and management training. She brings her insights in to how diversity helps a business and their leaders.
A truly interesting discussion between Dave and Annette to help new leaders to consider more ways in which to grow and get their team delivering to their best by enjoying and utilising the differences rather than simply being clones
As the business owner you are often the figure head of the business, representing the services of your business, but how do you develop you?
With Marie not well Dave invites an old pal on to this week's podcast, Simon Hill. Simon started his career as a trainee producer on Kerrang! Radio under the tuition of Tim Shaw (Car SOS fame).
He's grown his career in to other radio stations, presented on TV as well as regular DJing in clubs. He's grown his own brand, adapting to opportunities and areas of his own personal interest.
How are you developing your personal brand?
What tips can you give in developing your brand to others?
We've discussed leadership traits with some brilliant experts over a number of podcasts but how does it work in the real world?
To get an unbiased opinion we decided to talk to Richard Stone, entrepreneur, owner of multiple business including Stone Contracts to see his view points on leadership and leadership style.
Richard has many years of leadership experience which he brings candidly to the talk. He talks on how his attitude was when he was much younger, how he has developed as a person and how mental health is important to him.
Additionally, who he uses to improve himself.
We all know how useful video can be as part of your marketing strategy.
However, what should we be filming?
Do you have a strategy on how you deploy videos?
Wel wonder no more
Dave and Marie are joined by their editor James Connolly from Johnson & Connolly who by day films and edits videos as part of the visual marketing.
James talks through their recommended "top 7 films" a business should have.
He explains in detail the reason each one is needed and how it will help your business.
He also suggests a priority order you should make a start and how you can then take it on developing as you go
Ever wondered why some businesses under perform?
Wonder if you are doing all you can to make the most of your business?
What steps should you be doing to get the most out of your business?
if you're thinking about setting up a business, have recently set a business up or you've been running your business for a while but don't think its performing like it should this podcast is for you.
Dave and Marie chat through a list of reasons why business under perform and what you could do about it.
What additional steps do you know that businesses frequently miss?
What makes a great leader?
How do you become a great leader?
Are great leaders born or made?
These questions and more are asked and answered by Dave and Marie's guest Annette Cairns of Green Shed Talent Development.
Annette delivers Leadership training so is ideally based in outlining steps that leaders can look to adopt in order to become Great.
How many of these tips do you already do?
What steps can you recommend for others?
Is it worth putting time in to Personal Development?
What does it bring?
How do you transform yourself?
We believe it is a big contributor to your own success. Now success means different things to different people but if we want to achieve bigger and better things for ourselves, be it your career, your business, your home life, your romantic life, your spiritual life, it takes investment.
Dave and Marie talk through what Dave believes about personal development, what drives him onwards and why.
IF we can work out our reason of Why then we a reason to invest.
How do you fit all of this in?
Dave lists a plethora of ways you can find those gaps in your busy schedule.
Dave mentions The Compound Effect which was written by Darren Hardy
He also mentions authors Jim Rohn, Dr Stephen Covey
Recently been promoted and unsure how to act?
How about setting up your new business and struggling to understand what priorities should be acted upon?
What about a colleague who's recently been given a bump up on the career ladder but isn't performing well. You're not sure what but know there's something wrong?
Perhaps you've been a head of a department or company and you have a high turn over of staff, wondering why?
What ever the basis this podcast is worth a listen
Dave and Marie talk through the steps you need to go through in order to help transform you from a worker for someone else in to a great leader. Be it a business leader of your own business, a senior manager for a large company or a director of a SME. Which ever it is there's a transformation that is required. These key areas are highlighted and discussed on why its important.
Do you have any good pointers for other struggling managers?
You've all heard about Work Life Balance but we don't think that's what you should look at, instead it should be all about Work Life Boundaries.
However, what are they?
What Steps could you take to spot how you are wasting time or effort?
What Steps can you take to spot you are blurring your boundaries?
What impacts will you suffer from if you don't manage these?
What are the tell tale signs of Burn Out or overwhelmed?
As a business leader, what questions should you ask to check on your team?
What are the benefits of getting this right?
To answer all of this Dave & Marie bring Tamson from Amara Coaching & Training
Why do start ups fail?
What steps can you as a business owner undertake to ensure your business, be it a new start up or an established one, to ensure you don't become one of the failing statistics?
Dave and Marie chat through a whole host of steps you can employ to save your business going under.
At the end of the day they don't want your business to fail but in fact want them to prosper and grow hence the reason for all of these podcasts!
Got a business idea but wonder if you're the right person to start a business?
Recently started a business again questioning if you're a business owner?
Why did Dave and Marie start Next Steps or their own businesses?
In need of some motivation to get your business off the ground?
All of these and more are covered in this podcast.
So looking for a better visualisation on Sales Techniques?
Struggling to remember all of the steps a complex sales takes to get over the line?
We have a guest today, Ade Fleet from Salesade who uses a great association with elephants and how you can apply this to complex sales.
Ade spends time with Dave and Marie to explain his system and how it can help your business.
How do you move from being a good leader to a great leader?
How do you get the most out of your team?
How do you be in tune with your team so you can help spot blockers, remove road blocks and pull together as a team?
Just because you are there for your team does not mean you do their job but does mean you support them.
Answers to all of these and loads more supplied by today's guest Tamson Amara, Director of Amara Coaching & Training. Her insights in to human psyche, based on her training on the Chimp Paradox brings so much. Listen and hear what she has to say on how you can look to improve your leadership
Things are opening up but how can you gain the winning edge?
What steps should you be looking at doing within your business to catch the wave of activity?
What should you consider within your business?
Dave and Marie chat through their belief on how the economy has performed in the first quarter, how this current quarter is performing and how the next few months will pan out.
Then what steps you should be considering so you make the most of it, not to over extend and what you can do to make a difference to your business
What steps are you doing with your business to sneak ahead of the competition and maximise this opportunity?
What is Business Continuity?
How does it apply to my business?
Dave and Marie talk through 5 key areas you should consider to be provisioning for within your business.
Scarily more than 50% of businesses do not have a Business Continuity plan.
Even more scarily out of those that do, over 30% haven't even implemented it yet
Further scary stats that up to 20% of business actually test it.
Are you one of those businesses?
What should you be thinking about?
What areas should you cover?
Can you afford not to plan and implement one?
Ever fancied writing your own eBook?
How hard is it?
What do you do with it?
What should it be on?
Why should I bother to write an eBook?
Well Dave has asked these questions and decided to talk to Marie and Sue Grogan about it as they have written their own books.
Sue, who has appeared on the podcasts before talking about Wellbeing, and is a Director of Joined-up Working Associates. She has written a number of paperbacks but recently embarked on writing her own book, inspired by our Marie.
If you were to write an eBook, what would it be on?
Happy Anniversary to us! One year's of podcasting, so this one is so different
The show gets hijacked by Fahimah, Director of No7 Legal Services, who turns the tables on hosts Dave and Marie
Fahimah fires numerous questions on Dave & Marie to get a better understanding of who these hosts are.
Learn about Marie's shoe collection, Dave swimming with sharks, why and how they started Next Steps For Business, Red or Purple for Marie and confessions!
You'll learn about them, something you might not want to know!
Can any of you beat Dave's list of hobbies?
What is the Chimp Paradox?
How can it help me as a Business Owner?
A key aspect of leadership is understanding yourself and how your thoughts affect how you related to others, and how you manage/ direct others.
If you can assess and support your own thinking then you can begin to control the way you operate and then get the most out of those you are responsible.
In this podcast Dave & Marie are joined by Tamson Amara, Director of Arama Coaching & Training, who has oodles of experience working the area of this neurology having worked with Dr Steve Peters. Tamson explains how this can help you take control.
So we've all heard about Wellbeing, some people and businesses may even apply it, but why should your business have a Wellbeing Strategy? If people are well and turn up for work what's the point? Just another buzzword that's used at the moment?
Dave and Marie question that exact item in today's podcast. How do they resolve it?
They bring in Sue Grogan, Director of Joined-Up Working Associates. Sue has so many years of experience in Wellbeing that Dave and Marie can mine to get the answers we all want to know.
Sue covers the benefits of a business adopting and exercising a wellbeing strategy which aids business growth.
Want to know more? Listen to Sue, Dave and Marie discuss this critical topic.
Got any questions write to info@nextstepsfor.biz
Do you have a Business Plan?
If not, why not?
If so, when was the last time you reviewed it?
Why bother?
Well that's what this episode is all about
Marie asks Dave what are the benefits of reviewing your Business Plan, and Dave supplies 5 damn good reasons to review it.
As a business owner you need to have a good grasp on your business plan, it provides so much benefit to you and your business. Allows to to focus on what is important and ensures you have clear goals being achieved.
What are your reasons for having a business plan?
Why should you be held accountable? You run your own business so you answer to no one right?
Well apart from taxes and some demanding customers that's true ... but is it a good thing?
Being held accountable for company improvements, deliveries and profits is a good thing!
It drives you on, ensures you meet your goals and gets you the success you are craving for.
So how and more why?
Dave and Marie discuss the reasons that you should be held accountable and how you can set it up.
What are your best tips on being held accountable and how?
Contracts - Why should a small SME or solopreneur spend scarce money on drawing up contracts? What's in it for them? What could go wrong if you don't?
Aren't these legal eagles difficult to deal with? Charge you for lifting the phone?
Well hopefully this podcast changes your mindset on a number of these questions.
Dave and Marie are joined by Fahimah Adam, Director and Barrister from No 7 Legal Services
Fahmiah is approachable, well experienced and helps us myth bust a number of preconceived notions that we often form around the legal service.
Fahimah answers some tricky questions from Dave and Marie, including why you should consider have a contract and the benefit of it sat on a shelf. What is the worst that could happen if I don't have a contract? When should you consider drawing up a contract?
How often should you review your existing contracts?
Do you need a contract if you have insurance?
Forming and maintaining positive habits is a great way to operate in a successful way, which breeds a successful outcome.
In this episode Dave and Marie talk through 6 habits you should consider to adopt in your daily operations. Consciously adopting habits, working on good habits allows you to grow.
The 6 steps, all interwoven discussed in the podcast cover ones that all people can benefit from, especially Business Owners.
My favourite quote in this one? "When you're inside the jar you can't see the label ..." ... what was Marie on about? Have a listen
What are your good habits you have which you want to share with others?
A new budget for 2021 is launched by the British Government but how does it affect me and my business?
Dave and Marie talk through the various aspects of the business focusing on how it affects individuals, business owners and their businesses.
Marie uses her analysis to breakdown the vast array of items discussed in the budget and Dave asks those awkward questions you want answers to.
Dave also summarises it in less technical aspects which Marie can then flesh out.
Are you a winner or a loser in this budget?
Will the government sting you for a lot more tax just when you don't need it as you're trying to get on your feet or have they been more sympathetic?
Listen and find out!
What do you say when you want to build a relationship with a prospect or a new customer?
How do you get past the gatekeeper?
How should you prep?
Do you hammer the phone for 8 hours a day?
If you were to prepare for a call what do you need to think about?
If you're not sure, this podcast is for you.
Dave and Marie speak with Angela Padfield from Anicca Digital about those very questions. Angie is a tried and tested Sales Agent with many years of experience.
Angie speaks plainly about her approach to knocking down barriers, building rapper and a strong relationship with prospects and customers all in an aid to help you do the same.
Its tough in business at the moment and we all need as much help as we can to get things moving at the moment, so Dave and Marie have put their heads together and come up with 5 hacks which will stimulate business growth.
Without spilling the beans in this write up, I can let you know these are tips you can all do, that don't have to cost a fortune but will make a difference to your business.
Without business growth we have stagnation, shrinkage and ultimately collapse.
Which of the 5 hacks is your favourite?
Which one(s) have you applied to your business?
Share with us how it has made a difference to your business
Incentivising Sales People is a real can of worms
Pay them too much for little work and get little work out of them
Reward them too little and you demotivate them
Cap their earnings and you cap their work and sales
Give them a blank cheque and the business cannot afford it
So what do you do?
Well thankfully we have Andy Neal from Astute Sales Solutions join Dave and Marie to discuss his top tips on how you can get the right balance.
Dave and Marie bring in their experiences to Andy so its not all focused on how great Sales people are and as a result this podcast is a well rounded view on how you can motivate all players and not just the Sales Team but the Sales Team feel like they get a good deal.
What are your experiences in Sales and Sales Incentives?
From time to time things go wrong and when it does what do you do? Well having the right insurance policies can make the difference, but which one(s)?
To tackle this tricky, specialist area Dave and Marie speak to Andy Lees from
Secure insurance services about the different types of insurance you should consider getting for your business to ensure you are covered properly.
Andy uses his many years of experience to inform us all on what we can cover and how.
What insurance do you have for your business?
Part Deux... we pick up the conversation ...
How aware are you of other people and their feelings?
Through education we can begin to understand others and therefore collaborate which drives a business forward in to growth.
To continue this educational journey Dave and Marie are joined by Sandra Pollock OBE from Open Mind Training & Development and Katie Neeves from Cool2BTrans . These ladies have a warmth around them as well as a breadth of knowledge to help us learn what we need to be aware of.
This second instalment in the two parter covers tricky subjects or why BAME shouldn't be used. How to become a Trans Ally and how you can help to educate yourself.
How aware are you of other people and their feelings?
Through education we can begin to understand others and therefore collaborate which drives a business forward in to growth.
To commence this educational journey Dave and Marie are joined by Sandra Pollock OBE from Open Mind Training & Development and Katie Neeves from Cool2BTrans . These ladies have a warmth around them as well as a breadth of knowledge to help us learn what we need to be aware of.
With awareness and education we can build better working environments which promotes collaboration and therefore generates growth for the business. This was such a large topic and the ladies were so helpful we had to do a two parter.
How good are you at generating Sales Leads?
These leads are needed right? Without them how are we to keep the Sales Team busy? How else do we get money in to the business for sustainability as well as growth?
In this episode Dave and Marie talk through some great tips on how you can generate Sales Leads with the highly experienced Andy Neale from Astute Sales Solutions.
Andy has a vast array of experience working in and advising on Sales and Sales Management techniques. He talks through his top tips on generating Sales Leads and appropriate leads
What are your favourite routes to generating leads?
What do you know about HR? Does it matter within an organisation? How can HR help you running your business?
To tackle these questions and many more Dave and Marie invite Marion Parish from the Accidental Manager back on the show to talk through how HR can help look after your biggest asset, your staff. Even if you're a solo-preneur it is worth having a good idea on how understanding HR matters can make a difference to your business. Why? Well you will have customer who you can help and advise as well as seeing the benefits to your business as it grows.
Marion is a thoughtful professional who really understands the challenges of small businesses and helps them through tricky paths.
What tips do you have to help on HR Matters?
January and the new calendar brings us also the need for Self Assessment. Many business owners find this part of Finance Management a bit of a mystery, so Dave asks Marie to explain how this is all covered.
Marie picks through her Do's and Don'ts on self assessment. The Do's are great ways to ensure you get ahead of the curve and not drop it on your accountant at the last minute else you could end up with some nasty surprises, as well as giving them an impossible task.
Marie also breaks down some of the mystery associated with Self Assessment forms so you can gain from that experience. Dave does chip in with his helpful experience as well as insights in how the delivery will go.
What worries you on Self Assessment? Does your accountant explain what is covered and make it easy for you to complete it?
This is the New Year's Eve Podcast!
By now you should have a new plan for the forthcoming year but if you're struggling with ideas or need a a sense check the you've covered all bases we've put this podcast together to help you listeners a chance to cross check your plan.
Dave and Marie go through their top tips on planning the forthcoming year and activity you should be considering as you review your work completed in 2020.
Remember sort out someone who can hold you accountable for your actions, your plans and help you with success. Unsure who can help? Drop them a line on info@nextstepsfor.biz for ideas
Additionally, remember Keep On Keeping On
Finally, wishing you all a Happy New Year, may 2021 be your year!
It's Christmas!!!
So out on Christmas Eve, it only seems right n proper for Dave and Marie to summarise what's been happening in a Round Robin.
Shout outs to the 19 guests we've hd over the 45 episodes (35 for the core podcast and 10 on the Chaos Chronicles).
So gather your eggnog, put on the fire, turn it up as you remember the odd year we've had, but the great topics we've covered.
Which episode is your favourite?
We've all dabbled with Social Media, sometimes with a bit of a plan, but how well is it planned?
As it is such an important and necessary strategy, Dave and Marie have brought in their favourite Social Media Queen Karen Cureton, Director of Cureton Consulting. She kindly provided her advice on how to set up your social media planning for the coming year.
Karen covers some much planning advice and how you can bring it in to your plans.
What's the difference between Personal Strategy and Personal Development?
Dave and Marie are joined by Sandra Pollock, Director of Open mind Consultancy who breaks open the mystery of Personal Strategy and how it can allow you to make your life more profitable.
Sandra has so much experience in helping individuals become the best they can be by showing them how to develop and set a personal strategy to make the most of their life.
Also in this episode we explore the different areas in your life you can set your goals so you exceed.
What tips for making the most of life do you have?
You're busy, I'm busy, we're all busy. One way of coping with too busy is outsourcing but what to outsource?
In this episode Dave and Marie talk through the who's, what's, why's and how's of outsourcing.The not only summarise it in the early part of the show but then break it down so you consider all aspects properly rather than abdicate all responsibility. This detail allows you to form a mental checklist of steps you need to perform
Also touch on what they mean by Fit For Purpose
What do you outsource?
Are you being effective in outsourcing?
Loads of use Social Media for lead generation as well as setting up business contacts, but do we always get it right?
In our experience the answer is no. So what are some of the Dos and Don'ts on how to conduct yourself on Social Media? Dave and Marie bring the Social Media Queen herself Karen Cureton of Cureton Consulting for advice on what you should and shouldn't do on Social Media. They talk through approaching people, posting and purpose.
What are your top tips for social media etiquette?
What really grinds your gears on LinkedIn? What makes your blood boil on Facebook?
As part of our review of the Exit Strategy, we wanted to review what you can do with the money you make from your business. A popular one is the investment in property, be it "the flip" or buy to let approach. Also how you can invest, revamp and then draw money out of it but still own it, therefore gain an income from the property.
Dave and Marie invited Stuart and Natalie from NS Property Solvers. They outline options you have on SPO, MO and various other acronyms, as well as additional considerations on how you can make money in the property game. They will outline the basic premise of the investment, how you can structure your investments and then tackle how to minimise your chance of landing nightmare tenants.
Are you an Accidental Manager?
Do you struggle to get people to do what you have asked the to?
How easy is it for you to get your team to deliver on time?
Delegation or abdication?
How do you track on progress?
In this episode Dave and Marie talk to Marion Parrish from the Accidental Manager on The Art of Delegation. Marion helps people learn how to delegate, especially if they are new to management. She then reveals her 6 step list strategy at improving delegation. Her approach is refreshing, covering a key aspect we all need to be the best we can. Her discussion on communication and how you need to be clear that both parties understand the task needed to be completed, the importance of it and what the deadline is. Then the manager needs to follow this up, to ensure the deputised person is on the right lines, not hitting blockers and if so, to help remove them then ensure deadlines will be hit.
Do you know when to under take a project? Is it worth making an investment in your business? Do you spend the time or the money on the activity?
It simply comes down to doing a Cost Benefit Analysis on the task.
Dave and Marie discuss what is Cost Benefit Analysis, how it can help your business and why you should consider it.
As you will find out how it can be introduced in to your working practises and ensure you get the biggest bang for your buck or even if you should do it at all.
Regular listeners will know that Personal Development is a favourite of Dave's. In this episode Dave and Marie invite Personal Development Coach Sandra Pollock on to talk through the difference between Personal Development and Personal Strategy. Sandra also explains how and when you should think about Personal Development.
Sandra's skills in personal development coaching come out in this episode as Dave and Marie ask her about the benefits and tactics on personal development.
How often does Marie get a word in? Listen and find out!
Planning for your future should have already started but in case you haven't considered that already then this podcast is for you.
We have previously talked with Marie on Tax matters and have spoken with Lindsey Atterbury on the legal sides for your future so to complete the holy trinity of future planning it makes sense that we now cover Financial Advice. In this episode Dave and Marie speak with Andy Goulter from Mattioli Woods about future considerations, how planning now makes a difference to the future, how much you typically need to have saved up to cover your needs etc. Furthermore, Andy tackles some tough questions from Dave and Marie as well as Dave not quite answering the question on how much he thinks he needs to cover his retirement.
What steps have you taken to cover your retirement?
Have you considered it as part of your Exit Strategy?
What tips do you have for your future which you can share with others?
How efficient are you?
What benefits can you gain by improving your efficiency?
What steps can you perform or review to gain efficiencies?
These questions and many more, Dave and Marie cover to help your company become more efficient and why you should do it.
To be fair efficiency is a constant battle. You need to keep reviewing your working practices to ensure you are not wasting effort and to maximise profits.
Are there any additional areas you look at that improve your efficiency?
Marketing is a mousive subject so Dave and Marie revisit the topic but today they are joined by Steve Brown from ROI Online.
Steve has been helping entrepreneurs, SMEs and large corporations with their marketing. In this interview, Steve candidly covers some of his top tips. He talks about serving his customers, the challenges you face as a business owner and what need to do.
What are your top tips for Business Success? Have you given this some thought?
Dave and Marie go through their favourite top tips on what business success practices they have taken used over their many years of improving businesses.
They cover considerations around Dave's favourite topic business plan, Marie's cash flow, efficiencies and many more
Marie also touches on her key strategies for profitability.
It also includes some cheesy phrases, can you spot them?
One thing you can't buy is time. So Dave and Marie bring in Alex Slack from The House Of Lifestyle Management and pick her brains on her top tips to manage your time. There are confessions, tips and structure so you can improve your time management and get those important items done.
Alex has worked in a whole host of different, demanding environments where key deliverables have been time sensitive. She's made this skill in to her business. So if anyone can encourage you to be more time efficient then Alex can.
What tips do you have for making the most of your time?
Can you believe it, but its 6 months on since Lockdown was first banded around and the daily commute was chopped. There's been a lot of change over these months, some good and some bad.
Dave and Marie take this opportunity to review some of the changes which have affected the over this period. They revel in how some businesses have capitalised and been entrepreneurial in moving their business to survive in these changes. They also highlight businesses that failed to adapt and the repercussions of this.
How has your business changed?
How have you changed?
What good things have you seen from this change?
Communication with prospective clients is so important and allows you to build a bond with your clients so you can develop the Know-Like-Trust process, however not everyone follows this relationship process.
Dave and Marie talk through both good and bad etiquette on communication covering social media, emails and other communication mediums.
What gets your goat on approaches?
What do you think is a good approach?
Why not share with Dare and Marie
We have discussed about branding previously but how important are the images we use to help promote our business? Should we simply use the Stock Images available on a number of great sites or should we go bespoke?
When is a good time to use our own in house photography/ mobile phone/ DSLR? When should we bring in a professional?
These are great questions and need to be answered, so Dave and Marie bring in the help of Professional Photographer, Videographer and Drone Pilot, Mr John Cooper.
John has been helping businesses get an edge in their marketing for so many years with his marketing knowledge and more recently professional photographer.
Let John weave you through the difficult questions on when to do it in house and when to outsource.
John covers many aspects on shot framing, subject selection and considerations.
What steps do you take when selecting your image?
We have all made small changes in our life and routine which have either deliberately or inadvertently made a big difference, say cutting out that chocolate bar, walking a bit further or started talking to strangers and made a new friend.
In this episode Dave and Marie talk through considering to change your filter or paradigm. Dave explains by what he means on this and how it can be down to us and how we interpret situations based on our previous experiences that will colour this filter.
Dave talks through different people you can mix with will help you start to see the world differently. Even if you can't socialise with millionaires and billionaires to see how they see the world, then do spend time with others and understand how they see the world to see if it can enhance yours
Dave then goes on to explain how reading self improvement books can bring a new view on life. This again can benefit you, assuming you apply it to your behaviour.
What books have changed your world?
Which individuals changed your view on life?
What was it that they had that you hadn't considered?
Who do you inspire?
Do you feel your life is out of balance and unsure why? Do you feel you are lacking in certain areas but can't work out why?
In this episode Dave and Marie talk through the concept of the Wheel of Life.
Looking at each facet of your life and gain a prospective of where you are with your life and how you can improve it. It starts with the first step.
How does your wheel look?
Does it give you a clearer view on where you are and what you can do to change things for the best?
Are you procrastinating? Have you hit a plateau, running out of steam or wondering if your hobby could be your next job, but need some inspiration? You've found the podcast you've been looking for.
Dave and Marie speak to Bill Lonero, guitarist band member, song writer, author, photographer, screen play writer, inventor...
Bill talks through his inspirations, his process on how he wrote 2 books, invented the Straplock (which he got endorsed by Joe Satriani), why he learned the guitar, how he's progressed his photography.
At the end of this podcast I hope you've got the idea, Just Do It!
www.straplock.com
www.royalrebelsband.com
Having trouble working on how to price your product?
Are you aware of different pricing strategies?
Dave and Marie discuss the various different pricing strategies that are deployed by companies as well as the reasons for this.
Probably one of the most inclusive lists they have covered on pricing.
Which style of pricing do you adopt?
Will this podcast get you to rethink your pricing strategy?
What sort of mindset do you need to have to be "good" at Sales? What makes a good salesperson? As a business owner how do you motivate your sales team?
Dave and Marie are rejoined by Andy Neal of Astute Sales Solutions. Andy's previous visit to our podcast was so popular (3rd highest to date) so we had to get him back. Furthermore, Andy has a wealth of knowledge after he's been doing this for so long. Additionally, he's so happy to share this information to all our listeners.
How do you motivate your sales staff?
Do you like doing sales?
How do you get in to the right mindset?
Andy will get you a few useful tips.
As businesses in the UK start to open up the offices, shops and factories, further change is being felt by the workforce. This change generate anxiety and stress for returning people. This can be because of the concern of public transport, close proximity in the work place or meeting others after such a long break.
Dave and Marie bring in Linda from Sanamente Hypnotherapy on what to expect, how to identify within yourself and your colleagues or workforce. Linda also provides some great advice on what to do about it
How have you or are you coping with mixing again?
We all know without Sales then there's no business, but how do people get to hear about your business? You got it, Promotion.
This episode Dave and Marie kick around business promotion, approach, thoughts and how you join up some of the previous episodes in to your promotion plan. This episode is footloose and full of fun as you hear the rapport these two have as well as the thought they put in to everything from their website, business cards as well as branding all in the pursuit of promoting their business to gain the life blood of the company, Sales.
What are your thoughts on saying thank you to people who have recommended your services or products? Would you consider giving cash? A bottle of champagne? A phone call? Do you bother at all?
Exit Strategy - Do you know the key items needed when it comes to exiting your business?
In this episode Dave and Marie go through some of the key aspects of exit strategy and focus on the Legal Aspects needed to be managed when exiting your business. They are joined by the highly capable Lindsey from LA Private Client.
Ok we all know what branding is right? No, we don't mean what happens to cattle, we mean for businesses. Branding is more than just a clever logo but the whole feel and approach, but how do you get it right?
Rather than relying on Dave and Marie's idea on what branding is, we have brought in David Major, Chief of Creative Design. David goes to great lengths to explain the benefits of a great brand, what it means to a business and how it can help your business.
Warning: This podcast is likely to change the way you see your brand!
In our fourth and final wellbeing episode in this Wellbeing mini series, Dave and Marie are joined by Sue Grogan from Joined Up Work tackling the importance of Wellbeing within the work place.
Sue, a long experienced carer and wellbeing expert talks extensively about how critical it is the support from friends, family and colleagues. She reminds us all about, as business leaders and owners we need to remember to support our workforce, look for signs in disconnection or areas of concern.
Leadership, we all know having a strong leader at the helm can make a big difference to the fortunes of a company. Great Leaders are not just born but have worked exceptionally hard on their skillsets. However, as a budding Great Leader which attributes should you work on?
Dave and Marie invite Mark Tonks from Orange And Blue on to the show to discuss his top attributes of a Great Leader.
Mark has been training people in Leadership for over 20 years and knows a thing or two on what makes a great leader
In our third of four programs dedicated to Wellbeing, Dave and Marie bring in another personal story from Simon Smith, General Manager of Aston Wood Golf Club.
Simon, a professional athlete for many years, covering operating at the highest levels for gymnastics, then on to high levels within Shotan Karate, cage fighting, and other martial arts. Then Simon got the golfing bug, and became a professional golfer.
With such success how could this man's man succumb to mental health issues?
Listen and find out
Dave and Marie take on the Get Savvy Girls, Anna and Anita to go in to depths about how to get the most out of Social Media.
Anna expands on why Social Media is fantastic for businesses, to build your personal profile and to knock down the barriers which will help with sales.
Get Savvy are a bag of energy and loads of get up n go. See if you can last to the end of the episode and soak up all that they share with you
The second in our mini series on Wellbeing and Mental Health. This time Dave and Marie are joined by Linda Nevill from Santa Mente Hypnotherpay, a professional therapist who specialises in Wellbeing.
Linda takes time to explain how common people often get stressed and anxious. That it is normal to have these feelings and quite healthy for short periods of time. She also outlines areas we should consider to undertake if we are experiencing these feelings
Websites, we all know that we need an online presence and how important it is to have your website. The question is, how easy is it to maintain yourself? Should it be an in-house activity or outsourced? What key aspects should you consider? SEO what should we be doing? Dave and Marie talk to Jon Langford, MD of Charnwood Web Design. He imparts his business and web knowledge to assist us through the questions around website and things you should be considering.
Wellbeing and good Mental Health are close to Dave and Marie's heart. They kick off a 4 episode sub series on Wellbeing and Mental Health, as these are critical for business leaders and their staff In this episode, we hear from Gareth Robinson, The Design Pit, on the struggle he had with Mental Health and his story.
If any of the items brought up in this story resonate with you and your predicament please seek professional health. Don't become another statistic. Need help? Contact us info@nextstepsfor.biz and we will help you connect with a professional to help you.
Ok so what is Furlough? We've touched on it before, but with the recent changes, come on Marie tell me all about it, says Dave.
Well Dave and Marie bring in the Accidental Manager Coach, Marion Parris, a lady well experienced in HR matters. She brings us the latest update in Furlough claims and deadlines. She also covers the various criteria required for easing of lockdown support, how the back to work process should be considered and also raises some interesting points on are you bringing the right people back, not discriminating anyone?
Finding the continued lockdown stressful? Are you becoming anxious of when the lockdown is lifted? Worried about your business whilst we're in lockdown? Do you have a plan when the barrier is lifted and it is starting to stress you out?
Dave and Marie discuss various steps you can take to reduce your stress and anxiety allowing you to make more controlled decisions for yourself and your business.
Get in touch with us about the things that are stressing you out for your business, social life and daily life.
Feel like you don't get enough done in a day, a week or a month? Not meeting deadlines?Dave and Marie walk through Marie's top tips for improving productivity. Guaranteed that you apply some of these already and most you'll already be aware of but either learning something new or being reminded of ones you knew but forget to apply, is a great way to boost your productivity.
Look to get more done that you want to get done, in less time or improve your deadline meeting, by remembering these tips and see your productivity improve
Dave and Marie continue with the Chaos Chronicles and look at 10 Tax Top Tips to aid businesses to survive during COVID 19.
Marie uses her Tax Geek knowledge to consolidate all of the Tax Advice and Government updates and lists the top 10 Tax Tips. It's so important to ensure your business doesn't over pay tax and for the business owners to stay on top of the latest changes in the law. This podcast helps you to understand what needs to be considered.
We all know Cash is King, and profit is sanity but money owed doesn't pay the creditor. Dave interviews Marie on what to look out for in business to ensure your cash flow is always positive.
Marie outlines her favourite steps to keep cash flow in the black and out of the red.
What steps do you take to keep your cash flow positively?
Remote Working has become very popular in this lockdown period but for some people its still confusing on what options are available. Dave and Marie talk through not only what it means but also some top tips when remote working, to boost your productivity, to give your best performance and items to consider so you continue to sound and look professional.
Let us know what your top tips are for Remote Working
Dave and Marie start to tackle the tricky subject of Social Media by talking with Social Media Queen, Karen Cureton, from Cureton Consulting.
Karen's passion for Social Media is evident and provides some top tips for what you should be thinking about on your social media strategy.
They look at three social media channels in this podcast including LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter, arguably the three top used mediums.
Have you got your strategy clear on Social Media? If not listen to see what top tips can you can pick up.
Got questions on this or other subjects? Why not email Dave and Marie on info@nextstepsfor.biz
Dave and Marie continue with the Chaos Chronicles and look at 10 Top Tips for Business Survival of COVID19
These are difficult times for businesses to operate and as a result need all the help they can in order to operate. Marie and Dave look at Marie's top 10 tips to help businesses survive in these difficult times.
Dave and Marie are joined by Andy Neal from Astute Sales Solutions who helps cover his top 3 Sales Techniques, helping business owners and leaders things to consider with their approach to Sales and Sales Strategy.
Sales, well everything starts with Sales and in fact without the Sale the rest of the process is pretty mute.
Andy, involved with sales for over 30 years, provides 3 clear insights in to the profession of Sales and how you need to approach it.
Dave and Marie discuss the available COVID-19 Government Assistance for Businesses.
There's plenty of government help to keep businesses keeping on, but what are they? What caps are in place? How do you qualify? Is there special support for entertainment or nursery oriented businesses?
Dave questions Marie on all of this and much more.
Another great podcast from Next Steps For Business.
Dave and Marie kick off the Next Steps for Business Podcast series outlining who they are, why Next Steps for Business is worth listening to and a sneak preview on what will be coming up in the new podcast series.