The Secret to Building Business Communities That Truly Change Lives

Business Networking From Amstrad to AI: Thomas Power's Journey at the Cutting EdgeIn this episode of the Business Growth Podcast, powered by ActionCOACH UK, we welcome Thomas Power – a tech pioneer, futurist, and master networker. Over nearly four decades, Thomas has worked with the likes of Alan Sugar, Michael Dell, and senior leaders at Microsoft, while building global communities that shaped the foundations of LinkedIn.Thomas has always lived “on the edge” of business and technology. As he says:“Always stay on the edge, always on the front line. Otherwise you miss it.”This conversation covers everything from AI to Bitcoin, from Twitter/X to LinkedIn, and why community may be the last thing humans truly have left.Key Highlights and Quotes from Thomas Power:On working with Alan Sugar at Amstrad in the 1980s:“I learned about gross margin. I learned about cash flow. I learned about preservation of cash and reserve cash… and I learned about the pain of customer service. Selling a hundred thousand computers a month with no call centre or CRM - it was brutal.”On Twitter/X being the front line of knowledge:“All the best minds in the world are on Twitter. You’ve got to be reading it one or two hours a day to stay on the edge. Otherwise you miss it.”“It’s the most advanced platform ever created - way ahead of Facebook.”On Elon Musk:“Whether you like him or not, he’s the highest-performing individual in business on the planet. He started with nothing and built it all between 21 and 51. And now he owns Twitter.”On networking with the greats:“Fly with the eagles and you’ll become one. From Alan Sugar I met Michael Dell. I worked with directors at Microsoft. These brilliant minds taught me lessons I’ve carried for life.”On Michael Dell (1987 meeting):“I spent four mind-blowing hours with him at Olympia when he was just 21. He wasn’t focused on Amstrad - he was going after IBM and Compaq. I told Alan Sugar, ‘He’s cleverer than you are.’ And time proved it.”On what’s next (his A-B-C):“AI, Bitcoin, and Community. One is about automation. One is about money. And one is about the last thing left for humans - community.”On Bitcoin:“You get the price of Bitcoin you deserve to pay. Some bought at $1, some at $200, some at $5,000. Today it’s $120,000. By the end of the decade it’ll be $1 million. By 2050, $50 million.”On community vs networking:“Networking is about hunting down information, contacts and deals. Community is about emotional support, identity, and belonging. One is a hunter, the other a farmer. My wife Penny is the farmer - I’m the hunter.”On his legacy:“When I’m dead, I want to be known simply as a networker. I love connecting people. That’s what I’ve always done.”On the risk of falling behind:“If you miss a nudge in tech, you’re dead. The tech minds rule the world now - not politicians, not CEOs. Less than 400 people globally are really shaping the future. And I study them every day.”This isn’t just a podcast episode - it’s a rare chance to hear the lived experience of someone who’s been at the front line of tech revolutions for nearly 40 years. From the early PC boom, to the rise of online communities, to today’s AI-driven future, Thomas Power has always asked one question: What’s next?🔔 Subscribe to the Business Growth Podcast for weekly insights from world-class entrepreneurs, leaders, and thinkers.👉 Want the tools and coaching to scale your business? Visit actioncoach.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Can Building Business Communities Change Lives?In this inspiring episode of the Business Growth Podcast, powered by ActionCOACH UK, we sit down with Penny Power OBE, entrepreneur, author, and co-founder of Ecademy, the world’s first social network for business owners.Back in 1998, long before LinkedIn, Facebook, or Twitter, Penny and her husband Thomas created a global network of over 650,000 entrepreneurs. Their mission wasn’t profit; it was about connection, trust, and friendship in business.Penny shares how community can transform businesses, but also opens up about the struggles behind the headlines: financial stress, identity, and the mental health challenges that come with carrying responsibility for others.She reminds us that “people bring their childhood into the boardroom” and that business is always personal.In this episode, you’ll learn:- The three ingredients of powerful communities- It’s not about you, it’s about the members.- Help people feel significant. “The best gift you can give anyone is to help them feel significant.” - Build culture through love and vulnerability. “Culture eats strategy for breakfast. Get the culture right, and everything else follows.”- Why success without truth can be damaging. Penny says: “The gap between identity and truth is where so much pain lies.”- How contribution and reciprocity drive belonging. “Community doesn’t exist without people contributing, but contribution looks different for everyone.”- The role of love in leadership. “Love is not soft; it gives you courage.”- Why vulnerability is strength, not weakness. “If you want to build trust, you have to allow people to see your truth.”How to ask better questions to build connection:- What are you most proud of?- What’s something you’ve dared to overcome?- What experience has shaped who you are?Penny also reflects on family, resilience, and what legacy really means: “Allow everybody to be who they are and be connected to one another. That is my definition of family.”This is more than a story of building a business. It’s about rethinking how we lead, how we connect, and how we measure success.Grab a pen and paper. This conversation is packed with wisdom every business owner, leader, or entrepreneur can apply today.🎧 Listen now to discover how to build communities that create impact, trust, and long-term business success.👉 Subscribe and hit the notification bell for weekly insights from the world’s #1 business coaching team. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Power Family: 5 Entrepreneurs. 1 Hidden Ingredient.In this episode of the Business Growth Podcast, powered by ActionCOACH UK, we step inside the lives of a truly remarkable family.Meet Penny Power OBE, who built online business networks before LinkedIn ever existed. Thomas Power, a tech and community leader with 40 years on the front line. Hanna Power, helping leaders create personal brands with purpose. TJ Power, a neuroscientist showing people how to take back control of their brains. And Ross Power, proving AI can be about making us more human.Individually, they’re impressive. Together, they’re extraordinary.This conversation covers love, belief, failure, resilience, and what really holds a family of entrepreneurs together. You’ll hear how parental presence shaped confidence, how jealousy and comparison were transformed into inspiration, and how each of them learned powerful lessons from their biggest mistakes.They open up about:The role of unconditional love in achievement and resilienceHow presence matters more than outcomes in parentingLearning from failures that cost businesses time, money, and potentialThe dangers of desperation and arrogance in business decisionsWhy doubling down on strengths beats fixing weaknessesThe importance of defining your own version of successHow to balance ambition with family prioritiesWhy silliness and humour can be powerful teaching toolsFor parents, entrepreneurs, and business leaders, this episode is full of practical wisdom and human insight.This is not just a story of business success — it’s about the hidden ingredient that fuels it all: love.Don’t just listen for strategies. Listen for the lessons that can change the way you approach business, family, and life itself. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why Your Business Needs To Be Irresistible with Daniel Priestley | Business Growth PodcastIn this episode of the Business Growth Podcast, host James Vincent sits down with bestselling author, entrepreneur, and thought leader Daniel Priestley at Sky Studios. Daniel has built, scaled, and sold companies across the world, and his books Key Person of Influence, Oversubscribed, and Entrepreneur Revolution have influenced thousands of entrepreneurs.This isn’t theory, it’s real-world experience. Daniel shares why many business owners work harder than ever yet earn less, and how rethinking productivity, branding, and team structures can change everything.“People don’t buy what you do. They buy the assessment that shows them the path of least resistance from where they are to where they want to be.” — Daniel PriestleyWhat You’ll Discover in This Episode- Why fun is a biological signal of productivity and how teams can use it to unlock creativity.- How personal branding has become 20x more powerful than company branding in today’s market.- Why scorecard marketing is the next big thing (and how to use it in both sales and recruitment).- The difference between teams and talent—and why high-performance companies are built around a small group of extraordinary people.- How AI has already changed recruitment and business models—and why every business must adapt or risk being left behind.- The simple frameworks for scaling: the 2-person scout team, 4-person firestarter team, 8-person core team, and 30-person performance team.- Why finding unmet needs in your market can unlock explosive growth.- Why live events, from private dinners to webinars, still outperform pre-recorded content in building trust and authority.Highlights from the ConversationDaniel explains why the old “work harder” mantra doesn’t work anymore:“Productivity isn’t coming from labour. It’s coming from insights, technology, and connecting the dots. If you’re only working hard, you’re not even playing the right game.”On building a personal brand:“For 10 years I built other people’s brands. Then I realised the future belongs to those who step into the spotlight. You need to be a key person of influence in your industry if you want to attract real talent.”On AI disruption:“The business you had in 2025 is dead. You must reinvent around AI—speed to value is everything now.”On scorecard marketing:“Don’t sell the treatment plan. Sell the assessment first. Doctors don’t start with surgery—they start with the scan. Businesses should too.”On scaling with small teams:“An 8-person team today can do what used to take hundreds. With the right leverage and tech, small groups can create seven figures in profit.”On unmet needs:“Touch the raw nerve and you can have one year that pays for the whole decade. Most businesses exist, but the ones that explode are the ones solving a problem no one else has cracked.”🎙 Powered by ActionCOACH Business CoachingThe help you need to grow your business:👉 https://business.actioncoach.co.uk📺 Sponsored by AdSmart from SkyGrow your business through the power of TV advertising:👉 https://www.adsmartfromsky.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Mindset of a Champion: From Coma to Gold Medal with Georgie BrayshawWhat does it take to come back from a devastating accident, when doctors tell you that you may never walk again, and go on to become an Olympic Champion?In this powerful episode of the ActionCOACH Business Growth Podcast, Georgie Brayshaw shares her journey from a nine-day coma at the age of 15 to standing on the podium with an Olympic gold medal. Her story is one of grit, sacrifice, resilience, and the relentless belief that anything is possible if you refuse to quit.Georgie opens up about:- The horse-riding accident that changed her life overnight.- Waking up paralysed on one side and fighting to return to school.- Training for years without funding, juggling jobs, and pushing through rejection.- Winning Olympic gold by just 0.15 seconds—a race decided by the finest of margins.- The daily disciplines, sacrifices, and mindset that made it possible.- Why her mantra “I can, I will, watch me” is something every business leader can apply.- How to learn from failure, analyse setbacks, and come back stronger.- The role of support systems, from her husband Ash to her teammates, in achieving the impossible.- What it really takes to stay motivated at the highest level, even when the odds are stacked against you.This is more than a sporting story, it’s a blueprint for resilience and success in business and life. Whether you’re leading a company, chasing personal goals, or overcoming your own challenges, Georgie’s message is clear: never give up.👉 Subscribe and turn on notifications to hear more inspiring stories from Olympic champions, entrepreneurs, and business leaders who share what it really takes to succeed.🎧 Listen to more episodes of the ActionCOACH Business Growth Podcast for practical lessons from elite performers and business leaders.🎙 Powered by ActionCOACH Business CoachingThe help you need to grow your business:👉 https://business.actioncoach.co.uk📺 Sponsored by AdSmart from SkyGrow your business through the power of TV advertising:👉https://www.adsmartfromsky.co.uk/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Master Persuasion and Transform Your Communication into SalesWant to sell more without feeling “salesy”? In this masterclass conversation, Andy Bounds, award-winning sales and communication expert, bestselling author of The Jelly Effect and The Snowball Effect – shares practical, proven strategies to boost your sales through better communication.You’ll discover:- Why great sales is simply great communication- The five habits of the best communicators- How to ask for the sale without fear or awkwardness- The “afters” concept – the game-changing mindset that makes people buy- Proven scripts for closing deals- How to ask for referrals in a way that feels natural- Building referral networks that work while you sleep- The characteristics of top-performing sales partners- How to handle objections (especially price) with confidence- Networking that gets results without the pushy pitch- Using AI in sales – what works, what doesn’t- The importance of practice and preparation in building skillsPacked with real-life examples, word-for-word scripts, and techniques you can apply immediately, this episode will help you:- Increase sales without adding pressure- Build stronger, longer-lasting client relationships- Generate more referrals from happy customers- Stand out in networking situations- Communicate with clarity, confidence, and impactAbout Andy BoundsAndy has worked with some of the world’s largest organisations to transform their communication and sales results. Blind in one eye since birth, his unique perspective on seeing the world through others’ eyes has shaped his approach to selling, influence, and building trust. His books are recommended reading for sales and leadership professionals worldwide.If you want to:- Close more deals- Get more referrals- Overcome objections with ease- Build a powerful personal and business network…this is an episode you’ll want to watch from start to finish. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Discover how to buy profitable UK businesses with little or no money down and turn them into wealth-building machines. In this powerful episode, Brad Sugars, Founder of ActionCOACH and the world’s number one business coach, reveals the once-in-a-generation opportunity hidden in plain sight: the Baby Boomer business sell-off.There are up to 700,000 UK companies whose owners are ready to retire, many willing to finance the deal themselves. Brad explains step-by-step how to find these businesses, negotiate seller finance, double profits, and sell for massive gains. You’ll learn why trades like plumbing, contracting and local services will boom for decades, how to roll up companies to attract venture capital, and why repeat customers are your golden ticket.But business is just one pillar of lasting wealth. Brad shares his proven real estate strategies — from buying older properties with huge potential, to using tenants to pay down your mortgage, to refinancing for exponential growth. He even covers the third pillar, investing in stocks and innovative companies that shape the future.This isn’t theory. Brad has done it across industries — from restaurants to breweries — and now he’s teaching you exactly how to do the same. If you’ve ever wanted financial freedom, the ability to build generational wealth, and the know-how to spot high-value deals before anyone else, you cannot miss this.Watch now to learn how to:• Buy companies with no personal capital• Build multi-million-pound portfolios in record time• Use property to create passive, compounding income• Spot future-proof investments and avoid wealth-destroying mistakesYour opportunity to build real wealth is here. To spend a week with brad and learn how to generate real wealth, click here: https://uk.thebizx.co.uk/entrepreneur-2025 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Think you're just "checking your phone"? Think again. In this eye-opening episode, author of Screen Addict and founder of Rebel Therapy, Munur Shah exposes the shocking truth behind screen addiction, why your kids are more vulnerable than ever, and how you can take back control.This isn’t anti-tech. It’s pro-awareness. And it’s a wake-up call every parent, teacher, and screen-scroller needs.Inside this powerful conversation:- Are you addicted? Why we pick up our phones 366 times a day- The hidden science apps use to hook your brain (dopamine, triggers, conditioning)- Why your kids are seeing more than you think — and what to do about it- The Rebel Phone — a new UK-led solution for safer screen time- The one daily question that opens your child up emotionally- How emotional intelligence is the real superpower in a tech-driven world- Why you need to set the example — before it’s too lateThis is the episode you'll wish you watched sooner.If you’re a parent, educator, or just tired of being ruled by your screen — don’t miss this.✅ Subscribe for more no-filter, high-impact conversations💡 Comment below with your biggest realisation📲 Share this with someone who needs a screen resetPowered By ActionCOACH Business Coaching: The Help You Need to Grow Your Business: https://business.actioncoach.co.uk/This episode is sponsored by selfpublishing.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Untold Stories and Strategies of Drayton Bird: A Must-Watch for MarketersWhat happens when one of the greatest marketing minds in history takes the stage? You get this.In this unmissable episode of the ActionCOACH Business Growth Podcast, recorded live at Sky Studios, the legendary Drayton Bird delivers 77 minutes of pure gold. With over six decades in the marketing world and experience writing for American Express, working with David Ogilvy, and training the likes of Rory Sutherland, Drayton doesn’t hold back.He shares untold stories, timeless strategies, and raw lessons that every marketer, business owner, and copywriter should hear. This isn’t theory. This is real-world insight from someone who’s been in the trenches.From headlines that double response rates to the brutal truth about why most copy fails, Drayton reveals what actually works and why human nature is the one thing marketers must understand if they want results.Expect laughs. Expect brutal honesty. Expect notes.🔥 What You’ll Learn:Why “Now, New, and Free” are still the three most powerful words in copywritingHow to start your message in a way that actually grabs attentionThe fatal mistake most marketers make (and how to avoid it)How Drayton helped Rory Sutherland become a copywriter despite company resistanceWhy empathy matters more than cleverness in marketingThe truth about emotion, AI, and what machines will never replicateWhat Drayton learned from writing about things he knew nothing about and why it made him betterHow storytelling, curiosity, and generosity fuel the best marketing campaigns🎯 Who’s It For?Business owners who want to grow faster without fluffMarketers looking to sharpen their edgeCopywriters who care about conversion, not just clevernessAnyone tired of jargon and looking for straight talk that works🧠 About Drayton Bird:Drayton is a pioneer of direct response marketing, author of Commonsense Direct and Digital Marketing, and former Worldwide Creative Director at Ogilvy. He’s written for over 1,000 clients in more than 50 countries — including American Express, Microsoft, and Mercedes-Benz.He also:Built the UK’s largest direct marketing agencyWas personally hired by David Ogilvy after writing a bold letter to Campaign magazineHelped train many of today’s top marketers and copywritersThis episode isn’t just a podcast it’s a masterclass and a history lesson all rolled into one.🎧 Listen now and take notes or miss out on insights you won’t hear anywhere else.👀 Don’t forget to subscribe for more episodes packed with straight-talking business growth strategies.🎙 Powered by ActionCOACH Business CoachingThe help you need to grow your business:👉 https://business.actioncoach.co.uk📺 Sponsored by AdSmart from SkyGrow your business through the power of TV advertising:👉https://www.adsmartfromsky.co.uk/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What can people achieve together? This episode explores the power of collective intelligence and collaboration. Richard Jacobs shares insights on team building and leadership, highlighting the importance of a growth mindset to achieve goals. Discover how to channel collective intelligence to solve problems.What if your next team meeting could unlock 5,000 years of experience?That’s not a metaphor. It’s collective intelligence, and Richard Jacobs shows you how to harness it.In this powerful, practical, and real-world conversation, Richard Jacobs, performance coach, author, and expert in purpose-led leadership - shares how to shift the way your business thinks, meets, and grows.From immersive theatre challenges and working with Google to helping organisations rewire culture, Richard explains how to:Turn meetings into momentumTap into the combined wisdom of your teamShift from performance to Opus—your life’s workLead with purpose that energises and connectsFacilitate collaboration instead of forcing controlWhether you're leading a business, growing a team, or asking “What am I really here to do?”—this episode will challenge and inspire you.🔑 What You’ll Learn:✅ How to unlock 5,000+ years of wisdom in your team✅ Why most meetings drain energy and how to fix them✅ How to calculate your team’s Potential Collective Intelligence✅ How to use “Yes, and…” to fuel momentum and trust✅ What it means to live your Opus and how to find yours✅ Why your legacy starts long before you think it does👤 About Richard Jacobs:Richard started in theatre and TV before building one of Europe’s biggest extreme sports distributors by 26. Since then, he’s trained over 400,000 people, worked with Google, Decathlon, and elite athletes, and helped organisations shift from process-driven to people-powered. His book, Find Your Purpose in 7 Questions, has reached readers across the globe.💬 Notable Quotes:“If you’ve got 10 people in a meeting with 10 years’ experience each, that’s 100 years of potential. But if one person dominates, you’re only accessing 10% of it.”“It’s over 5,000 years' worth of experience in the room. 5,000 years. That’s when the pyramids were being made…”“The real test of a meeting is simple: is there more energy at the end than there was at the start?”“Purpose is the diamond. Opus is how you shine the most light through it.”🎯 This episode is for you if:You’re a business owner tired of uninspired meetingsYou want to lead teams that think and act with purposeYou’re a coach, mentor, or facilitator guiding othersYou want to build a legacy that matters—without waiting decades📘 Mentioned:Book: Find Your Purpose in 7 Questions by Richard JacobsConcepts: Collective Intelligence, Enlightened Living, Opus, Yes FactorClients: Google, Decathlon, UK schools, elite teams across industries🎙 Powered by ActionCOACH Business CoachingThe help you need to grow your business:👉 https://business.actioncoach.co.uk🎁 Sponsored by Selfpublishing.comPublish your story. Make your impact.👉 https://selfpublishing.com/actionWhat’s your Opus?Drop a comment. Let us know the impact you want to create and how you’re starting to live it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.