Why Most Mindset Advice Fail - Shari Teigman

Episode Notes   In this episode, I welcome back James Ashford, founder of GoProposal and author of Grow Fast, Exit Big, 18 months after the conversation that became my most downloaded episode of 2025. We get into the practical side of the journey: why every fix and every growth spurt starts with foundations, and why the question that changed everything for James was "who do I need to be?" rather than "what do I need to do?". James shares the marketing that outperformed a £100K video, how to build a team culture where stars can flourish, and why retention matters more than sales. We also cover what he'd do differently now with AI, the art of fulfillment versus the science of achievement, and the one question he wishes people had the courage to ask. Don't miss the opportunity to take the first step towards a more fulfilling life. Book your complimentary clarity call today and discover how Will Polston can help you achieve the success you deserve. 💡 https://willpolston.com/book-a-call/ \ / / / \ \ \ / / / \ \ \ / / / \ \ \ / / / \ \ \ / / / \ \ \ / Video Chapters 00:00 - Welcome back, 18 months on 02:47 - Why he wanted to be an entrepreneur, and the business that collapsed 06:13 - Copying a business without foundations, and the Tony Robbins "cheat code" 09:46 - Sharing what you know: the gym story and defining an expert 12:45 - Why sales problems often aren't sales problems 14:38 - Building GoProposal and the purpose behind the exit 17:43 - Life after exit, painting, and finding your North Star 24:19 - Foundations: why every fix and every growth starts below ground 27:07 - Covid as the storm that tested the foundations 28:16 - Beliefs at the crux: what top entrepreneurs believe 30:14 - Kids as the test, "the bad news is you're the problem," and "Who do I need to be?" 33:14 - Personal growth as scaffolding for the business 34:38 - Principles vs. tactics: selling to help, not to hit quota 35:49 - Giving away the recipe: Gordon Ramsay marketing and the beef pie 39:43 - Building culture: seeing the overlooked and spotting stars 44:21 - "Stab me in the belly, not in the back," and why he backs the underdog 46:54 - Wins, hiring on character, and great culture 50:00 - Feedback with love: coaching, modeling, and the footballer's brother 56:02 - Ted Lasso, and the best you can be 1:00:03 - Who believed in him: his brother 1:02:11 - The car boot sale business, and the video that changed a decision 1:05:51 - Content marketing: how the videos helped win the sale to Sage 1:09:35 - Writing a book to enter a market, and speed vs. embarrassment 1:12:07 - Resourcefulness: "no such thing as a lack of resources" 1:13:50 - The free event video that beat a £100K one, and the relevancy curve 1:19:08 - Three marketing principles: document what clients ask 1:25:01 - The 100 videos in 100 days challenge 1:26:46 - Email isn't dead: write to one person, remove the branding 1:31:20 - You're always selling: ethical, consultative selling 1:37:24 - Commission: the footballer and the goalkeeper 1:38:33 - What true business development means 1:40:03 - Retention and the two triangles of sales and marketing 1:43:46 - Sales culture, rolling bonuses into salary, and hiring at the top of the range 1:47:21 - Low bar, high ceiling, and getting to the "aha" faster 1:51:52 - AI: build a fortress, do the unscalable, and people still win 1:58:03 - Hero and guide: the Rain Man example 2:01:31 - The art of fulfillment vs. the science of achievement 2:04:13 - Allowed to do nothing, and leaning into fear 2:08:37 - Mashed potato and the Michelin star recipe 2:12:11 - Good enough is not good enough: revisit every recipe 2:14:08 - How to connect with James, and the new podcast 2:15:00 - Final reflection: ask a courageous question 2:17:14 - Parenting: "you'll figure it out" 2:19:42 - Closing remarks \ / / / \ \ \ / / / \ \ \ / / / \ \ \ / / / \ \ \ / / / \ \ \ / Relevant Links For the Viewer and Citations Website - https://www.willpolston.com Instagram - https://instagram.com/willpolston Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/willpolstonmih LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/willpolston/ Twitter / X - https://x.com/willpolston TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@willpolston Check out James's website: https://www.jamesashford.com Connect with James on LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok: search "James Ashford" Get the book, Grow Fast, Exit Big: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Grow-Fast-Exit-Under-Months/dp/1781339872 About Me: I am dedicated to helping individuals and businesses unlock their true potential through expert coaching and training programs. I'm passionate about empowering others to achieve their dreams and live a life they love. Subscribe for more insights and tips on personal development, productivity, and achieving your goals. Let's embark on this journey together!

Originally aired: October 2025 Episode Number: 257 Sometimes, the biggest obstacle to moving forward isn't our circumstances, but the beliefs we've carried with us for years. In this episode highlight of North Star Conversations with Will Polston, renowned healer, hypnotherapist, and YouTube creator Julie Poole shares how our inner thoughts and subconscious programming influence everything from financial success to personal fulfilment. Discover how uncovering hidden beliefs, developing a healthier relationship with money, and taking responsibility for your own growth can shift your perspective, unlock new opportunities, and help you turn your ambitions into reality. Listen to the full episode here: https://kite.link/juliepoole

Originally aired: October 2025 Episode Number: 256 Staying in the wrong relationships, friendships, or routines can quietly drain your happiness. The key isn't cutting everything out, it's making more room for what genuinely brings you joy. In this episode highlight of North Star Conversations with Will Polston, pioneer of longevity architecture and founder of MAVI Kas Bordier shares how to build healthier relationships, recognise patterns that hold you back, and become more intentional with your time and energy. Discover why investing in your relationships can have a life-changing impact, how to identify the people and activities that truly fulfil you, and why delegating tasks you dislike can create more space for what you love. Listen to the full episode here:  https://kite.link/kasbordier

Episode Notes In this episode, I sit down with Will Taylor, a psychotherapist and coach who takes founders into couples therapy with their businesses. We talk about the language founders use about their companies ("I've fallen out of love," "it's my baby") and why it mirrors the way people talk about relationships. Will shares how a volunteer role at a children's hospice started his journey, and how losing his brother at 14 taught him to hide his feelings. We explore how childhood messages become the rules we run our businesses by. Will also explains transactional analysis (parent, adult and child) and why the question isn't "do I want a successful business?" but "whose version of success is that?" Don't miss the opportunity to take the first step towards a more fulfilling life. Book your complimentary clarity call today and discover how Will Polston can help you achieve the success you deserve. 💡 https://willpolston.com/book-a-call/ \ / / / \ \ \ / / / \ \ \ / / / \ \ \ / / / \ \ \ / / / \ \ \ / 00:00 - Introduction: two Wills 00:55 - Couples therapy for founders: "I've fallen out of love with my business" 03:15 - The empty-nest parallel, and the children's hospice that started his career 05:45 - Losing his brother at 14, and being told not to show his feelings 07:27 - Childhood voices and how they shape how we show up 10:02 - Anxiety, depression, and naming feelings accurately 13:22 - NLP, Erickson and Satir, and what an unhealthy relationship with your business looks like 16:18 - Anxious attachment, "work hard" as a script, and the gears-in-a-car analogy 18:24 - The business as a container for your story: whose version of success? 20:26 - Transactional analysis: parent, adult, and child 24:50 - The abandonment trigger, and not treating the feeling as truth 29:59 - Are entrepreneurs "free children"? Be More Pirate, and burgers in the Sahara 34:44 - "I need to divorce my business": living by someone else's rules 37:45 - Seasons of business, and scoring how you feel from 1 to 10 42:32 - The letter exercise: writing to your business, and its reply 45:32 - What changes afterward: owning the business you want 48:05 - Business partners, family businesses, and whose North Star you follow 50:29 - How to connect with Will, and the question he wishes people asked: "Why?" \ / / / \ \ \ / / / \ \ \ / / / \ \ \ / / / \ \ \ / / / \ \ \ / Relevant Links For the Viewer and Citations Website - https://www.willpolston.com Instagram - https://instagram.com/willpolston Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/willpolstonmih LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/willpolston/ Twitter / X - https://x.com/willpolston TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@willpolston Learn more about Will Taylor here: https://www.willtaylor.co.uk/  About Me: I am dedicated to helping individuals and businesses unlock their true potential through expert coaching and training programs. I'm passionate about empowering others to achieve their dreams and live a life they love. Subscribe for more insights and tips on personal development, productivity, and achieving your goals. Let's embark on this journey together!

Originally aired: September 2025 Episode Number: 253 You can have the perfect strategy and still stay stuck if your mindset isn't ready to grow. Real progress happens when you stop copying other people's methods and discover what works for you.  In this episode highlight of North Star Conversations with Will Polston, seasoned performance coach and visionary business strategist Shari Teigman explores the hidden mindset barriers that hold people back in business and personal development. Discover how to recognise the signs of being stuck, challenge your assumptions, and build a mindset that evolves alongside your ambitions. Listen to the full episode here: https://kite.link/shariteigman

Originally aired: September 2025 Episode Number: 252 The people around you shape what you believe is possible, but success means little if you sacrifice your happiness to achieve it.  In this episode highlight of North Star Conversations with Will Polston, entrepreneur and networking expert Aaron Peters explores how your environment influences your ambitions, beliefs, and definition of success. Discover how surrounding yourself with driven people can expand your vision, why money and material possessions don't always lead to happiness, and how having the courage to leave a comfortable career can open the door to a more fulfilling life. Listen to the full episode here:  https://kite.link/aaronpeters

Episode Notes In this episode, I sit down with Niall McMillan, the silent, face-pulling creator whose videos reach 300 to 400 million views a month across around 11 million followers. We talk about how a six-figure corporate career and an "is this it?" moment led him to self-help, and why he committed to posting every day, a streak now past seven years. Niall shares how his NPC-in-viral-videos niche (and the milk) happened by accident, and why he's an entrepreneur with a huge audience, no product, and a very small email list. He opens up about quitting his job the day his wife got the all-clear after breast cancer, and losing his 7.2M-follower TikTok account two weeks later. We also cover how he got it back, why community matters more than followers, and the question he asks everyone: "How can I be of value to you?" Don't miss the opportunity to take the first step towards a more fulfilling life. Book your complimentary clarity call today and discover how Will Polston can help you achieve the success you deserve. 💡 https://willpolston.com/book-a-call/ \ / / / \ \ \ / / / \ \ \ / / / \ \ \ / / / \ \ \ / / / \ \ \ / Video Chapters 00:00 - Introduction: 300-400 million views a month 01:03 - Where you know his face from 02:33 - From acting to a six-figure corporate career, and "is this it?" 03:40 - Stumbling into self-help, and why The Secret was his first book 05:28 - Making videos nobody watched to scratch a creative itch 06:28 - Self-publishing a book and committing to post every day 07:10 - Seven years, every single day 11:10 - Why he'd never stop posting 12:34 - Finding his niche: the NPC who inserts himself into viral videos 13:31 - Fire bullets, then cannons 14:09 - Posting for the other end of the phone: what value are you giving? 15:15 - How the milk happened 16:48 - The Arla brand deal 17:06 - 11 million followers, and what a million really gets you 19:53 - "I am the product, but I have nothing to sell" 21:15 - Build a list and sell to it 22:10 - Quitting his job nine months ago 22:31 - His wife's cancer and the all-clear day he quit 23:14 - Losing 7.2M TikTok followers two weeks later 23:59 - Why getting out to events changed everything 25:04 - How platforms pay, and the reality of brand deals 26:16 - Lessons from nine months in business, and the risk of rented space 27:25 - Why the pressure of a huge audience never got to him 28:40 - Playing a character, and why negativity doesn't land 29:36 - Dapper Laughs, Mr. Bean, and British comedy 32:12 - Overcoming "what if people don't like me?" 32:47 - The daily uncomfortable action (a pound a day) 33:10 - Bulk filming and manufacturing your "flow day" 35:28 - Why being human beats AI content 36:29 - Handling hate: kill them with kindness 39:21 - Being recognized in public 40:26 - Will's early videos: from ridicule to "how did you do it?" 42:14 - His "work tray" of 800 videos, and copying what works 44:43 - Humpty Dumpty, AI for productivity, and outlier modelling 47:01 - The day TikTok banned him: an AI moderation mistake 49:12 - The human-to-human video that got his account back 50:29 - The value of community for creators 51:04 - 80% of his job is events: solve problems for people 51:48 - His dream now: helping "golden Buddhas" see their gleam 53:12 - His North Star: everyone fulfilled 54:19 - Where the joy comes from: two weeks between stage two and stage four 56:34 - How to connect with Niall 57:19 - Final reflection: "How can I be of value to you?" 58:29 - Take action: a free 20-minute call 59:34 - Closing remarks \ / / / \ \ \ / / / \ \ \ / / / \ \ \ / / / \ \ \ / / / \ \ \ / Relevant Links For the Viewer and Citations Website - https://www.willpolston.com Instagram - https://instagram.com/willpolston Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/willpolstonmih LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/willpolston/ Twitter / X - https://x.com/willpolston TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@willpolston Check out Niall's website (content, talks, book): https://www.niallmacmillan.com Find Niall on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube: search "Niall McMillan" About Me: I am dedicated to helping individuals and businesses unlock their true potential through expert coaching and training programs. I'm passionate about empowering others to achieve their dreams and live a life they love. Subscribe for more insights and tips on personal development, productivity, and achieving your goals. Let's embark on this journey together!

Originally aired: August 2025 Episode Number: 251 Success leaves clues. Instead of figuring everything out on your own, learn from the best, take action, and build the habits that lead to extraordinary results. In this episode highlight of North Star Conversations with Will Polston, seasoned Wall Street veteran and mentor Barry Garapedian shares how studying top performers helped him become a leading wealth manager and build a successful career. Learn how to learn from people who are already achieving what you want, build confidence through small daily wins, turn failure into valuable lessons, and focus on consistent actions rather than results alone. Listen to the full episode here: https://kite.link/barrygarapedian

Originally aired: August 2025 Episode Number: 247 Sometimes, the key to creating the life you want is to let go of pressure and start becoming the person you want to be. In this episode highlight of North Star Conversations with Will Polston, manifestation coach and author Esther McCann shares how to consciously create a life you love by shifting your mindset, releasing limiting beliefs, and taking small, intentional steps towards your goals. Learn how journaling, practising gratitude, and daily reflection can build self-awareness, reduce resistance, and help you move towards your desired future with greater confidence and ease. Listen to the full episode here:  https://kite.link/esthermccann

Originally aired: July 2025 Episode Number: 246 Financial freedom means little if you have no purpose or control over your own life. In this episode highlight of North Star Conversations with Will Polston, entrepreneur, investor, and author of "Always Free" Jason Graystone delves into the three freedoms: freedom of mind, money, and movement. Discover why financial independence alone doesn't guarantee fulfilment, how other people's expectations can pull you away from what matters, and why understanding yourself is the first step towards creating a life of genuine freedom and purpose. Listen to the full episode here: https://kite.link/jasongraystone