Mind Your Business

What is one of the most productive ways you can strengthen and grow your business?Personal referral.In this episode Alan and Matt discuss how to make optimum use of this simple and yet highly effective business strengthening strategy and establish a discerning referral system. Your Hosts:Matt Williams is the founder and owner of Cypher, the fastest growing accountancy firm in Oxford. As an accountant Matt combines his extensive expertise in the financial world with boundless business insights gained through many years of supporting clients across a range of industries.  Matt lives with his family in Oxfordshire and is known for his humour and optimism, both of which are necessary traits as he supports Oxford City Football Club. Find Matt at www.cypherhq.co.ukAlan Clark  is the founder and Managing Director of Exponential Coaching,  his business and leadership coaching focuses on creating growth experiences to help entrepreneurs, business owners, leaders and their businesses to thrive. A Pharmacist by background, Alan spent many years in Senior Leadership roles within a global health care company and draws on these experiences alongside wisdom gained from coaching a myriad of clients; from start-up's, established SME's to multinational conglomerates. Originally from Glasgow, Alan now lives in Worcestershire with his wife, teenage children and a growing number of pets. Find Alan at www.exponentialcoaching.co.uk

In this episode Alan and Matt discuss the importance of ensuring a steady cashflow, giving their top 5 methods for ensuring financial success.As usual the boys are drawing from their own experience, and that of supporting their clients in business to give you the foundations of this vital, and often over looked business skill. Your Hosts:Matt Williams is the founder and owner of Cypher, the fastest growing accountancy firm in Oxford. As an accountant Matt combines his extensive expertise in the financial world with boundless business insights gained through many years of supporting clients across a range of industries.  Matt lives with his family in Oxfordshire and is known for his humour and optimism, both of which are necessary traits as he supports Oxford City Football Club. Find Matt at www.cypherhq.co.ukAlan Clark  is the founder and Managing Director of Exponential Coaching,  his business and leadership coaching focuses on creating growth experiences to help entrepreneurs, business owners, leaders and their businesses to thrive. A Pharmacist by background, Alan spent many years in Senior Leadership roles within a global health care company and draws on these experiences alongside wisdom gained from coaching a myriad of clients; from start-up's, established SME's to multinational conglomerates. Originally from Glasgow, Alan now lives in Worcestershire with his wife, teenage children and a growing number of pets. Find Alan at www.exponentialcoaching.co.uk

As we celebrate the milestone of 70 episodes Alan and Matt offer their usual blend of practical, solution based insights to the world of business. In this episode the boys focus on taking a critical eye to your business via KPI's (Key Performance Indicators). In particular they focus on four main themes, Customer - People - Finance - Operations. Discussing the rationale for tracking these areas, they distil the key advantages and practicalities of tracking these business areas to ensure the KPI's do not become VPI's (Vague Performance Indicators).Your Hosts:Matt Williams is the founder and owner of Cypher, the fastest growing accountancy firm in Oxford. As an accountant Matt combines his extensive expertise in the financial world with boundless business insights gained through many years of supporting clients across a range of industries.  Matt lives with his family in Oxfordshire and is known for his humour and optimism, both of which are necessary traits as he supports Oxford City Football Club. Find Matt at www.cypherhq.co.ukAlan Clark  is the founder and Managing Director of Exponential Coaching,  his business and leadership coaching focuses on creating growth experiences to help entrepreneurs, business owners, leaders and their businesses to thrive. A Pharmacist by background, Alan spent many years in Senior Leadership roles within a global health care company and draws on these experiences alongside wisdom gained from coaching a myriad of clients; from start-up's, established SME's to multinational conglomerates. Originally from Glasgow, Alan now lives in Worcestershire with his wife, teenage children and a growing number of pets. Find Alan at www.exponentialcoaching.co.uk

Alan and Matt are back with another juicy podcast where they share insights, experiences and wisdom to business owners and entrepreneurs.This episode was recorded on their return from their summer break and initially draws on a news story that got the boys thinking about valuing the services we provide as businesses and being aware of the transformation they can offer. As well as addressing some of the money-mindset issues that can hold us back, they also discuss the notion of "value added" services, the need to reflect regularly on pricing structure and getting comfortable with your offering and pricing.  Drawing on some examples from current affairs and sharing candidly on their own business expertise with a good dose of their usual wit this is sure to bring clarity and an opportunity to reflect on where we are on our own business journey.  

Reinvention. A word we may associate more with the likes of Madonna or global business players such as Microsoft or Netflix.But does it deserve a place at the table within SME and Owner-Managed businesses?In this episode Alan and Matt get into the nitty gritty of Reinvention in a business setting.  Some of the gems included in this episode include:What it means to Reinvent your businessThe merits and challenges of ReinventionRe-invention as a form or re-evaluating the business offering and changing needs of the business ownerHow to plan for and harness reinvention for optimal business and personal successAs always, Matt and Alan draw on business case-studies and powerful examples from their everyday work.

In this episode Alan and Matt share their insights on Breakthrough Conversations.They explore the merits and potential positive outcomes of breakthrough conversations, the barriers to getting started on these important conversations as well as some top tips for success. Matt and Alan draw on their own experiences and discuss the merits of creating a Breakthrough Culture within organisations.Enjoy!

Matt and Alan return with a full on plea for every leader and business owner to learn the art of prioritisation!Prioritisation has never been as valuable to personal effectiveness and business performance than it is right now and Matt and Alan get into the reasons why this is, how to actually develop prioritisation and the huge benefits of doing so.As always their 30 minute conversation is packed full of real examples.Enjoy!

Matt and Alan return after a prolonged absence (big apologies for their absence are made in this podcast!) and get into another conversation about all things business, self and leadership development. In this conversation they discuss "when things go wrong" and in particular discussing mindset, people performance and cashflow as example of "when things go wrong" and as always offer some helpful advice!Courage and Clarity are your friends when dealing with any situation called "when things go wrong" ! 

Matt and Alan get into a conversation about busyness - with more and more business owners saying they have never been busier, it seems like there is a pandemic of busyness right now. Taking a closer look at this busyness, Matt and Alan discover there are definite ways for senior leaders and business owners to decrease their busyness and increase their  performance and productivity.A fast paced episode!

Alan  and especially Matt impart some super valuable wisdom around the threat of insolvency, three test areas to be aware of and ultimately what a business owner should focus on to strengthen their business and power away from the threat  of insolvency. An insight rich episode!