The Project Future Podcast

How can you improve not just your mental health, but your mental wealth?  My guest here in Episode 43 is Mike Pagan – a Business Performance Specialist who believes that having a proactive support network is the secret to your success.  Mike explains:  - How he learnt to adapt when faced with a global financial crisis  - The brutal reality of retiring from professional sport, and what we can all learn from it  - Why it’s so important to have somebody to ask you the right questions  - Who should form your mental wealth team  - The difference between being professional and amateur…and what it will lead to  - Why taking in information alone won’t make a difference  Mike’s best advice is don’t do it in isolation.  Enjoy!

How can you increase growth in your business without working longer hours?  My guest here in Episode 42 is Mark Jarvis, a business mentor who inspires forward-thinking business people to grow themselves and build better, stronger and smarter businesses.  In this conversation Mark explains:  - What can be achieved if you surround yourself with the right people  - How to grow your business when your diary is already full  - The difference between growth and expansion  - What the 60-20-20 Principle is, and why you should implement  - The common misconception of what constitutes working ON the business  - The power of referrals, if done right  - How to deliver a great speech  Mark’s best advice is to get somebody to help you.  Enjoy!

How can you maximise the opportunity that change brings?  My guest here in Episode 41 is The Success Spark, Liz Hamlet. Liz is an internationally known Coach, Business Mentor, Speaker and Podcaster.  She's the founder of Spark Succeed Coaching & Consulting, and she helps people to get laser-focused on their careers and businesses.  In this conversation Liz explains:  - The benefits of starting a business in times of change  - How you can get over the fear factor in the idea stage  - The 5 key mindset changes that successful entrepreneurs make  - Why you shouldn’t be apologetic about your pricing  - Why we should see change as an opportunity, not a threat  - Why change encourages innovation  - The benefits of running your own podcast, or appearing on somebody else’s  - Why you should embrace being yourself  Her best advice is to feel the fear and do it anyway.  Enjoy!

How can you thrive using technology, if you’re not technical?  My guest here in Episode 40 is Sophia Matveeva, the founder of Tech for Non-Techies, who is on a mission to help people learn about tech so they can achieve what they want from their careers.  In this conversation Sophia explains:  - How she started by solving her own problem  - What a lack of understanding between tech and business people can lead to  - The difference between a product metric and a business metric  - How fundraising is a process of courting  - The benefits of asking for advice  - What a monthly newsletter can do for your business, and how to structure it  - How you’ll be seen if you keep on turning up  - How start-ups iterating is a good thing, and why good investors should be open to this  - How she’s developed solutions for those with different needs, aligned to the overall mission of the business  - The negative impact of not understanding today’s technology environment  Sophia’s best advice is to have the confidence to say you don’t know things.  Enjoy!

How do you provide a global platform for traditional artisans, sustainably?  My guest here in Episode 39 is Teni Majekodunmi, the founder of Eclectic Chique. Teni founded the business to raise the bar for African products internationally, with a clear focus on developing the craft industry in Nigeria and empowering women whilst doing so.  In this conversation, Teni explains:  - How her business actually started as her own therapy after a family tragedy  - Her mission to showcase the products of African artisans to the world and to change perceptions along the way  - What products she started with and how she gained a first major client  - The business’ values and why they matter  - The impact the platform she’s created has had and how she’s worked with partners like the International Trade Centre to amplify her influence  - How asking for external help can enable you to progress faster  Teni’s best advice is to start small.  Enjoy! 

How can you respond positively when change happens around you?  My guest here in Episode 38 is Anthony Kingsley – a copywriter, travel agent and networker who is a passionate believer in following his interests.  In this conversation Anthony explains:  - Why it’s important to learn how NOT to do things  - What happens if businesses don’t evolve  - How Covid-19 has made people recognise the importance of community  - The pros and cons of running a franchise  - Why being clear about what benefit you can provide is key  - Why writing short posts is great training  - What the “So What?” test can do for your business  Anthony’s best advice is to be very clear about what your product or service does to make your client’s life better.  Enjoy!

How can you humanize your marketing?  My guest here in Episode 37 is Paul Cash, a creative entrepreneur on a personal mission to humanize B2B marketing.  In the past 20 years, he’s successfully founded a business recognised as the fastest growing marketing agency in the UK, published a book, won over 30 industry awards and been recognised as one of the Top 20 most influential B2B marketers.  At the weekends he spends his time on the football and rugby fields of Surrey coaching his two boys. He is a lifelong Everton fan, has some pretty mean skills in the kitchen, loves Game of Thrones and Billions and if he could get a hole in one before he dies he would be a very happy man.  In this conversation Paul explains:  - How he first went public with his marketing ideas  - What happened when his first business went from 2 people to 100 people in 4 years  - What he did to find the right next step after his first business was acquired  - Why being innovative can feel like pushing water uphill  - How every small business is on a tightrope  - The 3 languages that every B2B marketer (and small business owner) needs to understand  - How FEAR can turn to BRAVE  - What you can achieve by identifying unconscious needs  - Why you should adopt a challenger mindset  - The trend towards conscious capitalism  - The five principles you can use to humanize your marketing  - Why naivety can be your greatest weapon  Paul’s best advice is to slash your revenue projections before making a decision on your business idea.  Enjoy!

How can you give yourself and your team an environment to thrive?  My guest here in Episode 36 is Mark Latteman, the founder of Sachma Performance and Development, a strategic Learning and Development and Coaching consultancy.  He assists leaders in creating an environment where leaders and their teams excel.  In this conversation, Mark explains:  - How he trialled being his own boss before taking the leap  - How he can work across different industries and sectors  - Why he always starts with the problem, not the solution  - How a seemingly counter-intuitive approach has helped his business succeed  - Why being authentic is key  - How you can focus on achieving better work-life balance  - Why you’re probably spending more time than you think on activities that don’t help you achieve your objectives  - Why meetings should be outcome-driven  - The differentiating factor between team success and failure  - What he’s doing to give back  - The best self-promotion you can do  Mark’s best advice is to make sure you’re doing it for the right reasons.  Enjoy!

How can you generate content that gets noticed?  My guest here in Episode 35 is content writer, marketing copywriter & PR specialist Jane Rogers.  Jane explains:  - How she found her ikigai niche  - How you can use content to strike a chord with your audience  - The common pitfalls many businesses make regarding content  - How you can use content to get yourself known and recognised as an authority  - How to choose the right content type for your business  - The opportunity to bring businesses together locally…and how there’s probably more happening on your doorstep than you realise  Jane’s best advice is to focus on understanding your audience's problems.  Enjoy!

How can you build better business relationships?  My guests here in Episode 34 are Tracey and Ian Earl, founders of In Business - a networking group with a difference.  Tracey and Ian explain:  - Why they decided to start a business together  - What their community focuses on  - How they pivoted to working online, and the opportunities it’s opened up  - The secret to successful networking  - What to consider before joining a networking group  Tracey’s best advice is to build a network; Ian’s is to do your research.  Enjoy!