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In this episode of the Ambitious Lifestyle Business Podcast, we meet Tom Edwards from Tom Edwards Sound and Five29 - a company which specialises in final post-production services for factual content - helping make TV shows such as Cash in the Attic and The One Show sound amazing. We discuss: Why losing his dream job forced Tom to become a "reluctant business owner" How to find your niche in business. What good sound actually sounds like. Why Tom said "yes" to every opportunity that came his way - and how he discovered the "hell yeah or no" mindset. How quickly the "hell yeah or no" goalposts move - and former dream clients/opportunities can become nightmares The upcoming 100th episode of the ALB podcast - and how you can take part! How Tom embraced the Dream Clients strategy - with amazing results in just two weeks! 90's WWF wrestlers - yes, really!

"Why this Money Mindset book is my book of the year…"  So here it is - Merry Christmas! Everybody’s… designing their 2023 goals. In this Christmas special, John and Jason put the year to bed, and the world to rights. The boys discuss: Their books of the year - including the money mindset book that will be crucial to read in the current economic climate. Why John is learning how to care less about work - dialling down his ambition and slowing down. How “constant never-ending improvement” has actually been around for centuries. The upcoming 100th episode of the ALB podcast - and how you can take part! Why grown adults are competing to win an inflatable flamingo - and learning how to work less in the process. The False EXIT - John’s new book, coming out (sometime!) in 2023. It’s definitely NOT a DCI Lamerton crime thriller!

In this episode, John and Jason are joined by Vicky Jinks, who works with the boys, helping to look after One Percent Club members. Together, they discuss how to grow a small business into a large business - using the same “1% better each week” strategy that they preach. You’ll hear:: Why people's definitions of “small” and “large” businesses are highly individual. How even the largest, trillion-dollar businesses started as tiny upstarts. The importance of getting started. Accepting that version 1.0 will look nothing like version 10! When to stop growing.

Today, we're joined by Caroline Gurtler from Curious Rose. In this episode, you will hear: How Caroline showed tremendous bravery to be brutally honest about her problems - and how that led to an outpouring of help that turned things around How to balance "selling out of products" versus simply "selling out" Why Caroline took a 1-year-old baby to Cambodia. How, after hiding under a table during a military coup, Caroline doesn't really fear anything. Caroline describe her journey as a "road to entrepreneurship, paved with disasters"! What an ambitious, lifestyle business means to Caroline.

This is it - the BIG one!    My all-time top 10 business books.   I’ve read more than 1,000 business books over 20+ years – and these are my top 10 business books of all time.   The TEN most read, most thumbed, most recommended, most highlighted, most implemented business books on my bookshelf. I’ve read every one of these books multiple times, and they’ve become an essential part of my small business toolkit. I couldn’t run my businesses anywhere near as well without them. While I rarely prescribe “one-size-fits-all” book recommendations, I truly believe that every small business owner will have a significantly better business if they have these ten books on their shelves too. https://bigidea.co.uk/best-business-books/#topten I hope you’ve enjoyed my definitive top 100 best business books – I’d love to hear from you (email me - john@bigidea.co.uk), whether you’ve just read a book that you think I’d enjoy – or just want to tell me how wrong I am for not including your favourite book in the top 100! Additionally, I’d love to hear from you if my favourite books have inspired you to read more.  Remember though, to read the books AND follow the instructions!

Today, we're joined by Michele Marsland from Marslands Accountants. In this episode, you will hear:   Why breaking her leg was the best thing that ever happened to Michele's business. How Michele has become the Queen of the Let Property Campaign. Why Michele played "chapter roulette" with Routine Machine. How to change your money mindset - optimising your actual hourly rate. The subtle difference between earning £5 an hour and £95 an hour. Why Michele lives in "Pink Flamingo Land" - and how YOU can too!

Here are my Top 10 Customer Service Books, featuring titles by Pat Flynn, Roger Dooley, Nir Eyal, James Sinclair and Joey Coleman.   https://bigidea.co.uk/best-business-books/#customerservice   This is part of my Top 100 Best Business Books project - do you agree with my choices? - what book(s) should I have chosen? What's YOUR number one?

Here are my Top 10 Business Strategy Books, featuring titles by Dan Bradbury, Matthew Syed, Daniel Priestley, John Warrillow, and Mike Michalowicz.   https://bigidea.co.uk/best-business-books/#strat   This is part of my Top 100 Best Business Books project - do you agree with my choices? - what book(s) should I have chosen? What's YOUR number one?

Here are my Top 10 Productivity Books, featuring titles by Hal Elrod, James Schramko, Michael Heppell, and James Clear.   https://bigidea.co.uk/best-business-books/#productivity   This is part of my Top 100 Best Business Books project - do you agree with my choices? - what book(s) should I have chosen? What's YOUR number one?

Here are my Top 10 Positive Thinking Books, featuring titles by Susan Cain, Ryan Holiday, Angela Duckworth and Tony Robbins   https://bigidea.co.uk/best-business-books/#postivity   This is part of my Top 100 Best Business Books project - do you agree with my choices? - what book(s) should I have chosen? What's YOUR number one?

Summer is here again, and unlike the great British weather, you can rely on John and Jason to deliver a spectacular summer special - In this episode, we put the world to rights, discussing:   Whether we're "getting old" by focusing on retirement goals. The sort of people we'd really rather DIDN'T join the One Percent Club. How you CAN go wrong investing in bricks and mortar (culminating in court cases, administration and the Serious Fraud Office!) The calming (and long-lasting!) effect of a 17-day digital detox. Why long-term thinking is the ONE trait you MUST adopt to be successful. The biggest mistake that MOST small business owners will make in the upcoming recession.

Here are my Top 10 Leadership Books, featuring titles by Simon Sinek, Jason Fried, Sir Alex Ferguson and Jocko Willink   https://bigidea.co.uk/best-business-books/#leadership   This is part of my Top 100 Best Business Books project - do you agree with my choices? - what book(s) should I have chosen? What's YOUR number one?

Here are my Top 10 Sales Books, featuring titles by Grant Cardone, Jordan Belfort, Chris Voss and Chet Holmes..   https://bigidea.co.uk/best-business-books/#sales   This is part of my Top 100 Best Business Books project - do you agree with my choices? - what book(s) should I have chosen? What's YOUR number one?

Here are my Top 10 Marketing Books, featuring titles by Allan Dib, Dan Kennedy, Jeff Walker, Donald Miller and Marcus Sheridan. https://bigidea.co.uk/best-business-books/#marketing This is part of my Top 100 Best Business Books project - do you agree with my choices? - what book(s) should I have chosen? What's YOUR number one?

Here are my Top 10 Motivational Books, featuring titles by David Goggins, Gerald Ratner, Jesse Itzler, Andre Agassi, and Arnold Schwarzeneggar. https://bigidea.co.uk/best-business-books/#motivational This is part of my Top 100 Best Business Books project - do you agree with my choices? - what book(s) should I have chosen? What's YOUR number one?

Today, we're joined by Nathan Counter from Portable Putts. In this episode, you will hear:   Why Nathan still has a day job, and runs his business as a "side hustle". How Nathan "didn't really know what the One Percent Club was", but joined anyway! The many, many ways that Nathan has "read the books.. and followed the instructions". How Nathan uses routine streaks to keep him on track to achieve his goals. The six words that Jason uses to keep Nathan away from shiny objects. Why Nathan is always talking about hedgehogs, buses, pumpkins and friction.    

Here are my Top 10 Self-Help Books, featuring titles by Scott Adams, Gareth Southgate, Kevin Hart and Alistair Campbell. This is part of my Top 100 Best Business Books project - please let me know (john@bigidea.co.uk) if you agree (or, more likely - disagree!) with my choices - what book(s) should I have chosen? What's YOUR number one?

Today, we're joined by our first EVER returning guest, Tom Boulden from Complete Mortgage Advice. In this episode, you will hear: Why Tom, John and Jason are no longer business partners. How John punched Tom in the face, and gave him a black eye. Tom's dedication - "if I decide to do something, I see it through. No matter what." How Tom and his wife survived a "life-changing" head-on car crash, and the resulting trauma that remains to this day. Tom's love of a challenge - and how that led to him appearing on Channel 4's SAS: Who Dares Wins. How Tom beat the odds to appear on the show - and the lessons that will remain with him for life. For links to everything we talk about, including the video recording of the episode and transcription of everything we talked about, head over to the show notes at bigidea.co.uk/podcast.

In this episode with Ian Ebbs from Football Boots, you will hear: How Ian grew an audience of 1.4 million YouTube subscribers The difference between "being a genius" and "being lucky". Why Ian was locked up by Border Security. How Ian has made "having fun with the family" his day job. Why Ian moved from the UK to New Zealand. Ian's process for "having a system that works - and then beating it to death!"

In this episode, you will hear: How Alison Davies was told "not to fall in love" with buying a pub - and promptly did just that. The importance of "doing the right thing" - and how it can lead to winning clients. How Alison built resilience battling a recession, floods, health problems and a global pandemic. Why Alison sent £5 notes to local pubs - and how it landed her on BBC Radio 4. What happens when you surround yourself with a group of smart people.