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Is there ever a good time to start a business? Well the world is full of stories of businesses being started in economic downturns, and recessions and becoming billion dollar empires. So what about lockdown? When we are stuck indoors, unable to visit friends and trapped in an endless cycles of zoom quizzes can you make a success of a new business idea? Well as you will see on todays show....the answer is YES for sure. We are going to bringing you ideas born in lockdown over the next few months to inspire you to go and create your own business success, without any excuses.

Introducing Time Control Time control or as most people call it time management is a problem that so many people struggle with. You wake up each morning with all the best intentions to make a difference, and then get sucked into a never ending world of interruptions. You know the kind of things that send you off track. Just a couple of minutes on Facebook and you've lost an hour or so looking at peoples kid and cats pictures. So you do a few emails, and then find that you've lost another hour. So how can you make sure that you stay on track and get everything firing on all cylinders day after day? Well on todays podcast episode we discuss time control and bring our top six tips to make every day wildly productive. Listener Question One Dear David, long term listener to the show. Back in 2018 I began the creation of my children's nursery for 2 to 5 year olds. I saw the need, made it happen and have been happily profitable since. However, upon the pandemic hitting and forcing us to close down, i realised that i had allowed time suckers to take over my life without me knowing. Just little things really, but when I wasn't working in the business, i still had loads of things to do everyday, such as emails, parent support, dealing with the local council and such things. I didn't start the business simply to be ploughing through an endless list of tasks everyday, but it seems that i have walked bang into just that. Any suggestions? Melanie PUK Listener Question Two Dear David, you seem to have things happily ticking along in your life, and ill be honest sound like you barely work at all. I'm sure that this isn't the case...so how do you do it? What super power do you possess that the rest of us dont, as i'm feeling less and less sexy everyday no matter how many times you tell us to "stay sexy" Great show Eric, Buckinghamshire. Of course to hear the amazing time control advice you need to listen to todays show, and then all the others waiting for you. It might take awhile, but by then you will have become a master of time control....how good is that?

Mike Koenigs is todays guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots. He is a man on a double mission, or at least one that entwines butifully around each other. One on side he helps experts build empires both online and offline, ok that is the first part ticked off, He does by showing his clients that you can get paid for BEING, instead of doing, by building influence, authority and loving life too. Now this isn't someone who simply says that they are an expert and then starts building from that point onwards but someone who has lived it. As he says "Ironically, surviving cancer didn’t save me. Six years later, as I’m waking up, I hear something in me say, “My soul hurts”. I moved out to California in 2001, one month after 9/11, followed my passions, took giant risks, worked hard and created a lot of wealth. I far exceeded the expectations most had for a boy growing up in a 763 person town in Minnesota from a fairly chaotic, lower middle-class family. Beyond my business success, I was blessed with a wonderful wife and an amazing son, and we had luxuries including a second home on the beach in La Jolla. Yet, something was deeply wrong. Prior to recognizing that my soul hurt, I knew I was increasingly depressed and full of anxiety, but after hearing myself declare it, I knew I needed a transformation. I just didn’t know what was broken. And that is the perfect place to start todays episode of Join Up Dots. So its ok saying i need to change, but a totally different thing to actually know where you need to change from and to that is the problem, so where did he start? And for someone sitting listening with no followers, influence or or a tweet or a video to their name, where can they start to build their empire? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to Join Up Dots with the one and only Mr Mike Koenigs.

Stephan Aarstol is today guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast. He is a Shark Tank Winner and CEO of Tower (where Mark Cuban is an investor), Stephan Aarstol is also the inventor of the 5-hour workday, an initiative he started in 2015 to challenge long held delusions about unhealthy start-up work culture.  Stephan moved his whole company to a 5-hour workday, and yes we mean his whole company not just the directors and would later write a book, The Five Hour Workday about the experience. Now you might be thinking "wow this is amazing my company would never do this" Well there was a time when our guest might have been thinking that he wished he hadn't.

British Snack Co founder Thomas Lock is todays guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast. As they say "Since our humble beginnings in 2013, our mission has been to create the tastiest snacks money can buy. Lovingly crafted, outrageously delicious and quintessentially quirky, our products can be found in supermarkets, pubs and independent shops across the world. Handcooked in the UK using exclusively British potatoes, our crisps combine no-nonsense flavours with classic crunch. Their first product, Awfully Posh Pork Crackling, was developed by founder Tom Lock in his mum’s kitchen. And then the company was founded to scale up production and launch the pork crackling to the UK market. Now this isn't just a profit making exercise, as  they are made on a farm that not only grows its own potatoes, but is powered by renewable energy. So, these crisps don't just taste good - they do good, too.  So we hear time and time again about people starting online businesses and selling online courses, but how do you actually develop tasty snacks? And when did he sit back and think "Ok, this is something, this is really something that we need to get out to the world. Its time to get serious?" Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr Thomas Lock

Starting A Business On Passion And Other Questions Starting a business on passion is what everybody wants of course. Why wouldn't you want to wake up with a Yay......and an excitement in your stomach? Well quite frankly, that is the dream but more often or not along the way you can find that things become a little bit different. So in this episode of Join Up Dots we answer three questions from listeners of the show that all come to us looking for answers on passion.   Question One David, you seem a man who is always very honest on the podcast. SO i would like to ask you a question re starting a business with a friend. My best friend from school (so 30 years and counting) wants to start a vaping business with me, delivering vaping equipment to social clubs and colleges. They have planned things out and it all looks very good, but i have two issues. 1: I dont think i really would ever start this myself, so i wonder about my passion long term. 2. I am worried that our friendship might suffer long term if i do it, and also if i dont do it. Any help will put this troubled mind at a rest. Georgey, UK Question Two Dear David, i have started several businesses over the last few years and never get past the slog part of everything before I lose the will to live and give up. Any advice from a sex bomb of a man who seems to have this part of things sewn up bigtime. John, Newton Le Willows, UK Question Three Hi David, do you really enjoy what you do? It sounds like you do, but it could also be an act. The reason i ask is I'm reading a book on the subject of finding what you love and it is quote clear that nobody truly finds what they love.  Am i aming too high? Kitty Ketinbanban

Bob Wheeler is our guest today on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast. Bob Wheeler, a financial expert and motivator, book author, and founder of The Money Nerve? As a man of true integrity with infectious energy, Bob Wheeler’s crusade for personal growth has cross-pollinated with his accounting practice to create a new approach to personal finances. His passion is to help others gain insights about how their emotions trigger financial decisions. Combining finances with behaviors, Bob explores his personal concept of creating a healthy relationship with money in his recent book, The Money Nerve. While strengthening his accounting practice, Bob has simultaneously pursued his love of satire and ventured into the realm of standup comedy.

My Business Is Earning Money But A Mess & Other Questions Through the many years of Join Up Dots, we have inspired people from across the world to take control of their lives, start building their own income and have a kickass life. But of course, its not as easy as simply saying that you want to do it and it just happens. You need to of course start, but you also (and this is the hardest part of it all) need to truly believe that you can make things happen. That is where the difficulties start and the voices in your head start to take control of the situation and things go off the rails. Well in todays podcast episode we answer just three of the many questions that come into the show on a daily basis asking for help. These ones however are a bit different, as they aren't just people struggling to make a difference in their lives. Two of the questions are from people who have got things in a good position and now need a little bit of assistance to take it to the next level. Lets start with question one, and of course you need to listen to the show to hear the full, expansive answers.

Rusty Gaillard is todays guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast. As a transformational coach & motivational speaker of Silicon Valley Dream builders todays guest helps men and women experience more freedom in their lives. He left a 13+ year career at Apple in 2019 to focus full-time on helping others transform their life to one they love. His passion for this work comes from his personal experience of transformation, including life changes he chose, and those he didn't. Starting with a voluntary demotion in 2010 to spend more time with his young son, a multi-year divorce, and launching a new career in 2018, he learned that how we react to life’s events matters more than the event itself.

Have you ever had the pain from experiencing gout, or i guess any terrible pain in your life. You know the kind of pain that keeps you awake at night, and wont allow you to relax or breath without grabbing at you with its red hot claws. Well over the last few weeks, I have had the worse experience  of pain that i think i might be able to deal with. But yet it didn't bring me to my knees because of it. So why is it that some people can tackle terrible obstacles head on, whilst others allow themselves to be victimised because of it? Why do some people manage to find the strength to say to the world "This is my life and I'm in control"? Well this is the podcast for you as within the next fifteen minutes we try to break down the two or three elements that can take your life to higher and higher adventures.

Misha Rubin is todays guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast. Misha Rubin provides transformational career programs which are designed for people to discover careers that bring a sense of  meaning, fulfilment, and abundance. Until recently, he was a partner at a "Big Four" management consulting firm, where he spent 15 glorious years. He managed $100M+ worth of projects; navigated dozens of corporate cultures; advised hundreds of clients; guided hundreds of careers. His corporate experience combined with his experience studying with many profound teachers and his personal quest for meaning and fulfilment; birthed The Career Leap method, a guided inquiry that brings awareness to the deep parts of oneself, creates new career possibilities and moves individuals into action.

Eric Dunavant joins us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast Growing up, Eric’s own family faced an unexpected tragedy that transpired in the loss of the family business and wealth. This loss fuelled Eric’s passion for empowering families and businesses live a better story by being more intentional. It was during this time that Eric discovered that money doesn’t cause problems; it simply magnifies and exposes the smallest issues we ignore today. Since 2007, Mr. Dunavant’s leadership of Paradiem has guided multiple families and businesses to create Intentional Transformation by discovering the Greatness, Growth, Governance and Generosity in their story that can impact today, tomorrow and eternity. Paradiem’s experience is that most families do not realize that the pursuit of ROI (Return on Investment) is not in alignment with their true ROI (Return on Intention) and often creates unintended consequences. Most good tax and estate plans fuel poor family outcomes. As he says "“You're living a good story.  What if living a better story allowed you to pay less taxes and be more generous without changing your lifestyle?” Well there is a lot to uncover in todays episode, so what actually is "living a good story" and being more intentional? And where does the business find its biggest growth with so many people now living in a state of stasis against good story creating? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr Eric Dunavant.

Brain Health expert Dan Murray-Serter joins us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast. Dan is a multi-award winning serial entrepreneur, who talks openly about failure, mental health, mental performance, and ‘braincare’ – which includes his journey using science to build habits, cultivating a positive mindset & the importance of nutrition for optimizing your brain’s health, after writing over 120 newsletters in a row (and counting) on the science of brain health. He’s the Co-Founder of Heights, a ‘braincare’ company that makes the highest rated supplements for mental health and performance that help high achievers become more productive, focused, and mentally fit. As he says "Neglect your brain and the rest of your body suffers. With the right nutrition, you can feel better, every day. What’s stopping you?" With fans around the world, and with a year of extremely powerful lows it seems now is the time more than ever the world needs this. So what made him turn his attention to mental health when so many people do not give the brain a second thought as its kind of hidden away. Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Dan Murray-Serter Show Highlights During the show we discussed such weighty subjects with Dan Murray-Serter such as: Dan shares how his idea for business changed drastically due to the pandemic that hit the world in 2020. We talk about the moment that his business idea came to the fore, and the deep research that he then undertook. We discuss the increase of mental health due to the comparisons that we now build against others every day. And lastly we talk about........... The Power Of Now, and why this book read at the right time, is the key to big personal changes.

In today's episode we start discussing the big failing that most companies and business fail with. That is the Value Ladder, that takes a customer on a journey to more and more expensive products. You see so many businesses hope the best by allowing for a huge drop off in their business through visitors disappearing from their services. They land they look around and they depart forever. So what can you do to make sure they hang around and become a potential customer somewhere down the line. You build a funnel and value ladder as you will see in today's show.   The Email That We Received Hi David, i have waited for years to drop you a line. Many times I have hovered over the keyboard with fingers twitching and yet, something held me back from typing. Isn't it funny how something so easy and simple can be so difficult. Just like you mentioned the other day when you spoke about walking up to a girl or boy and asking them on a date. Your throat closes up, Your mind goes blank, and you just turn red, and turn on your toes. Anyway, today I am feeling brave and so want to ask you about something you said the other day (i apologise I forget what show it was as I listen to several a day) You mentioned something about creating a business which is very black and white. You lose potential customers without being able to do anything about it. Is this because of the business, the products, or simply the wrong customers. I guess you can see that this comment lead to a major epiphany with me. In fact i sat back in my chair at work (yes, I do listen in the cubicle longing for a escape everyday) and thought long and hard about it. I have a business that operates at the weekend. I offer nail services for ladies, and although I post my prices and what I offer (and I know that I am cheaper than most of the other companies in my town) it is limping along. Some Saturdays are good, whilst others leave me sitting on my own in the office for eight hours waiting for any drop ins. Do you think that I have done something fundamentally wrong with the business to make this occur? Thanks so much for what you do everyday to keep us mind zombies from despair. Keep em coming and ill keep on listening Jen Felder, Kenya

Smartphone Video Marketing founder Daryl Cygler joins us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast. He is the founder and creator of Smartphone Video Marketing, a video marketing company with a difference. As he says "Smartphone Video Marketing helps empower SME businesses to create their own video marketing content without the need for video production companies, without the need for expensive film equipment and without filmmaking experience - all through the power of their smartphone. These are the same principles that I learnt from mobile journalists that produce prime time news stories for global news brands. And if smartphone video content is good enough for prime-time TV it sure as hell is good enough for a business owner to use in their marketing channels.

Ian Pribyl is todays guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast. He has appeared on the show twice before and falls into a rare band of people who have now appeared three times. Although unlike the others who have spread their knowledge through Join Up Dots over around eight years, he has done it all in about eight months. The reason why, is he gets it. He understands the struggles that you guys have with getting started online and building a lifechanging income by yourselves. He understand that the failures that knock us off track actually are the learning points which can take us forward to more and more success. So although I have never personally met him, i know that he is a great mate to me and the show. And its a delight to have the author of From Nothing once more joining up some dots with us. So what is the thing that when he looks back at what he has achieved is the thing that he wishes he could tell the world "Oh, watch out for this" And why does the world only show the new guys the sexy stuff above the surface and not what they really need to get going? Well let's find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Ian Pribyl it rhymes with dribble.

Introducing Rick Kantor Rick Kantor is today's guest joining us on the Join Up Dots podcast is a huge delight for me, as he is a second time guest on the show and quite simply has flourished since last appearing. Rick Kantor does things his way, even to at the age of 61 going back to graduate school and getting a Masters in Creativity and Innovation, when to be honest the majority of us are glad that education finished in our teens. What makes this even more unusual is that this is a guy who has started and run several successful companies, ranging from a novelty manufacturing company, to Terrasanti a natural wall product made from American Clay, which has won many awards over the last few years He classes himself as a life term entrepreneur, but its the fascination for continued education that is so inspiring, as 10 years ago when he sold his novelty manufacturing company moved to a new town in California and spent the next 3 years getting a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in painting and mixed media from Sonoma State. But now since our first recording he really seems to have stepped into the person that he wanted to be all along. The person that walked boldly into every situation and makes a difference to who he meets. How The Dots Joined Up For Rick As he says "I'm all about every person in the workplace profoundly recognizing that their next creative thought-- whoever they are and wherever they work in whatever job position--might be the 'Jenga' moment that topples the wall of ordinary to provoke an extraordinary disruptive innovation. I ignite this capacity in others through teaching the skills of creativity (yes, teachable!), individual and team coaching, dynamic highly energized and humorous presentations, speaking and keynotes. I draw on a lifetime of creative success, companies and products. As a serial entrepreneur, my businesses have been at the intersection of novelty, art, satire and consumer products that balance on the societal edge. We all need catalysts to make new creative connections that are tomorrow's disruptive ideas, services and products. That's what I bring to my audiences to provoke their capacity for finding the best unexpected ideas. Teaching the skills of creative thinking to organizations builds creative leadership and culture that is systematic and systemic. So would he say that since our last recording the person that he is, is night and day different to what he was? And where is his sweet-spot now in business and life? What is igniting him to greater and greater achievements. Well let's find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Rick Kantor. Show Highlights During the show we discussed such deep weighty subjects with Rick Kantor such as: Why it is so important to find the enjoyment in any task  no matter how boring. Look deep and you can find the fun believe me. Rick shares the battle that he has with getting his name out there, by tooting his own horn to create clients. A battle that most entrepreneurs have daily Rick talks openly about his belief that there is no such thing as originality anymore, all the clues to our own success are already waiting for us to pick up. and lastly...... We talk about the creation of the Join UP Dots branding and why looking at the big picture isnt always the best way to success.

I'm in a funk is one of those things that most of us feel every now and again. You know that feeling of just being out of sorts and losing perspective of what is good in life? Well we received an email from a listener of Join Up Dots, who isn't just feeling the "I'm in a funk" vibe for a few days. This listener has been in this state of mind for a few years now. So lets start with the question and then of course you can listen to the show to hear the answer. Listener Question Dear David, i am reaching out to you to see if you can share some insight as to the steps I can take to change my current situation. I'm in a funk. Mentally and physically I am feel more and more lethargic everyday, and ill be honest I stopped listening to your show for about a year as your chirpiness and positivity started to make my skin crawl. I would think "Oh, just fuck off" and switch off the podcast, even though I admit i was in the wrong and knew that you were right. Now a year later, and through all the changes that have been forced upon us from powers outside of our control I want to take back the control in my life. I am sick of being the person who lets life happen to them, and want a piece of what you have. So two questions, if you have time to respond. Firstly, do you ever get into a head fuck place when you just cant shake yourself out of a slump? Do you ever think "Im in a funk" at all? And secondly what can I do to start making a difference in my life? Thank you, and sorry for switching off my your podcast as I know its the best one out there, I was just in a wrong place (and still in a wrong place) for your wisdom. J, Canada

Virtual Assistant Expert Joe Rare is a serial entrepreneur, marketing strategist, business coach, and venue owner/partner. To this date, he owns four digital companies, a wedding venue, an association for event venues and invests in real estate. His first business was a door-to-door product sales company that grew from 2 to 40 employees in 19 months, then he sold it after 27 months. His passion for sales never dimmed, but he discovered what his life’s work would be - building digital businesses. The road was never easy for him. The first digital agency he built and the succeeding ones didn’t make it, but he was then able to successfully win the race of having multiple 7-figure a year businesses. How The Dots Joined Up For Joe Since then, his businesses have been generating a continuous and substantial flow of income and he focuses on helping small- to medium-sized businesses around the world, while working from the comfort of his home in Montana and enjoying the presence of his wife and two girls. All of his companies are fully being run by his virtual assistants: Now that is the key element to the story which is so fascinating. He has managed to separate himself from the day to day running of the business by hiring virtual assistants? So how did he manage to find the right ones that he could trust and didn't have to micro manage? And where do the ideas come from that gets him excited and ready to build? Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr. Joe Rare

Chester Santos is todays guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast. He is better known as the International Man Of Memory, but you we know him as a memory expert and motivational speaker best known for winning the USA Memory Championship. With his unparalleled ability to not only demonstrate extraordinary feats of the mind, but also educate others to do the same, this U.S. Memory Champion is widely regarded to be the world’s leading memory skills expert. Through his entertaining and educational television appearances, professional seminars, and renowned presentations, Chester has helped millions of people around the world to realize the benefits of improved memory and a sharper mind. He is also highly sought-after by the media for his exceptional skills and expertise. CNN, ABC, PBS, NBC, CBS, and the Science Channel have all featured Chester and his memory building tips for viewers.