In this episode of the Evolve to Succeed podcast, Warren speaks to Martin Smith, the founder of Talent Drive, about his journey as an entrepreneur and running a recruitment group of businesses.

Martin shares his early experiences in recruitment, the challenges he faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the growth of his company, Talent Drive. He discusses his aspirations to be a market disruptor and his passion for the procurement community.

Martin also talks about the expansion of Talent Drive into the accountancy and finance sector with the launch of Talent Finance and reflects on the growth and success of Talent Drive over the past four years. He emphasises the importance of focusing on the quality of people and building a trusted and valued team.

Martin discusses the future of the recruitment industry and the rise of ESG and sustainability. He also shares insights on workplace culture and transparent communication within a remote business. He envisions the future of Talent Drive as a growing international presence with a focus on diversification and a one-stop-shop service offering.

This episode of Evolve to Succeed covers…

● The challenges of starting a recruitment business.

● Overcoming obstacles such as COVID-19.

● What it takes to be a market disruptor in the recruitment sector.

● The effects of branching out into various business sectors.

● The importance of people and building a trusted team.

● The importance of trust, transparency and open communication.

Chapters

00:00 Becoming an Entrepreneur

10:02 Starting on Your Own

19:15 Early Days of Talent Drive

23:24 Market Disruption

25:49 Ventures into Accountancy and Finance

26:18 Building a Team

27:47 Opportunities in Finance

29:41 Quality of People

30:05 Creating a Great Business

33:26 Personal Life

35:24 Being Grounded

37:17 Thriving

41:37 Technology in Procurement

42:59 Emotional Intelligence

43:56 Remote Businesses

48:42 The Future of Talent Drive

50:58 Defining Success

In this episode of the Evolve to Succeed podcast, Warren speaks with Jess and Terry, the joint managing directors of Rubicon People, about their journey. From starting out as employees to leading an employee-owned business.

For anyone navigating joint leadership responsibilities, you certainly don’t want to miss out on this, as Jess and Terry provide invaluable advice and experiences around working as partners to manage a team.

They also discuss the evolution of Rubicon People, the challenges faced in the recruitment industry, and the impact of transitioning to an Employee Ownership Trust.

The conversation highlights the importance of good leadership, employee empowerment, and the future ambitions of the Rubicon People as they navigate the recruitment landscape.

This episode of Evolve to Succeed covers…

Jess and Terry’s journey within Rubicon People.

The transition to employee ownership and its effects on business culture.

How leadership styles evolve and are influenced by previous leaders.

How employee councils can play a crucial role in decision-making processes.

The importance of trust and autonomy in empowering employees.

Financial Freedom Day.

The recruitment industry and the ongoing skill shortages.

Chapters...

00:00 Introductions

02:55 Rubicon People

06:14 Previous Owners: Lloyd and Jocelyn

08:52 Becoming Joint Managing Directors

12:13 COVID and Market Changes

14:58 Employee Ownership Trust

17:49 Initial Reactions to Employee Ownership

21:10 Employee Councils

23:46 Leadership Styles

27:10 Empowering Employees

30:01 Challenges in Recruitment

32:48 Advice for Transitioning to Employee Ownership

36:06 Financial Freedom Day

38:57 Succession

41:54 Final Thoughts

In this incredibly inspiring episode, Mark Darcy shares his personal journey, from a challenging childhood to a successful business career and a subsequent struggle with mental health.

After a long battle, Mark eventually made a positive transition and now focuses on helping others through the New Forest Wellbeing Group and the Youth Wellbeing Group.

During the episode, Mark explains his new philosophy on life, where he dedicates his time earning, serving and learning – which has helped him discover true happiness in life.

He also talks about the importance of listening and creating a loving environment where everyone is understanding and supports one another. Mark also envisions the next phase of his life - focusing on well-being and community support.

This episode of the Evolve to Succeed Podcast covers…

● Seeking support and understanding one's own mental health.

● Transitioning from a challenging past to a fulfilling present.

● Helping others and creating a kind and loving environment.

● Finding balance in life by spending time earning, serving, and learning.

● Finding true happiness through meaningful experiences, not material possessions.

● Volunteering and getting involved in projects focused on mental health.

● Seeking professional help and prioritising one’s own mental health.

Chapters

00:00 Childhood

05:44 Business Career

11:09 Mental Health and Support

15:41 New Purpose and Helping Others

23:10 Community

25:10 Achieving Balance

28:03 Happiness

30:21 Basic Lifestyle

32:16 Are You Okay?

35:32 Life's Unexpected Challenges

36:29 Midlife Realisation

39:42 Loved Ones

41:40 Emotions and Openness

45:57 Avoiding Regret

49:50 Material Possessions

51:22 Pure Contentment

Adam Lewis, co-founder of BBD Boom, shares his journey of starting and running a remote business and the benefits of systems thinking. He emphasises the importance of understanding your co-founder and building a strong partnership.

Adam also discusses the challenges and rewards of remote work and the need for a strong company culture. He highlights the value of apprenticeships in growing a business and shares his insights on systems thinking and the tools they use at BBD Boom.

Adam concludes by discussing the future of the company and his personal definition of success.

The key takeaways from this episode of The Evolve to Succeed Podcast are:

• Building a strong partnership with your co-founder is crucial for the success of your business.
• Remote work can be successful with the right systems and processes in place.
• Investing in apprenticeships can help grow your own talent and create career opportunities.
• Systems thinking is about viewing your business as an integrated engine and optimising processes for better efficiency and customer experience.
• Tools like HubSpot, teamwork, and AI can greatly enhance productivity and business performance.
• Success is defined by personal fulfilment, making a positive impact, and having the freedom to choose your path.

Chapters

00:00 - Introduction and Background of BBD Boom

03:19 - Starting a Business and Moving Away from Traditional Agency Model

04:15 - Challenges and Early Days of BBD Boom

05:34 - Lessons Learned and the Importance of Sales and Marketing Mindset

07:30 - Realisation of Success and Early Adoption of HubSpot

09:55 - Building a Strong Partnership and Company Culture

12:18 - The Value of Apprenticeships in Business Growth

16:28 - Benefits and Challenges of Remote Work

27:22 - Implementing Systems Thinking for Better Efficiency

33:04 - Tools for Productivity and Business Performance

36:20 - Future Plans for BBD Boom and Personal Definition of Success

45:02 - Conclusion

In this episode, Warren Munson and David Mutton discuss the importance of creating a shared vision within a business.

They emphasise the need for businesses, especially in the early stages, to have a clear vision and purpose that is shared with the team and customers.

They also discuss the challenges of maintaining a shared vision as a business grows and offer practical tips for creating and communicating a vision.

The conversation highlights the benefits of having a shared vision, such as increased engagement and differentiation from competitors.

Takeaways

· Having a shared vision is crucial for businesses to understand what they are trying to achieve.

· In the early stages, the vision is often clear to the founder or co-founders, but it is important to share it with the team and potential customers.

· As a business grows, it is important to periodically reassess and communicate the vision to ensure alignment.

· Creating a shared vision involves open dialogue, involving key stakeholders, and communicating the vision in a simple and straightforward manner.

· A shared vision helps in decision-making and keeps the team motivated and aligned.

Chapters

00:00 - Introduction and Overview

01:00 - The Importance of a Shared Vision in Business

03:45 - Stand Out from Competitors with a Shared Vision

06:36 - Challenges of Maintaining a Shared Vision as a Business Grows

08:03 - Perfectionism Can Kill Vision

14:17 - Practical Tips for Creating a Shared Vision

23:13 - Benefits of Having a Shared Vision

28:24 - Conclusion and Call to Action

In celebration of their 10-year anniversary, Rupert Holloway talks to Warren about Conker Distillery and the challenges they have faced after a decade in business.

Rupert discusses the restlessness that led him to start his own business, the decision to bootstrap the business instead of seeking investment, and the impact of COVID-19 on the distillery industry.

Conker has evolved from being simply a gin brand to a spirit experience distillery brand, which has been driven by customer feedback and recognising that being the best at something doesn't always guarantee success, which in their case, was gin.

The company has grown the brand by emphasising its genuine, local craft and the fact that it operates its own distillery, distinguishing it from white label brands. Conker Distillery has adopted a two-pronged strategy: owning the local market with its Dorset gin and targeting the national market with its coffee liqueur.

With so many insights from one of the UK’s best distillery brands, you don’t want to miss this episode of the Evolve to Succeed Podcast!

Takeaways

This episode of Evolve to Succeed covers…

o Starting a business by setting big goals and taking risks.

o The risks and rewards of bootstrapping a business.

o Building a strong team for long-term success.

o Adapting to global challenges, such as conflict and pandemics.

o Creating memorable experiences for customers and focusing on consumer preferences to drive change.

o How Conker operates its own distillery, distinguishing it from white label brands.

o Sustainability and how Conker aims to be a positive contributor by 2030.

Chapters

00:00 - Catching Up with Rupert

02:21 - 10 Years of Conker Distillery

08:03 - Lessons Learned

14:52 - COVID-19

18:40 - Memorable Experiences

25:25 - Conker Spirits

31:25 - White Label Brands

34:14 - Two-Pronged Strategy

41:00 - Sustainability

44:43 - Proudest Moment

In today’s episode, Warren Munson interviews Julie Eddicott and Sally Percival, who are preparing for the adventure of a lifetime, as they row across the Atlantic.

Julie and Sally will be rowing from Gomera, Canary Islands, to Antigua, covering 3,000 miles in a 28.5-foot boat with two cabins and three rowing positions. The team consists of Julie, Sally, and their friends Mary and Ed.

They discuss their upcoming challenge of rowing across the Atlantic Ocean and the preparations they have been making. They discuss the physical training that is required to attempt such a feat and the mental aspect, as they will be dealing with isolation and enclosed spaces.

They also discuss the daily routine they will face on the boat, the safety measures, and their motivations for taking on this challenge and the charities they are raising money for.

If you would like to follow and support their journey, you can check out their website at: https://www.ebbflowatlantic.com/

Follow their social media: https://www.instagram.com/ebbandflow_row/

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090553086293

For corporate sponsorships: hello@ebbflowatlantic.com

This episode of The Evolve to Succeed Podcast covers…

● Julie and Sally are preparing to row across the Atlantic from Gomera to Antigua, covering 3,000 miles in a 28.5-foot boat.

● Physical training includes rowing sessions on the rowing machine and weight sessions.

● The team will row in shifts of two hours on, two hours off, 24/7.

● Their biggest fears include jumping off the boat to clean the hull and the mental challenges of isolation and close quarters.

● Rowing across the Atlantic Ocean provides an opportunity to disconnect from everyday life and reconnect with nature.

● The support of family, friends, and sponsors is crucial in undertaking such a challenging endeavour.

● The daily routine on the boat involves rowing, eating, maintaining the water supply, and taking care of personal hygiene.

● Safety measures, such as wearing harnesses and life jackets, are in place to mitigate risks like capsize.

● The challenge is not just physical but also a test of mental resilience and self-discovery.

● The rowers are raising money for charities such as the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust and Teenage Cancer Trust.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

01:24 Rowing Across the Atlantic

05:13 The Team and Boat

09:30 Physical Training

16:04 Sleep Deprivation

26:53 Isolation

27:22 Disconnecting from Everyday Life

29:19 Family, Friends and Sponsors

34:34 Daily Routine on the Boat

37:40 Safety Measures

41:55 Physical and Mental Challenges

44:58 Charities

46:27 Sponsors

52:42 How to Support

On this episode, Warren interviews Jimmy and Suzie, the founders of one of the UK’s biggest iced coffee brands, Jimmy's Iced Coffee.

Jimmy and Suzie discuss their journey running a family business as brother and sister, from starting out with a coffee shop, auditioning for Dragon’s Den and distributing their iced coffee across the UK.

Their journey emphasises the importance of gut instinct, being true to oneself when building a brand and always having a positive outlook even when dealing with immense pressure.

They discuss the challenges of scaling a business, dealing with bureaucracy and what led to them selling the business.

With insights from the founders of one of the UK’s largest drink brands, you don’t want to miss out on this episode of the Evolve to Succeed Podcast!

This episode of the Evolve to Succeed Podcast covers…

· Trusting your gut instinct and being true to yourself when building a brand.

· Taking risks by trying unconventional marketing strategies.

· Not overlooking the importance of small wins.

· Seeking out mentors and listening to constructive feedback.

· Maintaining a positive and optimistic mindset throughout the entrepreneurial journey.

· Enjoying the journey and having valid reasons for doing it.

· Taking time to consider what you're doing and don't rush to get to the end.

· Building a great team.

· Making sustainability intrinsic to your business.

· Selling a business for financial security and personal freedom.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

02:20 Starting Jimmy’s Iced Coffee

03:19 Naivety

04:22 Jimmy and Suzie’s Roles

06:09 Mistakes

08:04 Optimism

10:24 Brother and Sister in Business

13:36 Maintaining Relationships

14:30 Waitrose

23:46 Risks

26:01 Unconventional Marketing

29:43 Seeking Feedback

31:09 Being True to Yourself

35:09 Enjoying the Journey

36:34 Scaling

40:50 Sustainability

46:58 Selling Jimmy’s Iced Coffee

01:05:41 Family and Personal Pursuits