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 acco...

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 fas...

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 are...

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...

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 business The me...

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. Enj...

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 packe...

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...

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 e...

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!

Matt and Alan reference a recently published McKinsey article that has studied performance and results in a wide range of businesses over a period of years across the globe. The great news is that there seems to be a clear path to consistently high business performance, the downside is that the path is relatively rarely taken. 30 minutes of insight rich conversation awaits with a definite conclusi...

Matt and Alan return to 2023 with a " focused" podcast on four areas of focus that could make a hugely positive difference to your business in 2023. Customers and People feature prominently in this episode!!

In an unashamedly World Cup themed episode, Matt and Alan get into a conversation about performance and the impact of your team on business performance.  People development, people structures, organisation, leadership styles, confidence levels, wellbeing fitness levels are all discussed taking inspiration from different team and individual  performances during World Cup 22. If you have a desire to...

There is a lot of negative rhetoric, fear and worry in the world right now - many business leaders and owners are feeling heightened levels of pressure and stress and this pressure and stress can flow throughout an entire business and organisation. Matt and Alan get into a conversation that recognises this reality and discuss how entrepreneurs and leaders can positively change this heightened pres...

In their latest podcast Matt and Alan explore and respond to a profound quote :  " Your results in life and business are directly related to the systems that you have in place, if you want to change your results, change your system!"  As always they bring to life their experiences from the world of business and most definitely support the quote!

Matt and Alan return with a podcast packed with possibilities!  Literally, episode 57 is all about the magic of creating possibilities from nothing, acting on these possibilities and seeing the powerful change that these possibilities and actions can have on your business. Be open to possibility!!

Is it possible to run your business entirely from a smart phone ? What about different roles, CEO or middle management ? What are the benefits ? What are the downsides ? Even if it was possible, should you even try ? Matt and Alan get into a conversation about the ever increasing power and possibility of a smart phone within business- A brave new world fuelled with upside or an overwhelming nightm...

In this episode Matt and Alan declare a war on habitual, underproductive meetings and make a heartfelt plea to listeners - Do you actually need this meeting ?  From this point the conversation goes into to poor meeting practice, best meeting practice and insightful and helpful meeting stories - all in 35 minutes!! Reclaim your time !

Political chaos, rising cost of living, inflation and interest rate uncertainty, rising Covid infections, record temperatures, war - there is definitely a feeling of unhelpful anxiety and uncertainty this summer amongst entrepreneurs and their businesses. Matt and Alan prescribe three "antidotes" that  if administered fully will make a huge positive difference to the performance and resu...

In a recent poll a group of global CEO's listed decision making and the ability to make optimal decisions, at pace and to stick with them as the number one desirable skillset for a CEO right now in 2022. Matt and Alan get into a conversation about decision making, how to access our decision making and the different techniques to arrive at pacey, well considered decisions. As always this episo...

Matt and Alan get into a conversation with the intent of helping leaders and entrepreneurs to get under the skin of what is really holding themselves and/or their business back, It is not always what you think it is ! A lively, energetic conversation that is determined to help people remove the blockage and move forward optimally again....

Matt and Alan get into a conversation about two common but  opposing mindsets, abundance and scarcity, and the cause and effect impact that they each have on business and outcomes. Diamonds vs Rocks, Yes vs No, marbles and angels are all discussed in this insight packed episode!

In their extended 50th episode podcast, Matt and Alan are joined by a very special guest! Marcus Taylor, CEO of Venture Harbour and True North discusses a proactive  philosophy to marketing forecasting, the genius of automation and a personal value of getting beyond your comfort zone. As always there are insights a plenty to discover and take away !

The concluding part to the mini series dedicated to growth.  In this episode Matt and Alan discuss the "what next" after a period of levelling up and dealing with the associated pressures of growth. And the great news ? Rewards and dreams await you !!

Part 2 of the Growth Trilogy .... In this episode Matt and Alan discuss some of the most debilitating pressures and resulting consequences to impact on businesses and people during a phase of intense growth. Good news, there is always a solution!