Fail Forward

🎙️ Big Announcement! 🎙️ Today, I'm closing this chapter with gratitude and excitement for what's next. After 2.5 years and over 100 episodes, Fail Forward has brought incredible growth, connections, and insights. But now, it's time for a change. As many of you know, a life-changing health scare last year made me reevaluate everything. I've decided to focus on my passion for the tree surgery indust...

In today's episode, we're shaking things up and recording from a different studio in London! I'm excited to introduce our special guest, Chloe Bisson. 🌟 Chloe's journey is truly inspiring – she started her career as an accountant at just 21 and swiftly rose to the position of director by the age of 24. 🚀   In this episode, we dive into Chloe's experiences of starting out young in the corporate w...

If you feel like you're in the eye of the storm right now this one is for you.  Most things have a cycle of 90 days. This to will pass. When we go through challenging times, its this that shapes us, You may not know it but you are currently building resilience.  And you will go on to help others. This episode is for you. Follow me on Facebook , Instagram , TikTok or LinkedIn for all the latest on...

If you were asked what would you do differently, with everything you've learnt in business what would it be? This is exactly what I cover in this episode! For me the No 1 thing is learning. I buried my head for 10 years but I'm making up for it now. Work on yourself like you work on your business.  "The more you learn, the more you earn". Secondly its all about mindset. We are our own worst enemy,...

Respect the time you have. You can keep busy with many important things, but that doesn't mean they are the best things for you.  In this episode I talk about moving yourself away from the £10 tasks in your business and onto the £1000 tasks. Always ask yourself "Is this the best use of my time?"  Most people when asked what they want to earn say they want to "earn £10k a month and work a 30 hour w...

Life is a series of decisions, and in Episode 112 of the Fail Forward Podcast, I explore the art of decision making.  Listen as I uncover what makes the basis for good decision making, starting with the importance of removing emotion from the equation and getting into a neutral state, where you can approach decisions more objectively. Additionally, the significance of data driven decisions must no...

Chris's entrepreneurial journey began with leaving college at 16 and landing a job at HSBC's call centre where he discovered his knack for sales. A short stint as a stockbroker taught him that money doesn't buy happiness. Chris then found himself leading a team as manager of Natwest bank with little credibility at just 18 years of age, trying to persuade people who had been in the business for 30...

No one gives a sh*t about you!  What they care about is how your product or service can solve their problem now. In this episode I talk about dropping the jargon. Stop saying, "we do this, we do that, we've got this kit, the latest technology." People don't give a sh*t. They just care about what you can do for them! Drop the features and benefits. What problems do you actually solve? Back in the d...

In Episode 109 of the Fail Forward Podcast, I explore the analogy of success being a summitless mountain. Reflecting on an outdoor retreat experience led by CEO Adventurer, John Beamson last year, I draw parallels between facing challenges in the Scottish mountains and navigating business hurdles.   I share insights on the importance of appreciating the journey, embracing setbacks as part of the p...

Sales! It's the one thing people fear the most.  In Episode 108 of the Fail Forward Podcast, I tackle the essential skill that every business must master: sales. It's all about output, the more you do the more you will create. I draw the distinction that marketing is NOT sales. Marketing lays the groundwork by attracting prospects, but sales close the deals and drive revenue. We've all experienced...

In this episode I talk about burnout - how it affects us and our business. Working with 43 business owners in the tree surgery mastermind I now deal with so many who are in burnout.  But what is burnout? It's when you put all your effort into your life and your business and you end up frazzled, overwhelmed, left with no energy, you feel numb and neutral about everything. It's awful. So how can we...

Episode 106 of the Fail Forward podcast is out now! Click the link in my bio to tune in today! In this episode of Fail Forward, I'm joined by Natasha Britton, a former beauty industry expert turned successful business coach. Natasha shares her journey of turning a passion into profit, overcoming obstacles and finding success in unexpected places. Natasha's story begins with her childhood dream of...

In this episode, I interview Andy Taylor, who shares his journey from partnering with his dad's fencing business to selling it for seven figures, and then setting up other businesses, offering valuable insights along the way. Andy's entry into a family business marked the beginning of relationship dynamics and growth hurdles. He emphasises the importance of maintaining a balance between familial t...

Hot off the press – Dave Brailsford joins Manchester United. Fear not, you're still in the right podcast! Dave Brailsford, the mastermind behind Team Sky, transformed our nation from one of the worst cycling nations to one of the best.   His secret? Marginal gains. Dave's mission was simple: improve each aspect of the process by 1%. Bike frame, wheels, brakes, rider, sleep, food, clothes—nothing e...

How much time do you lose blaming others or getting angry?   I used to get so angry when things would go wrong. I'd get home and rant at my poor wife Sarah. It was all such a big drama! I wasted SO much energy all the time.   This episode is about being accountable. I am where I am today because of my own actions and things that I have done. As soon as I stopped blaming other people and looked wit...

Ever been labelled as… An anxious person? A negative person? A depressed person? That you've imposter syndrome? Yes?  Then this podcast episode is for you! I've felt all those feelings too. That I am winging it, out my comfort zone, stressed and sad. But just because you feel a certain way, it does not define you. When I started this podcast, I really felt imposter syndrome, but I did not let this...

Do you recall, I did a past episode on finding your winning formula? What do you need to do to be the best business owner, husband, dad, friend and how do you turn up as your best self? This episode focuses on what you need to do to create it. Don't you find routine goes out the window at Christmas? In those two weeks you lose your rhythm, wake up at no set time, forget what day of the week it is....

Celebrating our 100th milestone episode!  Firstly, I want to personally thank you all, we are now No 1 in the Entrepreneurship Podcast charts and rapidly climbing all the other podcast charts. I have loved producing them and hearing how they have impacted your life and business. Over the past two years, we've explored topics like business, addiction, self-improvement and personal growth together....

I left school with no exams, just this unconventional award at the school prom, "most likely to go to prison award". My mum was so proud. This episode delves into the heart of the narrative of this whole podcast — the recognition that failure is part of the journey towards success.  Drawing from my experiences of business setbacks and overcoming drug addiction, I explore the concept of reinvention...

If you've recently been questioning, 'How do I charge less?' maybe now is the time to ask yourself, 'How do I charge more?' Dive into the realities of business finance in Episode 98, where I share my personal journey through the challenges of running a low-margin business. Money in the bank doesn't always mean profit, especially in sectors like tree surgery.  We'll explore the traps of competing o...

In this episode I delve into the challenging but common experience of encountering trolls and negative feedback online. Something I experienced first hand, and still do, but I have learned to handle criticism, whether from strangers, or even friends and family in my case, and turn it to an advantage.  If I listened to the trolls I would not be in this position: position No 2 in the Entrepreneur Ap...

In this latest episode of the Fail Forward Podcast, I ask are you unknowingly sitting upon a goldmine?    After losing my tree surgery business, I initially believed that my industry was one of the hardest. But as I rebuilt the business, I realised I had always been sitting on my own goldmine.   Key Insights from My Experience:   Diversification of Income: I learned the hard way the importance of...

In this episode of the Fail Forward Podcast, I take a deep dive into the role of workplace culture, reflecting on my own journey with two invaluable team members, Sophie Rogers and Mike Netley. This episode is dedicated to them! Twelve years ago, when Mike started, it was just me, Mike, a van and a chipper. Sophie joined us nine years later. From those early days, my goal was always to create a sa...

Episode 94 of the Fail Forward podcast delves into the crucial question: 'Why invest in a business mentor?' The episode explores the two paths' business owners can take—paying in time or paying in money. Henri emphasises the pitfalls of relying solely on free resources and fumbling your way through endless mistakes to get to your goal in 10 years (if you're lucky that is). Or the impact of investi...

This episode is all about ditching excuses and taking charge.  I share the common reasons for not getting things done, like blaming past circumstances, the lucky fortunes of others and not having time. I challenge you to check how much time you spend on distractions like social media (hint: you do have time).  Success is in your hands, so hold yourself accountable. Skipping work today leads to a h...