As business owners, one of the most consistent pieces of advice we hear is to “delegate.” We’re told, directly or indirectly, that, to grow beyond being a one-person show, we need to let go of tasks—especially the low-value ones—and hand them off so we can focus on higher-level work. Yet, in this episode of the #Add A Zero Podcast, Jay Allen shares hard-won truths and detailed case studies that reveal why delegation, as commonly practiced, often fails, and what must change to truly scale a business.

This insightful episode provides both practical and philosophical guidance for business owners who aspire not just to grow their operations, but to make their businesses sustainable and valuable—transforming what might feel like a one-person bottleneck into a legacy enterprise. Let’s break down the episode in detail.

The Common Delegation Myth—and Its Pitfalls

At the onset, Jay acknowledges the prevailing wisdom: delegation is supposed to free up business owners to move from working in their business to working on it. Give those “£10 tasks”—the routine, repetitive jobs—to others so you can pursue the big-ticket opportunities that bring in thousands or tens of thousands of pounds. That’s the theory, and it does have merit. But in practice, “most people do it badly, do it wrong,” he observes.

Owners frequently:

• Hand off the wrong tasks to the wrong people

• Fail to provide the necessary structure and support

• End up with delegated work boomeranging back onto their plates

• Become convinced it’s easier just to do it themselves

The result of failed delegation isn’t just inefficiency or annoyance—it’s a business where everything revolves around the owner. If they aren’t there, decisions stall and progress halts. The owner is not just a leader; they’re a bottleneck, stifling growth and jeopardizing sustainability.

The Cost of Owner Dependency

In both cases, the lesson is stark: a business that depends on its owner for every key decision, relationship, or permission is fragile and effectively “unsellable.” As Jay stresses, no buyer wants to purchase a business whose assets, processes, or relationships are inextricably tied to the seller’s personal efforts and brainpower.

This isn’t just about holidays or sick leave: it’s about creating a business that could thrive—or at least function—without you “at a moment’s notice.” If that’s not the case, the business can crumble rapidly, as the profit model and operations are not sustainable past the owner’s presence.

Episode 96 of the #Add A Zero Podcast lays down a challenge for every business owner. It's time to move beyond the myth of “just delegate more.” Instead, true value, resilience, and scale come from embedding systems, structures, accountability, and succession at every level.

A real business is not an extension of its founder but a living, growing organism, able to withstand the test of time, adversity, and—even more importantly—absence. If your business depends solely on you, you have an urgent call to action.

Listen for the powerful stories, reflect on your own practice, and if you’re ready, take meaningful steps to build legacy, not just income.

Thank you for being part of the #Add A Zero community. If you found this review insightful, don't forget to subscribe, share your reflections, and connect for further support. Your business—and legacy—are worth it.

Welcome to the #Add A Zero Podcast Episode 95, where hosts Jay Allen and MC dive deep into the often-hidden reality behind business success. If you’re a business owner, entrepreneur, or leader seeking sustainable growth without sacrificing your personal life, this episode is a must-listen!

🔑 Episode Highlights:

• Why many high-achieving business owners feel more trapped than ever before, despite outward success

• The “Five-Star Prison” phenomenon—how your thriving business can become your biggest limitation

• Relatable client stories: Going from solo operation to a bustling team, yet missing out on family moments

• Jay Allen’s raw personal journey: Building, nearly losing, and ultimately exiting a multi-seven figure business

• Practical solutions: How to identify if you’re trapped and Jay’s proven techniques to break free and reclaim your freedom

• Exclusive business freedom assessment & audit tool—find out how “trapped” you really are

The Accidental Business Owner

Are you an “accidental business owner”? Jay explains this is a common thread among his clients—people who didn’t necessarily plan to build an empire, but became so good at what they do that demand skyrocketed. In response, they take on help, expand, and before long are running a complex organization.

But this growth, if unmanaged, leads to a scenario where business owners become central to everything—nothing works without them, and stepping away feels impossible. Your business, designed for freedom and impact, starts to feel like a padded cell.

Jay introduces the concept of the “five-star prison”: a business that looks great on the outside—amazing reviews, healthy revenues, a happy team—but quietly traps its owner inside. Family holidays, personal time, even basic self-care get sacrificed on the altar of keeping the business afloat.

Jay shares how he fell into this trap himself: After leaving a corporate career to buy a micro-business in 2005, he grew aggressively, but the stress and personal toll mounted. Major industry changes (like Woolworths’ collapse) put everything at risk, and even after a remarkable turnaround, Jay realized the emotional cost was too high. He exited the business—then committed his life to helping others avoid the same fate.

This episode is a wake-up call for entrepreneurs: If your business requires you to be present 24/7, constantly “on,” and always available, it may be thriving in numbers—but failing in purpose. Jay and MC discuss how easy it is to lose sight of the original motivation behind your business when scaling gets tough.

The loss of connection with family, friends, and self is real. Jay describes the deep regret that can come when a business owner realizes they were “absent” from the most important moments of their family’s lives, despite financial success.

Frustrated by how often he saw this pattern, Jay developed a straightforward audit: the Business Freedom Assessment, offered free in the show notes. This tool helps business owners quickly pinpoint how “trapped” they’ve become—and offers practical steps to change course. If you’re missing out on life, working longer hours without increased rewards, or have built a team that relies entirely on you, it’s time for a change.

Jay’s mission is clear: No business owner should ever have to choose between business success and personal happiness. The methods and resources shared on #Add A Zero can help you reclaim your time, delegate with confidence, and design a business that works for you—not the other way around.#AddAZero #BusinessGrowth #EntrepreneurFreedom #ExitPlanning #BusinessCoaching #SustainableSuccess #MyTrueNorth #JayAllen #WorkLifeBalance #BusinessPodcast

Keywords: business reinvention, business rebuilding, small business growth, entrepreneurial mindset, scale and exit mentorship, business coaching, ethical business, business reset, niche business coaching, Add a Zero methodology, My True North

In “Why I’m Blowing Up My Business (And Why You Might Need to Do the Same),” Jay Allen lays bare the sometimes uncomfortable truths that all growth-focused business owners must face:

• What happens when your business quietly drifts from its purpose due to relentless pressures and market “sameness”?

• Why even successful businesses can become victims of their own growth, morphing into just another generic service provider

• How to spot the subtle ways your company’s “north star” has wavered – and what to do about it before you slide into burnout, irrelevance, or price-driven competition

Jay kicks off by sharing heartfelt reflections from My True North’s 10th birthday celebration, complete with staff, suppliers, achievements, and gratitude for being among the rare 30% of small businesses still thriving after a full decade.

But beneath the celebration, Jay faced a stark realization: Over 10 years, My True North had gradually shifted from a specialist “scale and exit” mentorship service into a more mainstream business coaching offering – the exact thing he’d sworn never to do.

In chasing wider appeal and relentless delivery to clients, his own business had become vulnerable to “the sea of sameness” – that dangerous place where you blend in, comparison shopping kicks in, and price wars drive you toward burnout and mediocrity.

Jay didn’t just spot the problem; he attacked it head-on. Instead of falling further adrift, he ran a brutal, honest audit of My True North using his own Add a Zero methodology – treating himself as a customer, hunting for every flaw and missed opportunity.

The result? Painful truths. Despite a powerful brand and hundreds of client wins, My True North wasn’t applying its own advice consistently. The urgent, customer-centric focus left core processes, innovation, and differentiation to languish in the background. Jay realized: To serve at the next level, he had to put his own “MTN 1.0” business model to bed – despite its financial success.

This isn’t business as usual. Jay is archiving top-selling programs and relaunching My True North with a single, signature offer – targeted exclusively at “accidental business owners.” These are individuals who excel at what they do, built teams around their brilliance, and suddenly find themselves overworked, overwhelmed, and wondering if success is meant to be so draining.

In place of complexity and generalism, Jay introduces a simple, three-step framework within a focused 12-week program:

• Moving business owners from trapped, hands-on operators to true CEOs

• Applying the proven Add a Zero methodology to create scale, purpose, freedom, and sustainable impact

• Providing clarity, accountability, and direct transformation – not just more information or generic advice

This laser-sharp niche is the antidote to comparison-driven race-to-the-bottom competition. It’s a call for every conscientious leader to reevaluate, differentiate, and build a business that stands for something more.

• For business owners and entrepreneurs: Jay’s story is your reality check. Whether you’ve hit your own growth ceiling, lost sight of your unique value, or feel overwhelmed by trying to “do it all,” you’ll get a roadmap for reclaiming control.

• For coaches and consultants: Learn how to retain your edge, compete with integrity, and niche down – even if it means letting go of profitable offers.

• For conscious leaders: Get inspired by My True North’s mission-driven approach: scaling ethically, empowering teams, eradicating unemployment, and leaving a legacy.

Don’t miss Jay’s practical steps for running your own “secret shopper” audit, differentiating from the crowd, and choosing courage over comfort.

Welcome to another inspiring episode of the #Add A Zero Podcast, brought to you by My True North – the UK’s leading ethical business consultancy! In Episode 93, hosts MC and Jay Allen (he/him) dive deep into the game of business, breaking down the seven magical numbers every business owner must understand and influence to create remarkable, sustainable growth.

Whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur or a growing founder, this episode is packed with actionable insights and profound strategies straight from the minds of those who’ve truly mastered the business game. You’ll discover how high-performing business leaders play by a very different set of rules – and why adopting these principles could revolutionize your results.

🎧 What’s Inside This Episode

• Why Business is a Game
  Jay Allen shares a powerful story of meeting a 79-year-old billionaire whose business turns over £2 billion a year. Despite his age and challenges, the billionaire is still hooked on “playing the game” – but his version of winning isn’t about chance or luck. It’s about understanding—and influencing—seven essential numbers.

• Do You Know the Seven Magical Numbers?
  In the world of the super-successful, business outcomes become predictable because they know which numbers to track and exactly how to move them.
  Jay reveals these seven magical numbers:

  1. Number of inbound enquiries: Are you measuring how many people reach out to your business—through landing pages, forms, emails, or phone calls?

  2. Conversion rate: How many of those enquiries become customers? Are you tracking this by channel, landing page, or strategy?

  3. Number of customers: The total paying customers in a set period.

  4. Average first-time spend: What’s the value of a customer’s first purchase?

  5. Purchase progression and lifetime value: How do customers’ behaviour and spending change over time?

  6. Cost of goods sold (COGS): What does it actually cost you to deliver your product or service?

  7. Net profit margin: After everything is done, what’s left in profit? How can you influence and predict this?

• Strategic Influence vs. Random Effort
  Instead of just working harder or relying on luck, Jay explains how elite entrepreneurs develop multiple strategies—174 at last count!—to directly influence these numbers. These aren’t theoretical tips. They’re tried and tested tactics, refined over years of working with more than 120,000 businesses.

• Methodology That Works
  Jay introduces the award-winning #AddAZERO methodology, a system based on deep research and real-world data that’s consistently delivered a 26% net profit increase on average for clients. Some businesses have even doubled in less than seven months or grown by 250% within three years!

• #AddAZeroPodcast

• #BusinessGrowth

• #Entrepreneurship

• #BusinessStrategy

• #ScaleYourBusiness

• #BusinessSuccess

• #Profitability

• #SustainableGrowth

• #EthicalBusiness

• #MyTrueNorth

• #JayAllen

• #SevenMagicNumbers

• #BusinessMentor

• #GrowYourBusiness

• #NetProfit

• #BusinessTips

• #UKBusiness

• #SmallBusinessAdvice

• #BusinessConsulting

• #BusinessPodcast

• #LeadershipDevelopment

Welcome to Episode 92 of the #Add A Zero Podcast, presented by Jay Allen and brought to you in association with My TrueNORTH, the UK’s leading ethical coaching company. In this thought-provoking episode, Jay dives deep into a subject critical to every business—ethics. Do ethics truly matter in business, or are they just buzzwords thrown around in mission statements and sales pitches? Join us as we challenge assumptions and explore a powerful real-world example that shows exactly why ethics can mean the difference between life and death—not just for public image, but literally.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• Why ethics, culture, and standards should be in place from day one

• The risks of neglecting business values and code of conduct

• A real-life (though anonymized) case study showing the tragic impact of unchecked unethical practices

• The importance of validation and accountability in business procedures

• How My TrueNORTH leads by example in the realm of business ethics

• Practical takeaways for business owners wanting to ensure authenticity and ethical standards from the ground up

Episode Overview

Most business owners assume that ethics, culture, and codes of conduct are things you deal with after you’ve grown—something to install “when you get to X size.” But as Jay Allen shares, this mindset is dangerously flawed. Using the fictional company “LearnCo” as a stand-in for a real company, Jay tells the story of how prioritizing metrics and rapid growth over genuine ethical standards can have catastrophic consequences.

LearnCo positioned itself as an innovative online training platform, offering businesses like Costa Coffee a one-stop solution for staff development and onboarding. With impressive metrics at their fingertips and promises of seamless reporting, companies flocked to LearnCo’s platform. But when a barista’s lack of adequate training led to a fatal error—a child’s tragic allergic reaction—the very foundation of half-measures, unchecked boxes, and lack of validation exposed the immense risks of ethical negligence.

Why Listen to This Episode?

• Real-World Lessons: This episode isn’t theoretical. Jay’s storytelling makes the cost of ethics failure painfully clear—reminding us all what’s truly at stake.

• Inspiration from the Experts: Learn how My TrueNORTH was recognized for its unwavering ethical stand, and how you can apply these learnings to your own business.

• Actionable Takeaways: Whether you’re a solopreneur or a CEO, you’ll walk away with concrete questions and challenges to raise your own standards.

Who Should Listen?

• Business owners and entrepreneurs serious about building scalable and sustainable companies

• HR professionals and training officers responsible for employee development and onboarding

• Board members and C-Suite leaders concerned with reputational risk and organizational resilience

• Anyone interested in the intersection of business growth, ethics, and real-world impact

• Suppliers, partners, and procurement professionals looking to validate claims of authenticity and ethical practice

Listener Challenge

As you finish this episode, ask yourself:

• Are you living up to the ethics and standards your brand claims?

• How do you verify your suppliers’ and partners’ claims of authenticity?

• Are you validating more than “box-ticking” performance metrics?

Email your thoughts, stories, and questions to podcast@mytruenorth.biz – Jay and the team welcome your feedback and real-world challenges.

Welcome to Episode 91 of the #Add A Zero Podcast, the go-to show for ambitious business owners committed to driving significant and sustainable growth for both themselves and their companies. Hosted by Jay Allen, founder of My True North and a renowned ethical business coach, this episode dives deep into one of the most overlooked keys to real progress: embracing failure as a crucial step toward success.

Whether you’re a small business owner, an entrepreneur with bold dreams, or a leader keen to future-proof your company, this episode is packed with practical insights, hard-earned lessons, and leadership strategies to help turn your obstacles into powerful opportunities.

• The Real Value of Failing Forward: Discover why mistakes and setbacks are not roadblocks but essential milestones on your business growth journey.

• Business “Banana Skins”: Learn to spot the most common pitfalls (Jay’s “banana skins”) successful businesses encounter – and how to avoid slipping up.

• Case Study – The 64% Revenue Risk: Hear a real-world client story about dangerous overreliance on a single income source, and how to shift toward a more resilient, diversified revenue model.

• Leadership Blind Spots: Uncover the subtle warning signs leaders often miss amid busy day-to-day operations—and how an outside perspective can reveal hidden opportunities and threats.

• The Power of Non-Negotiable Standards: Understand how maintaining and upholding consistent business standards is vital for trust, growth, and long-term reputation.

• Practical Steps for Sustainable Growth: Actionable advice to help implement change, evaluate your business from multiple perspectives, and lead with greater confidence and integrity.

In an eye-opening client case study, Jay discusses a company where a single client made up a staggering 64% of annual revenue. This overdependence created massive cash flow vulnerability, especially when payment terms slipped out of sync. Jay’s solution? Diversify revenue sources to ensure no invoice or client exceeds the net annual profit, drastically reducing risk and ensuring business continuity—no matter what happens to one major account.

Borrowing lessons from his time in the British Army, Jay explains the concept of “the standard”—a non-negotiable benchmark that defines how business is done. He warns against the slow erosion of standards (like quietly accepting late payments or overlooked conditions), because these small lapses can undermine trust and set dangerous precedents. “The standard is the standard,” he says—keep your word, uphold your terms, and maintain consistency in every facet of your company.

Even the best leaders can miss subtle signs of trouble: loyal team members leaving for competitors, suppliers bending rules, or seemingly small exceptions to your core policies. These “leadership blind spots” often go unaddressed when things are generally good, yet they can hide serious risks or lost opportunities underneath the surface. Jay stresses the value of seeking outside perspectives—from a coach, mentor, or even by role-playing as your own supplier or employee—to catch what you might otherwise overlook.

The episode closes with a call to action: regularly step out of your business and look back with a critical eye. Evaluate your company from the perspective of clients, suppliers, stakeholders, and potential recruits. This 360-degree view can be the catalyst for game-changing breakthroughs, revealing new paths for growth while protecting against avoidable disasters.

#BusinessGrowth
#SustainableGrowth
#FailingForward
#BusinessLessons
#BananaSkins
#CashFlow
#DiversifyIncome
#Leadership
#BusinessRisks
#EthicalBusiness
#MyTrueNorth
#AddAZero
#BusinessOwner
#EntrepreneurMindset
#BlindSpots
#BusinessCoaching
#ScaleYourBusiness
#NetProfit
#BusinessStandards
#LearningFromFailure
#BusinessAdvice
#UKBusiness
#LeadershipDevelopment
#BusinessMentor
#SustainableSuccess

Episode 90: How We Found £225,000 in Hidden Revenue – Real Business Audit Breakdown | #Add A Zero Podcast

Unlock hidden profits in your business! In this episode of the #Add A Zero Podcast, host Jay Allen shares the step-by-step process he used to discover over £225,000 of missed revenue for a business owner—before they even became a client. Dive into real examples of common business leaks: unbilled work, underpricing, missed upsell opportunities, and the importance of effective follow-up.

Whether you’re a small business owner or managing a thriving company, learn actionable strategies to plug hidden profit leaks and scale your revenue. Listen as we break down real-life business challenges, discuss ethical scaling, and showcase how My True North’s award-winning #AddAZERO methodology empowers UK business leaders to achieve sustainable growth.

Don’t miss:

• Real-world audit findings turning lost time into cash

• How a simple follow-up can immediately boost revenue

• Steps you can take today to uncover and reclaim lost profits in your business

• The value of ethical consultancy in sustainable business success

Subscribe for more powerful business growth tips and stories!
#BusinessGrowth #BusinessAudit #AddAZero #Podcast #Entrepreneurship #EthicalBusiness #RevenueGrowth #MyTrueNorth

— Presented by Jay Allen, Founder of My True North – The UK’s Leading Ethical Coaching Company
Listen now and discover the hidden gold in your business!

Welcome to Episode 89 of the #Add A Zero Podcast!
Are you a business owner looking for sustainable growth and real-world insights?

In this episode, hosts Jay Allen does a deep dive into the theme: “What Got You Here Won’t Get You There.” Jay shares the journey of Alex, a business owner who transitioned from redundancy to running a thriving business—before encountering the roadblocks of time, scaling, and burnout. Discover how targeted auditing, strategic tweaks, and courageous investments can transform your business trajectory.

Learn:

• Why working harder doesn’t always lead to meaningful growth

• The power of stepping off the tools and working ON your business

• When and how to seek outside help, including funding and mentorship

• Real stories of scale, including how Alex doubled his business output and began winning five-figure contracts

• The critical importance of exit strategies and leadership planning for long-term business security

Whether you’re just starting up, finding yourself stuck, or planning an exit, this episode delivers valuable takeaways on scaling sustainably, maintaining work-life balance, and future-proofing your success.

👥 Hosted by: Jay Allen, presented in partnership with My True North – the UK’s leading ethical coaching company

Subscribe, comment, and share your thoughts below!
Contact us at podcast@mytruenorth.biz

#BusinessGrowth #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusiness #SustainableScaling #Podcast #AddAZero