In this podcast episode, host Rob Lawrence interviews Colin Tapscott, author of two books Everyday Alchemy: Transforming Your Trash into Treasure and Everyday People, Everyday Leaders.

Colin is an EMCC-accredited Senior Practitioner Coach, leadership trainer, speaker, and one of the coaches at BGCN.

Colin and Rob discuss the importance of self-awareness, reflection, and values-driven leadership for business owners. Colin shares practical frameworks for turning challenges into growth opportunities, building resilience, and fostering supportive business communities.

Colin teaches us the power of pausing and reflecting as key habits for personal and professional development, drawing from his own experiences and insights from his book.

The conversation offers actionable advice for leaders seeking to navigate setbacks, manage stress, and lead with authenticity and emotional intelligence.

In this episode, you'll learn:

Introduction & Colin’s Background (00:02:05)

Colin introduces himself, his coaching work, and his background as a head teacher and founder of Everyday Leader.

The Role of Self-Awareness in Leadership (00:02:58)

Colin talks about the importance of self-awareness, honest reflection, and emotional intelligence for business resilience.

Recognising and Managing Pressure (00:03:50)

Colin and Rob explore the pressures founders face, the impact of stress, and the need to notice emotional and physical cues.

Building Deliberate Reflection into Busy Schedules (00:05:11)

Colin shares practical advice on scheduling intentional reflection moments and being proactive about self-check-ins.

Practical Reflection Techniques (00:06:17)

Suggestions for simple reflection practices, such as body/emotion check-ins and reviewing daily experiences.

Intentional and Spontaneous Self-Reflection (00:07:38)

How to use reminders and triggers for reflection, and the value of spontaneous self-awareness during the day.

Developing a Resilient Mindset: Everyday Alchemy (00:08:27)

Introduction to Colin’s “Everyday Alchemy” model for transforming setbacks into opportunities through the pause, reflect, and respond model.

The Three-Step Alchemy Process (00:09:29)

Detailed explanation of pausing, reflecting (using the four W’s), and responding thoughtfully in challenging moments.

The Four W’s for Reflection (00:10:27)

Breakdown of the four W’s: What is needed, Who do I want to be, Which values guide me, and Where’s the treasure.

Applying Values in Decision-Making (00:11:14)

How to identify and use core values to guide actions, especially in uncertain or high-pressure situations.

Quick Reflection and Verification Before Responding (00:12:56)

Colin’s tips for rapid self-checks and using holding phrases to buy time before responding under pressure.

Understanding and Identifying Personal Values (00:15:17)

Colin offers guidance on discovering personal values and their importance in shaping business and personal decisions.

Values in Business and Team Culture (00:16:30)

How values influence business culture, team alignment, and responses to clients or challenging situations.

Empathy, Understanding, and Helping Others Transform...

In this podcast episode, host Rob Lawrence interviews Alan Nicholls, from the UK Government’s Money and Pensions Service and BGCN.

You'll hear a discussion on how to develop essential financial habits for business owners, with an emphasis on the importance of budgeting, separating personal and business finances, and building financial resilience.

Alan highlights practical tools (see below) for budgeting and tax support, and shares advice on managing cash flow, saving regularly, and preparing for tax obligations.

Our conversation encourages normalising discussions about money, seeking support, and using available resources to gain confidence and control over both personal and business finances.

In this episode, you'll learn:

Introduction and Guest Background (00:02:00) Alan introduces himself, his roles at the Money and Pensions Service and BCN, and his experience supporting SMEs.

The Importance of Thinking About Money from Day One (00:03:59) Discussion on why financial awareness is crucial from the start of a business, and the overlap with personal finances.

Developing Good Financial Habits (00:06:49) Advice on building regular habits for reviewing income and expenditure, and the importance of monthly check-ins.

Tools for Managing Finances (00:08:02) Introduction to the Money Helper website and its budgeting tools, especially for those who dislike spreadsheets.

Facing Financial Messiness and Avoidance (00:10:27) Normalising the messiness of finances, the dangers of avoidance, and the risks of turning to harmful solutions.

Understanding and Controlling Your Finances (00:13:00) Emphasis on feeling in control, exploring financial education, and using available support resources.

Separating Personal and Business Finances (00:14:36) Why separating accounts brings clarity, especially as businesses grow and tax requirements increase.

Practicalities of Separate Accounts for Sole Traders (00:17:05) Clarifying myths about bank accounts, and practical steps for sole traders to separate business finances.

Problems with Mixing Personal and Business Finances (00:19:25) Examples of complications and tax issues that arise from not keeping finances separate.

Cash Flow and Its Importance for Growth (00:21:53) Explanation of cash flow, its role in business growth, and the need for planning and resilience.

Budgeting and Building Financial Resilience (00:25:14) Mindset and strategies for budgeting, creating a savings pot, and planning for unexpected events.

Planning for Success and Future Growth (00:29:28) How to use surplus funds, set savings goals, and reinvest in business or personal financial resilience.

Self-Assessment and Tax Basics (00:32:31) When to start thinking about tax returns, thresholds, and the benefits of good record-keeping.

Avoiding Surprises and Building Financial Habits (00:34:35) Tips for staying on top of receipts, expenses, and making financial management a daily habit.

Guidance on Savings and Tax Percentages (00:38:27) Focus on developing a savings habit over fixed percentages, and the importance of understanding your own finances.

Accountability and Seeking Support (00:40:43) Encouragement to seek accountability, use available coaching, and not to go it alone.

Final Thoughts and Key...

In this podcast episode, host Rob Lawrence interviews Julie Murray, a marketing expert and business coach.

Julie shares practical advice on building a strong brand for small businesses, highlighting the importance of defining a core purpose or "why" before focusing on logos or campaigns.

Julie reveals how brand personality, customer feedback, and founder involvement can shape brand success. Julie also explores the impact of AI on marketing, strategies for overcoming resistance to self-promotion, and the value of clear goals and consistent messaging to help you grow your business.

Listen out for Julie's actionable tips for entrepreneurs, founders, and owners alike, looking to create and grow meaningful brands, products, services, and businesses.

In this episode, you'll learn:

Julie’s Background and Experience (00:01:56) Julie shares her marketing career, corporate roles, and transition to running her own agency and coaching business.

The Importance of Defining Your “Why” (00:04:38) Julie explains why small businesses must clarify their core purpose before focusing on logos and marketing materials.

Uncovering Brand Essence Through Personal Stories (00:06:26) Julie shares how personal highs and lows help reveal authentic brand purpose and target audience.

Branding Is More Than a Logo (00:07:31) Julie suggests that branding goes beyond visual identity and can be revisited at any stage of business.

Rebranding and Brand Audits (00:08:16) Julie advises on reviewing brand relevance, customer feedback, and standing out in the market.

Brand Personality and Customer Feedback (00:09:52) The conversation covers developing a brand personality and using customer feedback to differentiate and improve.

Scaling Brand Culture and Consistency (00:12:03) Julie highlights the importance of brand culture, founder influence, and consistency as businesses grow.

Involving Team and Customers in Branding (00:12:58) Julie suggests involving employees, customers, and partners in shaping and evolving the brand.

Using Customer Feedback as Marketing Content (00:13:52) Julie explains how to collect, use, and share customer feedback and testimonials as marketing material.

Defining Brand by What It Isn’t (00:15:15) Julie recommends clarifying brand identity by listing what the business is not, to sharpen focus.

Finding Brand Uniqueness and Energy (00:17:24) Julie discusses following passion and energy to discover a brand’s unique voice and resonance.

Case Study: The Power of “Why” in Positioning (00:17:57) Julie shares a story about a home care business, illustrating how uncovering the founder’s “why” transformed the brand.

Aligning Passion, Skills, and Market Need (00:21:25) Julie introduces the “IKIGAI” model—success comes from combining passion, expertise, and market demand: what you are good at and what people will pay for.

Breakthroughs in Brand Clarity (00:22:18) Julie describes how clients reach clarity through questioning, reflection, and external feedback.

Balancing Passion and Market Demand (00:23:56) Julie addresses the challenge of when passion doesn’t align with what people will pay for, and the need for honest...