• The 1 Year From Now Test
    Jan 7 2026

    Step into Episode 109 of The Accidental Business Owner Podcast as Jay Allen shares a powerful mindset shift that can transform how you navigate your business. Jay breaks down the practice of projecting yourself one year into the future and looking back at your business from that vantage point. This forward-focused, retrospective view cuts through stress, reframes challenges, and gives you the clarity you’ve been craving.He opens up about how this approach helped him shake off the lingering weight of COVID setbacks, budget failures, and years of frustration, allowing him to see his business with fresh energy and renewed optimism. Instead of carrying the past, he uses the future to guide his next steps—bringing a clearer head, stronger confidence, and a genuinely positive outlook for the year ahead.Jay challenges every business owner to try it: shift your perspective, gain mental breathing room, and rediscover what’s possible when you stop staring at the struggle and start learning from the future.If you’re ready for a mental reset, strategic clarity, and a motivational boost, this episode is exactly what you need.Please visit my website to get more information: http://www.mytruenorth.biz/ ✨ Check out the ADDAZERO Free Scaleup audit report here: http://www.addazero.co.uk/free-scale-audit🔔𝐃𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬.https://www.youtube.com/@MyTrueNORTHUK/?sub_confirmation=1 ⭐⭐⭐Audio Podcast is currently on your favourite platforms:Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/6DUyVgA3TjsQmyjgP4CInG?si=1ac052c8ef7a42df ApplePodcast:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/addazero-business-challenge/id1808888157Podbean:https://www.podbean.com/podcast-detail/a8c28-1c5065/%23ADDAZERO-Business-Challenge-Podcast🔗 Stay Connected With Me.Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MyTrueNORTHUK/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mytruenorthuk/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayallen-mytruenorth/ Website: http://www.mytruenorth.biz/ 📩 For business inquiries: Enquiries@MyTrueNORTH.Biz =============================✅ About My TrueNORTH - The Ethical Coaching Company.Welcome to My TrueNORTH – The Ethical Coaching Company! I’m Jay Allen, a 2x Global Entrepreneur Award winner and former British Army medic turned business scale mentor. After leading change at the board level and scaling & exiting multiple businesses, I now help business owners grow sustainably and ethically. Through My TrueNORTH, I coach purpose-driven entrepreneurs to scale with integrity and clarity. I also founded the #ADDAZERO Business Challenge with a bold goal: to help 1,000,000 business owners add a zero to their income. Join me for real, ethical growth strategies that make a lasting impact.For Business inquiries, please use the contact information below:📩 Email: Enquiries@MyTrueNORTH.Biz🔔 Ready to scale ethically and sustainably? Subscribe for ethical business mentoring, expert business coaching, growth strategies, and the tools to grow your business!https://www.youtube.com/@MyTrueNORTHUK/?sub_confirmation=1 =================================#AccidentalBusinessOwner#JayAllen#BusinessMindset#FutureSelfPerspective#BusinessClarity#EntrepreneurLife#SmallBusinessTips#MindsetShift#BusinessGrowth#EntrepreneurMindset#PositiveThinking#BusinessMotivation#OvercomingChallenges#PostCovidBusiness#BusinessStrategy#ThinkAhead#PerspectiveShift#ClarityAndFocus#BusinessInspiration#LeadershipMindset

    Más Menos
    17 m
  • Episode 108 - Legacy Mindset: Build a Business That Outlives You
    Dec 31 2025
    In this powerful episode of The Accidental Business Owner Podcast, I unpack the critical mindset shift every conscientious business owner must make: from operator trapped in daily fires to legacy leader planning for a future without you at the helm.Drawing from over a decade of mentoring UK SMEs through My TrueNORTH and the award-winning #ADDAZERO methodology, this episode cuts straight to the heart of why most "accidental" owners fail to scale sustainably. You started your business for freedom, impact, and security—not to become its prisoner. Yet, without intentional legacy planning from day one, that's exactly what happens. Hiring staff isn't just about delegation; it's the signal to architect a self-sustaining enterprise.Most business leaders sidestep these realities until a crisis hits. I lay them bare with military-precision clarity, honed from my British Army background and frontline coaching:What happens when you've had enough? Burnout, health scares, or life events force the issue. Without a succession blueprint, your exit becomes chaos—value tanks, team scatters, legacy evaporates.How do you protect your team instead of abandoning them? Loyal staff who've poured their lives into your vision deserve continuity, not uncertainty. Legacy planning creates clear paths for promotion, ownership stakes, and role evolution.How do you build a business that survives without you? Shift from "owner-dependent" to "systems-driven." Embed processes, culture, and accountability so the company thrives on autopilot, unlocking true scale.These aren't abstract theories—they're battle-tested from 100,000+ businesses I've audited. Accidental owners often hit £1M revenue, then stall because legacy thinking starts too late.Planning your exit isn't a retirement pipe dream; it's rocket fuel for current operations. Here's how it transforms your business:Ignites Team Motivation: When staff see a compelling future—growth trajectories, equity shares, leadership ladders—they fight harder. Purpose beats perks every time.Builds Bulletproof Culture: Shared vision aligns everyone. No more silos or short-termism; decisions ladder up to long-term value.Attracts Top Talent: In a tight UK SME market, ethical leaders win the war for skills. Showcase your legacy roadmap in job ads, and it becomes your unfair advantage.Maximises Exit Value: Buyers pay premiums for turnkey operations. #ADDAZERO clients routinely add zeros by future-proofing early—think 3-5x multiples vs. fire-sale scraps.Secures Your Freedom: Work less, earn more, live intentionally. From cycling long-distance rides to keynote stages, reclaim your life without guilt.If you're a UK-based SME leader—scaling teams, battling ops overload, or eyeing ethical exit—this episode is your wake-up call. Perfect for those feeling the #ADDAZERO pull: conscientious growth without burnout. No fluff, just actionable frameworks to audit your business freedom today.Subscribe for more no-nonsense conversations for real business owners navigating real challenges.Please visit my website to get more information ✨ Check out the ADDAZERO Free Scaleup audit report 🔔𝐃𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬.⭐⭐⭐Audio Podcast is currently on your favourite platforms:Spotify, ApplePodcast, Podbean:🔗 Stay Connected With Me: Facebook: Instagram: Linkedin: Website: ✅ About My TrueNORTH - The Ethical Coaching Company.Welcome to My TrueNORTH – The Ethical Coaching Company! I help business owners grow sustainably and ethically. Through My TrueNORTH, I coach purpose-driven entrepreneurs to scale with integrity and clarity. I also founded the #ADDAZERO Business Challenge with a bold goal: to help 1,000,000 business owners add a zero to their income. Subscribe for ethical business mentoring, expert business coaching, growth strategies, and the tools to grow your business!
    Más Menos
    18 m
  • Your FREE invitation to the Global Founders and Innovators Summit Jan 2026
    Dec 24 2025

    Step into the world of entrepreneurship with David Wagstaff, CEO of Eprenz, in this captivating episode that traces the arc from humble beginnings to global impact. David’s story is one of resilience, innovation, and a relentless drive to empower others—making this a must-listen for aspiring founders, seasoned business owners, and anyone passionate about making a difference.

    David opens up about his early experiences, including the childhood lemonade stand that sparked his entrepreneurial spirit after a setback in school. Through candid storytelling, he reveals how small ventures and early failures can plant the seeds of confidence and creativity that fuel lifelong success. Listeners will be inspired by David’s journey from selling candy at school to earning an MBA and building businesses that not only generate profit but also create positive change.

    This episode dives deep into the practical realities of entrepreneurship. David shares invaluable advice on separating personal and business finances, understanding the true drivers of profitability, and avoiding common pitfalls that trip up new business owners. He emphasizes the importance of thinking beyond tax returns and encourages entrepreneurs to analyze their products, customers, and revenue streams with a strategic mindset.

    One of the standout themes is the power of planning ahead—especially when it comes to exit strategies. David explains why every entrepreneur should consider their end goal from the very beginning, sharing real-world examples of business owners who left money on the table by waiting too long to prepare for a sale. His insights on building relationships, understanding what buyers value, and designing a business for successful transition are essential listening for anyone looking to maximize their venture’s potential.

    But this episode isn’t just about business mechanics. David’s passion for social impact shines through as he discusses the mission behind Eprenz and the upcoming Global Founders and Innovators Summit. The event is more than a conference—it’s a movement to equip entrepreneurs with the knowledge, skills, and connections they need to thrive while making the world a better place. With sessions covering everything from launching your first business to scaling for growth and planning your exit, the summit is designed to meet you wherever you are on your entrepreneurial journey.

    Expect to hear about:

    • The accidental launch of an entrepreneurial career and the lessons learned along the way
    • How to build confidence and resilience through small wins and community support
    • The critical importance of financial literacy and strategic planning for business owners
    • Real-life stories of business transformation, growth, and successful exits
    • The vision and values driving the Global Founders and Innovators Summit
    • How entrepreneurs can create both profit and positive impact in their communities

    David also offers a behind-the-scenes look at the summit’s unique features: multiple tracks tailored to different stages of business, interactive workshops, networking opportunities with global peers, and access to world-class speakers—including investors, founders, and thought leaders who have collectively raised billions and built companies from the ground up.

    Ready to take your entrepreneurial journey to the next level?

    🎟️ Reserve your spot at the Global Founders and Innovators Summit—an immersive, FREE online conference open to entrepreneurs worldwide. Connect with like-minded changemakers, gain actionable insights, and be part of a community that believes in dreaming big and building a better future.

    Register now at Eprenz.com and join us for two days of inspiration, learning, and connection!

    Don’t just listen—take action. Your next breakthrough could be one conversation away.

    Más Menos
    46 m
  • Episode 107 - Contact, Wait Out! - Military Agility for Business Survival
    Dec 17 2025
    Have you ever faced a crisis where panic mode kicked in, only to watch smarter operators thrive? In this powerful episode of The Accidental Business Owner Podcast, I draw from my British Army days to unpack "Contact, Wait Out!" – the command that means assess calmly, adapt ruthlessly, then act with purpose. No knee-jerk reactions, just battlefield-tested resilience for UK business owners navigating chaos.From Brexit shocks to Covid lockdowns and beyond, I've seen SMEs fold under pressure while others scaled. Drawing from over a decade of mentoring through My TrueNORTH and the #ADDAZERO methodology, I break down why agility separates survivors from casualties. You started for freedom and impact – don't let unpredictability trap you in ops overload.This isn't theory; it's my frontline playbook, refined across 100,000+ business audits:Contact: Spot the Threat Early. Identify disruptions fast – supply chain breaks, market shifts, or team burnout. Example: Covid hit; agile owners pivoted to online while others clung to old models.Wait Out: Assess Without Panic. Pause to gather intel. What's the real impact? Resources on hand? In Brexit, resilient firms stress-tested suppliers months ahead, avoiding £100K+ losses.Adapt & Act: Pivot with precision. Build flexible systems, diversify revenue, and train teams for volatility. Result? #ADDAZERO clients turned 2020-2025 turbulence into 2-3x growth.Real talk: Post-lockdown UK SMEs faced 40% failure rates (ONS data), but agile ones emerged stronger. My military medic background taught me: hesitation kills, but rushed moves wound deeper.In unpredictable times, this mindset isn't optional – it's your scaling superpower:Builds Unbreakable Resilience: Stress-test ops quarterly; spot weaknesses before they sink you.Boosts Team Confidence: Train staff in the framework – they gain clarity, reducing turnover by 30%.Unlocks Growth Opportunities: Spot pivots others miss, like e-commerce booms during lockdowns.Maximises Exit Value: Buyers crave adaptable businesses – add zeros ethically, exit on your terms.Reclaims Your Freedom: Less firefighting, more strategy. Cycle those long rides guilt-free.Perfect for accidental owners battling 2025 headwinds: inflation, skills shortages, regulation. No fluff – actionable steps to audit agility now.Run a "Contact" Drill: Weekly scan for threats; log in a shared dashboard.Wait Out Protocol: 24-hour rule before big decisions – data over emotion.Adapt Playbook: 3 contingency plans per revenue stream.Measure Wins: Track agility score: response time down, recovery up.**#ADDAZERO Tien: Integrate into your Business Freedom Audit for sustained scale.If you're scaling teams, dodging disruptions, or building for the long game – this episode arms you.Listen & Take Action:Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Podbean.✨ Free #ADDAZERO Scaleup Audit: MyTrueNORTH.club/bsu.🔔 YouTube: Subscribe to @MyTrueNORTHUK.Connect: LinkedIn | Website | Instagram.About My TrueNORTH: Jay Allen here – 2x Global Entrepreneur Award winner, ex-Army medic, scale mentor. Helping 1M owners add a zero ethically via #ADDAZERO.The "Contact, Wait Out!" Framework in Action - Why Agility Fuels Ethical Scaling
    Más Menos
    18 m
  • Episode 106 - Built By Mistake, Scaled By Design – Escape the Trap
    Dec 10 2025
    Tired of your "simple idea" business consuming your life, leaving you working 80-hour weeks just to keep the lights on? In this eye-opening episode of The Accidental Business Owner Podcast, I reveal the hidden patterns trapping thousands of UK founders – and the #ADDAZERO blueprint to redesign for freedom, scale, and exit.From lifestyle startups that morph into monsters to £1M+ SMEs stalled by owner-dependency, I've audited 100,000+ businesses through My TrueNORTH. Most owners build accidentally: great at revenue, disastrous at systems. Result? You're the bottleneck, burnout looms, and exit value craters. This solo deep-dive flips the script with data-backed insights from our Scale and Exit Audits.No theory – these are the traps I've fixed for clients adding zeros ethically:Mistake #1: No Freedom Audit from Day 1. You chase revenue without mapping owner hours. Fix: Baseline your time; target 50% reduction in 90 days.Mistake #2: Hiring Reactively. Staff fill gaps but create new dependencies. Solution: Hire for #ADDAZERO seats – systems first, people second.Mistake #3: Revenue Without Profit Engine. Scaling topline kills margins. Audit: Pareto your offers; kill 80% low-margin clients.Mistake #4: Culture by Default. Teams drift without purpose. Build: Legacy vision shared quarterly – retention jumps 40%.Mistake #5: Exit Blindspot. No buyer-ready ops means fire-sale exit. Prep: Document processes; hit 3-5x multiples.Real client story: "Accidental" owner at £750K, trapped 70 hours/week. Post-audit: £2.2M revenue, 25 owner hours, team-run. That's designed scale.Unlike generic coaching, #ADDAZERO is military-precision for conscientious leaders:Data-Driven Audits: Benchmark against 100K+ SMEs – spot leaks instantly.Ethical Scaling: Grow without burnout, family sacrifice, or shady tactics.Exit-Ready from Jump: Build buyer appeal into DNA – freedom now, wealth later.Proven Results: Clients average 2.7x revenue in 18 months, 65% owner time freedom.Perfect for UK SME owners hitting ceilings: £500K-£5M revenue, ops overload, ethical growth hunger. From cycling epics to keynotes, reclaim your life.Run Your Free Audit: 15 minutes uncovers your traps MyTrueNORTH.club/bsuMap Dependency: List everything you do – delegate 70% in 30 days.Implement #ADDAZERO Framework: Systems > People > Scale > Exit.Quarterly Freedom Review: Track metrics; adjust ruthlessly.Build Legacy Culture: Share 5-year vision – watch loyalty explode.Stop building by mistake. Design your escape.Listen Now:Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Podbean.✨ Free Scaleup Audit: MyTrueNORTH.club/bsu.🔔 YouTube Subscribe: @MyTrueNORTHUK.Connect: LinkedIn | Website | Instagram.About My TrueNORTH: Jay Allen – 2x Global Entrepreneur Award winner, ex-Army medic, scale mentor. Mission: Help 1M owners add a zero ethically via #ADDAZERO.The 5 Deadly Mistakes Founders Repeat - Why My TrueNORTH's Approach Works - Actionable Steps to Scale By Design
    Más Menos
    21 m
  • Episode 105 - Why Micromanagement is Killing Your Business (And What to Do Instead)
    Dec 3 2025

    Is your leadership style secretly sabotaging your business? In this episode of The Accidental Business Owner Podcast, Jay Allen—award-winning entrepreneur and founder of My TrueNORTH—reveals why the old-school “command and control” approach is costing you talent, profits, and peace of mind.

    Discover how micromanagement destroys morale, slows growth, and drives your best people out the door. Jay shares eye-opening research from a major U.S. university study that analysed what really keeps employees loyal. Spoiler alert: nine retention drivers outrank salary—and most businesses ignore them completely.

    If you want a team that performs better, stays longer, and actually enjoys coming to work, this episode is your roadmap. Expect practical, actionable strategies on:

    ✅ Building trust and autonomy
    ✅ Creating a culture that attracts top talent
    ✅ Leadership habits that boost engagement
    ✅ The hidden motivators that transform workplaces

    Perfect for business owners, managers, and leaders ready to ditch outdated habits and build a stronger, more human business.

    • Learn the 9 employee retention drivers that matter more than money
    • Understand why micromanagement kills growth
    • Get real-world leadership tips you can implement today

    Free Scale-Up Audit Report: www.mytruenorth.club/bsu
    Subscribe on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLk4TDfkWlBHxthciMBWGoe25LiNuGWtQN&si=0TB2ViTCqDDVcMVl
    Listen on Your Favourite Platform:

    • Spotify
    • Apple Podcasts
    • Podbean

    LinkedIn: Jay Allen

    Website: MyTrueNORTH.biz

    Email: Enquiries@MyTrueNORTH.Biz

    micromanagement, employee retention strategies, modern leadership, business growth tips, company culture, leadership development, team engagement, small business leadership, entrepreneur tips, ethical business coaching

    Más Menos
    17 m
  • Episode 104 – “Communication is Key" - The £5M glue you're missing
    Nov 26 2025

    Have you ever watched a multi-million-pound refurb project grind to a halt because tenants couldn't reach anyone when builders blocked the car park?

    In Episode 104 of the Accidental Business Owner Podcast, I bring on Dougal Paver, Managing Director of Merrion Strategy, to unpack the St James Business Centre Warrington transformation – an 80,000 sq ft multi-user hub reborn through ruthless stakeholder communication.

    Dougal Paver brings 25+ years in marketing, PR, and stakeholder engagement within the UK's built environment. He's advised major developers, regeneration agencies, and landowners on high-stakes projects, blending comms expertise with development policy and property regeneration. Clients rave about his vast network, public affairs mastery, and ability to scale operations – but what sets him apart is his trench-level experience with real tenants, contractors, and chaos, not just theory.

    This episode hits home for business owners, property professionals, and operations leaders wrestling with change, disruption, or scaling without losing control.

    Key Themes Explored with St James Examples:

    • Communication as Must-Have Infrastructure: Dougal flips the script – it's not "nice to have," but your operational backbone. Advance warnings, tenant briefings, and regular updates kept St James moving.

    • Stakeholder Mapping Mastery: No more "tenants vs contractors." Map everyone: building management, facilities, tenants, contractors, local authority, car parking, IT, cycling, reception, café. Each gets tailored comms for their needs.

    • Minimising Downtime in Live Projects: Phase works smartly, flags noise/access/service hits early, and buffers with wins like new café, breakout spaces, and tech hub to cut interruptions.

    • Brand & Perception Shift: Rebrand from dated to modern flexible hub. It's not just steel and concrete – it's how people feel about the space, service, and comms culture.

    • Trust via Transparency & Accountability: Clear escalation paths (who to call, when), promises kept. Informed tenants tolerate disruption, stay loyal, and boost long-term retention.

    You'll walk away with tools to retain tenants, slash chaos in your ops, and scale ethically – straight from a project that turned potential disaster into growth. Perfect for accidental owners trapped in daily fires, applying #ADDAZERO precision.

    Listen Now: Subscribe on YouTube, Apple Podcasts or Spotify, rate 5 stars, and visit MyTrueNORTH to audit your business freedom.

    SEO Keywords: Accidental Business Owner Podcast Episode 104, Jay Allen Dougal Paver, Merrion Strategy, St James Business Centre Warrington refurbishment, stakeholder engagement business owners, multi-tenant property management, business communication scaling, property regeneration PR, tenant retention strategies, project disruption minimisation.

    Keywords for SEO: Accidental Business Owner Podcast, Episode 104, Jay Allen, Dougal Paver, Merrion Strategy, St James Business Centre Warrington, business communication, stakeholder engagement, refurbishment project management, multi-tenant property management, business owner insights.

    Más Menos
    28 m
  • Episode 103 - The Blue Ocean Battle Plan
    Nov 19 2025

    Are you sick of battling competitors for the same shrinking slice of customers with outdated tactics?

    In this game-changing episode of The Accidental Business Owner Podcast, I reveal the "Blue Ocean Battle Plan" – a military-grade strategy to carve uncontested market space, drawn straight from my British Army experience where hesitation meant defeat.

    Most UK SMEs waste years in "red oceans" of bloody price wars and copycat moves. Through My TrueNORTH's #ADDAZERO audits of 100,000+ businesses, I've seen the pattern: reactive owners hit revenue ceilings while agile leaders create blue oceans – demand without competition. This solo masterclass equips you to lead, not follow.

    Battlefield lessons refined for 2025 SME realities:

    • Contact & Assess: Spot market gaps fast. Example: While rivals fought high street retail, blue ocean players built subscription e-commerce empires during lockdowns.

    • Contingency Blueprints: Pre-build 3 pivots per revenue stream. Brexit proved it – prepared firms gained 25% market share.

    • Positioning Dominance: Don't compete – redefine the game. #ADDAZERO clients shifted from "local plumber" to "smart home retrofit specialist," tripling margins.

    • Rapid Deployment: Systems ready at a moment's notice. Military OODA loop (Observe, Orient, Decide, Act) compresses your response time to outpace rivals.

    Real results: Client trapped at £900K in saturated fitness coaching created corporate wellness niches – £2.8M, 40% margins, no direct competition.

    Escape reaction mode forever:

    • Creates Pricing Power: Uncontested space means premium pricing without pushback.

    • Attracts Ideal Clients: Pull strategy beats endless hunting – inbound leads convert 3x higher.

    • Future-Proof Growth: Adapt to AI, regulation, recessions while others scramble.

    • Maximises Exit Multiples: Buyers pay 4-7x for unique positions vs. commodity 1-2x.

    • Frees Your Time: Strategic leadership over ops grind – cycle those epic rides.

    Perfect for accidental owners at £500K-£5M: stale offers, commoditised markets, growth stalls.

    • Run Blue Ocean Audit: Map competitors vs. your unique value canvas – 20 minutes.

    • Build 3 Contingencies: Revenue killers covered before they strike.

    • Redefine Your Battlefield: One positioning shift adds the first zero.

    • OODA Stress Test: Quarterly drills – agility score jumps 50%.

    • **#ADDAZERO IntegrationBlue Ocean + Freedom Audit = unstoppable scale.

    Stop fighting. Start creating.

    Listen Now:
    Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Podbean.

    Free #ADDAZERO Scaleup Audit: MyTrueNORTH.club/bsu.
    🔔 YouTube Subscribe: @MyTrueNORTHUK.

    Connect: LinkedIn | Website | Instagram.

    About My TrueNORTH: Jay Allen – 2x Global Entrepreneur Award winner, ex-Army medic, scale mentor. Mission: 1M owners add a zero ethically via #ADDAZERO.

    Military Precision Meets Business Strategy - Why Blue Oceans Drive Ethical Scale - What You'll Deploy Immediately

    Más Menos
    17 m
adbl_web_global_use_to_activate_DT_webcro_1694_expandible_banner_T1