When enthusiasm for buying the latest technology is based on what others are doing the purchase is often a cost instead of an investment.

Roberto Capodieci was a childhood IT protégé who set-up his first IT company at the age of 14. Nowadays he is a consultant specialising in decentralized systems architecture, and digital transformation strategy.

In this episode of the Abeceder podcast The Independent Minds Roberto describes to host Michael Millward the mistakes companies make when considering investments in IT. Amongst these many mistakes he highlights, selecting vendors who do not fully understand what they are selling, and simply buying something because it is new.

Roberto explains the value that an independent perspective can bring to the IT investment process, and the techniques he uses to help companies ensure that they are investing in what they need, instead of what they think they need.

Many purchasers, says Roberto, simply do not understand what the technology they are interested in will do, and more importantly what it will not do.

As an example, Roberto explains what the different developments of the internet including Blockchain, are designed to do.

Listening to this programme will help you understand how to make better IT purchasing decisions.

Discover more about Roberto and Michael at Abeceder.co.uk

Audience Offers – listings include links that may create a small commission for The Independent Minds

The Independent Minds is made on Zencastr, because as the all-in-one podcasting platform, Zencastr really does make creating content so easy.

Travel – With discounted membership of the Ultimate Travel Club, you can travel anywhere at trade prices.

Fit For Work We recommend The Annual Health Test from York Test; a 39-health marker Annual Health Test conducted by an experienced phlebotomist with hospital standard tests carried out in a UKAS-accredited and CQC-compliant laboratory.

A secure Personal Wellness Hub provides easy-to-understand results and lifestyle guidance. Use our discount code MIND25.

Visit Three for information about business and personal telecom solutions from Three, and the special offers available when you quote my referral code WPFNUQHU.

Being a Guest

We recommend the podcasting guest training programmes available from Work Place Learning Centre.

If you are a podcaster looking for interesting guests or if you have something interesting to say Matchmaker.fm is where great guests and great hosts are matched and great podcasts are hatched. Use our offer code MILW10 for a discount on membership.

We appreciate every like, download, and subscriber.

Thank you for listening.

Jake Smolarek explains the approach that helped him launch and build several successful business and not-for-profit organizations

Jake Smolarek arrived in the UK from Poland with £150 in his pocket, and promptly spent a quarter of it on a bus ticket to Abergavenny.

Half a lifetime later Jake is a successful entrepreneur who now helps other entrepreneurs to build successful businesses.

His Vision, Goal, Plan System (Vision GPS) approach contains everything anyone needs to be successful at work and life.

In this episode of the Abeceder podcast The Independent Minds Jake and host Michael Millward discuss the logic of the Vision GPS approach.

Their conversation includes the

• Difference between motivation and discipline.
• Importance of visible progress to mental health
• Role of following best practice to optimise effectiveness
• Significance of being accountable to someone else
• Value of planning how you will respond to problems
• Real nature of freedom

Listening to this conversation will equip you with the knowledge of how to approach any challenge with a positive mindset and meet the needs of that challenge.

Discover more about Jake and Michael at Abeceder.co.uk

Audience Offers – listings include links that may create a small commission for The Independent Minds

Further Reading

• Start with Why by Simon Sinek

The Independent Minds is made on Zencastr, because as the all-in-one podcasting platform, Zencastr really does make creating content so easy.

Travel – With discounted membership of the Ultimate Travel Club, you can travel anywhere at trade prices.

Fit For Work We recommend The Annual Health Test from York Test; a 39-health marker Annual Health Test conducted by an experienced phlebotomist with hospital standard tests carried out in a UKAS-accredited and CQC-compliant laboratory.

A secure Personal Wellness Hub provides easy-to-understand results and lifestyle guidance. Use our discount code MIND25.

Visit Three for information about business and personal telecom solutions from Three, and the special offers available when you quote my referral code WPFNUQHU.

Being a Guest

We recommend the podcasting guest training programmes available from Work Place Learning Centre.

If you are a podcaster looking for interesting guests or if you have something interesting to say Matchmaker.fm is where great guests and great hosts are matched and great podcasts are hatched. Use our offer code MILW10 for a discount on membership.

We appreciate every like, download, and subscriber.

Thank you for listening.

Discover how one entrepreneur ensures that his annual off-site planning and training meeting is successful for his business and his team

Aaron Christy is the founder and CEO of the Indianapolis based roofing company Indy Roof and Restoration.

For many people the prospect of being ‘invited’ by their manager to attend an off-site meeting is less than appealing. But Aaron Christy has a team who look forward to their annual off-site meeting.

In this episode of the Abeceder podcast The Independent Minds Aaron explains to host Michael Millward the format that he uses to create a not-to-be-missed meeting.

During their conversation Michael and Aaron discuss:

• The importance of planning
• Balancing different types of activities
• Fellowship and community building
• Answering the ‘what’s in it for me’ question
• Building connections between the organisation’s objectives and the individual’s lifestyle aspirations and career ambitions
• Impact on individual performance over the year

Discover more about Aaron and Michael at Abeceder.co.uk

Audience Offers – listings include links that may create a small commission for The Independent Minds.

Roof and Restoration hold their annual strategy and training meeting at Gatlinburg TN.

The Independent Minds is made on Zencastr, because as the all-in-one podcasting platform, Zencastr really does make creating content so easy.

Travel – With discounted membership of the Ultimate Travel Club, you can travel anywhere at trade prices.

Fit For Work We recommend The Annual Health Test from York Test; a 39-health marker Annual Health Test conducted by an experienced phlebotomist with hospital standard tests carried out in a UKAS-accredited and CQC-compliant laboratory.

A secure Personal Wellness Hub provides easy-to-understand results and lifestyle guidance. Use our discount code MIND25.

Visit Three for information about business and personal telecom solutions from Three, and the special offers available when you quote my referral code WPFNUQHU.

Being a Guest

We recommend the podcasting guest training programmes available from Work Place Learning Centre.

If you are a podcaster looking for interesting guests or if you have something interesting to say Matchmaker.fm is where great guests and great hosts are matched and great podcasts are hatched. Use our offer code MILW10 for a discount on membership.

We appreciate every like, download, and subscriber.

Thank you for listening.