Ambitious Lifestyle Business

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Pinch, Punch... 0

Mar 1, 2024

crreeeaaaaaak!

What's that noise?

Oh, it's just the sound of me, opening the doors for the March 2024 intake of my One Percent Club.

Why the creaking?

Well, the doors have been closed since the 1st of October last year - and they need a bit of WD/40.

What's the One Percent Club?

It's a community of like-minded, ambitious lifestyle business owners, all committed to the following cause:

"To leave their business 1% better each week."

The One Percent Club shows them how, through education, inspiration and perspiration - helping them discover WHAT to do to make those 1% gains, and the accountability to actually DO the work.

Could the One Percent Club help you to leave YOUR business 1% better each and every week?

Find out in 6 minutes (and eight seconds) with the explainer video

on my website: https://www.bigidea.co.uk/one-percent-club

Right, I'm off to oil those hinges...

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"We're just normal people with a really NICE life..." 0

Feb 1, 2024

Husband and wife duo, Jon and Miriam run Mod A Mini, a BMW Mini performance parts ecommerce store and Torque Monkey, a physical garage in Chelmsford specialising in performance vehicles.

In this episode, you will hear:

💬 Why HATING cars was an ADVANTAGE when starting a car business

💬 How DIFFICULT the first few years were - and how much HARD WORK was needed.

💬 The importance of "leaving work at work" when working with a loved one.

💬 Why Jon and Miriam LEFT the One Percent Club (and then returned!)

💬 How working on Jon's HEALTH improved the BUSINESS too.

This episode of the Ambitious Lifestyle Business podcast (and the 109 that preceded it) is available wherever you listen to your podcasts.

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Charlie Munger's 12 Principles for Small Business Owners 0

Jan 4, 2024

Ambitious, lifestyle business owners can learn valuable lessons from Charlie Munger, the renowned investor and Vice Chairman of Berkshire Hathaway. Here are some key lessons:

Value of Continuous Learning: Munger is a strong advocate of lifelong learning. He believes in expanding one's knowledge across various disciplines, not just in your field of business. Business owners can benefit from this by constantly seeking new knowledge and perspectives that can help them make better decisions.
Importance of Mental Models: Munger emphasizes the use of mental models from multiple disciplines to solve complex problems. Business owners can apply this by integrating ideas and concepts from different areas to gain a more comprehensive view of their challenges and opportunities.
Inversion: Munger often uses inversion, a problem-solving technique, to think backward and identify potential pitfalls. Business owners can apply this by considering what not to do or what could go wrong in their business strategies.
Long-Term Perspective: Munger's investment philosophy is built on the idea of holding quality assets for the long term. Business owners can adopt this mindset by focusing on sustainable growth and avoiding short-term thinking that might compromise the long-term health of their businesses.
Rational Decision-Making: Munger promotes rationality in decision-making, emphasizing the importance of avoiding emotional reactions. Business owners can benefit from this by making well-thought-out decisions based on facts and analysis rather than emotions.
Competitive Advantage: Munger encourages business owners to build and maintain a competitive advantage. Whether through unique products, excellent customer service, or innovative processes, having a sustainable advantage can lead to long-term success.
Circle of Competence: Munger advises staying within one's circle of competence, focusing on what you understand well. Business owners should recognize their strengths and limitations and make decisions accordingly, seeking expert advice when needed.
Ethical Behavior: Munger values ethical behavior and integrity in business. Business owners can learn the importance of conducting business honestly, which builds trust with customers and partners.
Risk Management: Munger emphasizes the need to consider and manage risks. Business owners should conduct thorough risk assessments and implement strategies to mitigate potential threats to their businesses.
Patience and Discipline: Munger's investment success is partly attributed to his patience and discipline. Business owners can apply this by staying committed to their long-term goals and not being swayed by short-term fluctuations or pressures.
Adaptation: Munger recognizes the importance of adaptability. Business owners should be willing to adjust their strategies and embrace change when necessary to stay relevant and competitive.
Simplicity: Munger often advocates for simplicity in decision-making and business processes. Business owners can benefit from simplifying complex issues and strategies to make them more manageable and effective.

Overall, Charlie Munger's principles can guide ambitious business owners toward making informed, rational, and ethical decisions that promote long-term success and personal growth.

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TWO pieces of TIME-SENSITIVE information... 0

Sep 22, 2023

I've got two pieces of time-sensitive information to share with you today - one involving an 82% discount, and on that could (literally) change your life.

But BOTH require some action in the next 8 days...

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"I REFUSE to take no for an answer..." 0

Sep 6, 2023

Never give up in business.

If there's one piece of advice that today's guest Alastair Imray embodies, it is this.

Alastair's business career began with no qualifications and no money but a determination to start his own business. Alastair has proven that hard work, determination, constant learning and never giving up has been the key to running a successful business.

Wearing a Nike "Just Do It" T-short, Alastair tells us:

How he sold anything and everything - from ice cream on Bondi Beach, to items he found in dumpsters.
Why you should never give up in business.
How Michael Lieberman became a hero to Alastair.
A few dozen of the business books that helped shape his success.
How Alastair won a contract with his dream supplier - by refusing to take no for an answer!
Exactly how Alastair removed himself from the day-to-day "on the tools" running of his business.

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My ALL-TIME top 10 business books. 0

Sep 5, 2022

This is it - the BIG one!

My all-time top 10 business books.

I’ve read more than 1,000 business books over 20+ years – and these are my top 10 business books of all time.

The TEN most read, most thumbed, most recommended, most highlighted, most implemented business books on my bookshelf. I’ve read every one of these books multiple times, and they’ve become an essential part of my small business toolkit. I couldn’t run my businesses anywhere near as well without them.

While I rarely prescribe “one-size-fits-all” book recommendations, I truly believe that every small business owner will have a significantly better business if they have these ten books on their shelves too.

https://bigidea.co.uk/best-business-books/#topten

I hope you’ve enjoyed my definitive top 100 best business books – I’d love to hear from you (email me - john@bigidea.co.uk), whether you’ve just read a book that you think I’d enjoy – or just want to tell me how wrong I am for not including your favourite book in the top 100! Additionally, I’d love to hear from you if my favourite books have inspired you to read more.

Remember though, to read the books AND follow the instructions!

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My Top 10 Customer Service Books 0

Aug 30, 2022

Here are my Top 10 Customer Service Books, featuring titles by Pat Flynn, Roger Dooley, Nir Eyal, James Sinclair and Joey Coleman.

https://bigidea.co.uk/best-business-books/#customerservice