Ambitious Lifestyle Business podcast

Watch this episode on YouTube How do you work less without your business falling apart? In this episode of the Ambitious Lifestyle Business podcast, John Lamerton and Jason Brockman speak to Paul Miller about burnout, delegation, business boundaries, trusting your team, and how small business owners can stop being the central point of everything in their business. Paul's wake-up call was not subtle. After years of working 70 to 80 hours a week, carrying too much responsibility, and being the person everything revolved around, he ended up in hospital. Twice. The first time was meningitis. The second time involved waking up in Charing Cross Hospital after blacking out and having a seizure following a business conference. Paul explains how that served as a work/life balance wake up call, leading him to work fewer hours, delegate more effectively, set clearer boundaries, say no more often, outsource lower-value work and use the 80/20 principle to focus on the things that actually move the business forward. We also talk about why so many small business owners feel trapped by their business, why letting go is so difficult, and why you need to stop doing £10 tasks if you want to spend more time on the £1,000 tasks that really matter. If you are a small business owner, family business owner, accountant, coach, consultant, freelancer or solopreneur who wants to work fewer hours, avoid burnout, delegate properly and build a business that supports your life rather than consumes it, this episode is for you. Because your business should fund and fuel your lifestyle. It should not nearly kill you. In this epsiode: 0:00 Introduction 1:11 Waking Up in Hospital 4:00 Life as a Workaholic Business Owner 7:05 The Art of Delegating and Trusting 11:06 Mastering the Four-Day Work Week 19:02 Five Rules for a Balanced Business Join Paul (and more than 100 other ambitious, lifestyle business owners) in the One Percent Club

In this episode: 0:00 - Introduction 1:04 - Prospects Need to Hear the Same Thing Many Times Before Buying 3:18 - Energy Management is Better Than Time Management 8:42 - People Don't Care What You Do - They Just Want The Results 10:51 - YouTube is an Evergreen Asset 17:51 - The Power of Reflection 24:10 - Respect The Audience's Time (From the Very First Second) What are the small business lessons that actually make a difference? In this episode of the Ambitious Lifestyle Business podcast, small business owners John Lamerton and Jason Brockman share their 6 business lightbulb moments from the year so far, including practical lessons on marketing, productivity, client communication, YouTube, reflection and building a business that works better for your life. These are NOT abstract business theories or guru-style hacks. They are real lessons from working with small business owners inside the One Percent Club , running our own businesses, and making plenty of mistakes along the way. In this episode, we talk about why your clients often need to hear the same message far more than once, why energy management can be more important than time management, and why selling the result matters more than selling the thing you do. We also discuss why YouTube can be a powerful evergreen asset for small business owners, why reflection is an underrated business habit, and why respecting your audience's time might be one of the most important marketing lessons of all. If you are a small business owner, freelancer, coach, consultant or solopreneur who wants to make better decisions, improve your marketing, get more done without burning out, and build a more ambitious lifestyle business, this episode should give you plenty to think about. Because sometimes the biggest improvements do not come from chasing the next shiny tactic. They come from noticing the simple lessons hiding in plain sight.

Get the Late Payment Calculator: https://chargeservices.co.uk/late-payment-calculator Find out more about the One Percent Club: https://www.bigidea.co.uk/one-percent-club In this episode: 0.00 - Introduction 1.04 - What impact does late payment have on small business owners? 2:59 - A sale isn't a sale until the invoice is paid 6.11 - Charging interest on late payments 10.41 - Prevention is better than cure 14.26 - You're not in the wrong to ask for your money! 16:22 - Will the Small Business Protections (Late Payments) Bill actually help small businesses? 18.22 - Paying tax on "profits" you haven't actually received! 20.15 - Sacking off work for a Friday afternoon at the soft play. 23.30 - What does an ambitious lifestyle business look like for Jenni? Late payments are horrible. Not just because they muck up your cash flow. But because of the "ick" attached to them. The awkwardness of chasing. That "am I being too pushy?" feeling. The ridiculous situation where you've done the work, but somehow feel bad asking for YOUR MONEY. There's often a gap between sending invoices and actually getting paid. Jenni Sampson helps reduce that gap - and reduce the "ick" too. In this episode of the Ambitious Lifestyle Business podcast, Jason and I spoke to Jenni about how she built a simple credit control system that any small business owner can follow. It's a clear, step-by-step process for following up, using templates, scripts and simple confidence-building prompts. The result? Better cash flow. Less stress. No more guessing what to say. And much less of that horrible knot-in-the-stomach feeling when an invoice goes overdue. We also talk with Jenni about charging interest on late payments, whether the government's new "Small Business Protection Bill" will make an ounce of difference, and the importance of chasing debt promptly (and certainly before you pay VAT and Corporation Tax on it! 🤦) We talked about the whole journey on this latest episode of the Ambitious Lifestyle Business podcast. Available everywhere you get your podcasts.

Craig Jukes spent 37 years in corporate life. Then, on a flight home from a holiday Kefalonia, Craig had one of those moments. Not a "quit your job tomorrow and go and live in a hammock" moment. A PROPER lightbulb moment. 💡 He realised he didn't want retirement to be some vague, far-off prize at the end of another decade of work. He wanted freedom NOW. Freedom to work from anywhere. Freedom to travel. Freedom to spend the grim UK winter somewhere that didn't require a big coat, central heating, and emotional support biscuits. He didn't just dream about it. He designed it. Craig built a portable business. He reduced his financial drag. He invested sensibly. He decluttered the stuff, the costs, and the commitments that were keeping him stuck. Then he quit corporate life and built a digital nomad lifestyle business around work he actually wanted to do. Not because he fancied "quitting my job to start a business" in the Instagram laptop-on-a-beach sense (anyone ever tried actually USING a laptop on a beach??) But because he wanted a business that supported his life, rather than a life that was permanently being sacrificed to support his business. And from that journey, Craig created a simple five-step framework that others can swipe and deploy if they want their own version of financial freedom, and run a business from anywhere in the world. These days, Craig spends months abroad, gets more sunshine than the average Brit should legally be allowed, and runs a business that gives him the freedom he planned for. Not by accident. Not by magic. By discipline, planning, smart decisions, and surrounding himself with the right people. Craig's story is a reminder that your dream lifestyle business probably isn't as ridiculous as your brain keeps telling you it is. You just need to price it up, reverse-engineer it, and start making those 1% improvements. That's what Craig did. You can hear Craig's story in full (including his full 5-step framework) in this episode of the Ambitious Lifestyle Business podcast.

Sep Frijia describes himself as a poker player in an entrepreneur's body. Last summer, he was stuck at mediocrity in both his poker and business pursuits, but he decided to flip the script. By shifting his focus to long-term purpose rather than short-term wins , Sep transformed his approach and outcomes. He studied the game-changing strategies of blueprints, reflection, and incremental progress , applying them both at the poker table and in his business. His mindset evolved from chasing immediate results to playing the long game , becoming unapologetically all-in on his purpose and trusted decision-making. This journey culminated in winning his poker league, a trophy, and the One Percenter of the month award - proving that sustained effort and clarity can lead to unstoppable success . ( Read more about how the One Percent Club can transform your approach here ) Want to learn how Sep's mindset and strategies can help you level up ? Tune into the latest episode of the Ambitious Lifestyle Business podcast - available wherever you listen!

Jill French is a book coach and editor, who has edited more than 250 books, for fiction, creative nonfiction, and memoirs. And now she's written her own book too - a book that languished at the bottom of her to-do list for years - until she joined the One Percent Club , and made it happen. Jill leaned into the One Percent Club to help make this process easier - she used weekly accountability calls to maintain constant, never-ending progress towards the huge goal, and deal with any road blocks that stood in her way. She attended regular Coaching Calls - and always found a nugget or two to implement (and/or add to her Could Do List - to stay on track and avoid overwhelm!) She tapped into the One Percent Club community, to crowd source her book's cover, and hold herself publicly accountable for her 75-day challenge (to create a new client-relevant tip in evergreen format) - which again, she successfully completed. Oh, and Jill has done all this, while enjoying a long trip to Australia... And her reward? a holiday in Gran Canaria - which prompted her to ask the question on our recent One Percent Club Call, "Could I run my business from Gran Canaria?" If you're thinking of writing a book - or creating a business that you LOVE (and could do forever), this episode is for YOU. The Ambitious Lifestyle Business podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts...

A few years ago, John Lamerton was caught up in the relentless pursuit of new customers, constantly refilling a leaky bucket - promising the world but losing clients just as quickly as he gained them. Frustrated by the constant chase, he had a lightbulb moment: focusing on retention and obsessing over existing customers was the real key to unlocking sustainable growth - and profits. He shifted his mindset from acquisition to lifelong value, investing in his current clients and rethinking what business success really means. This intense focus transformed his business, boosting profits by turning a 5% increase in retention into up to 95% growth in profits . Read how you can do the same in John's new book Retention First, which is OUT NOW: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0G7JNQ85H In this episode, John explains why retention is highly leveraged, and that genuine obsession over your customers can revolutionise your business's future (and therefore, your lifestyle). If you're fed up of always refilling a bucket full of holes in your business, this episode is for YOU. The Ambitious Lifestyle Business podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts...

Meet Dr David Lowe. David had it all figured out - working a 5-day month, earning great money, enjoying a fantastic work/life balance, doing meaningful work for clients he loved. There was just one problem. His business model relied entirely on in-person training. And it was 2019. You and I know what's coming... But David didn't. He spent the next two years frantically scrabbling to "pivot" (is there a more 2020 word?) and keep paying the bills. Meanwhile, his kids remember "the Covid years" as a time when they finished their school work by lunchtime, and spent the afternoons building memories with Mum and Dad. That taught David a lot about the ambitious/lifestyle business pendulum. David joined the One Percent Club in 2023, and has spent the past few years working on a doctorate - looking at how humour can be used in coaching.. something that leans into our core values of FUN and constant, never-ending improvement really well. If you'd like to join Dr. Lowe in the One Percent Club (and experience some of that coaching for yourself), the doors for our March intake will open very soon. ps. Here's David's favourite joke: Did you hear about the inventor of the knock-knock joke? He was awarded the No-Bell prize. 🤦 If you want to be a better coach and/or have more fun, this episode is for YOU. The Ambitious Lifestyle Business podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts... Links: • Webinar series: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidjlowe/ • Explanation of the thesis: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/davidjlowe_my-doctoral-findings-boiled-down-to-one-activity-7401195081862578176-epYD • Questionnaire https://forms.gle/tawvHWSNG9JHuBSL7 "

If you're feeling stuck in your business (and/or your life), this episode is for YOU. Three years ago, Mel Statner was working 12 hours a day (and sometimes 16!), finding herself exhausted, doing work that drained her energy. In a nutshell, Mel was stuck. Fast forward to today, and Mel works a 3 day week, having also doubled her income. Not by working harder, but because she found some instruction manuals for her operating system (her brain). Mel changed how she thinks... how she makes decisions... and how she leads her life. She's no longer stuck - she's thriving. Jason and I have worked with Mel for several years now in the One Percent Club , and recently sat down with her to discuss her transformational journey.

It's beginning to look a lot like.. last year! The Ambitious Lifestyle Business podcast 2025 Christmas special is here - and as usual, John and Jason are putting the world to rights (without getting political - honest!), summing up what's it been like running an ambitious lifestyle business for the past twelve months. Cost of living crisis? ✅ High inflation a worry? ✅ Bad news coming in the Budget? ✅ Yep, the big themes this year are VERY similar to the big themes of 2024 - the "doom and gloom" isn't going away (other than on the ALB podcast, where, just like Morecambe and Wise, we aim to "bring you sunshine"! Running a small business in the UK is tough right now. There's no getting away from it - unless you're looking to emigrate, of course - we talk about that once again in this episode, along with the power of surrounding yourself with positive, can-do people - something that we've done throughout the year, including our very first "Flamingos on Tour" event, in sunny Alicante in October. As usual, we discuss our Book of the Year, and sum up our hopes and dreams for 2026 in ONE word. The Ambitious Lifestyle Business podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts...

In September 2018, Driving School trainer Dave Foster fell off a two story building. As he was falling through thin air to the cold concrete below, his life flashed before his eyes - and he had an epiphany. Until that moment, Dave was working 10-12 hour days every day in his business, and fully believed that "no one can run this business, except me." Faced with being unable to work for six months, Dave had no choice but to remove himself from the day-to-day operations, and instead work ON his business. And now, 8 years later, Dave has taken a "false exit" - running the business in an hour or two a day from his home in sunny Spain, after years of touring Europe in an RV. In this episode of the Ambitious Lifestyle Business podcast, Dave implores anyone listening who says that "my business is different - and WON'T work without ME" to think again.

I recently came across my all-time favourite review of my book Big Ideas... for Small Businesses - from my ten year old son. He's 16 now, so it really made me chuckle to see what the younger version of him made of a book that's aimed at ambitious lifestyle business owners, not ten year old kids!

How do you make sure you stay hydrated throughout the day? By creating an easy-to-follow (and hard to forget) routine, of course! Taking a leaf out of my own book Routine Machine , I've created the "5 teabag rule", to make sure I remain well lubricated through the working day...

"I'm sorry, that price is for new customers only" A guaranteed way to get my blood BOILING... 😡 In this snippet from my forthcoming book Retention First, I share the story of a completely fictional broadband company, called "Emerging Media", who decide to tax the loyalty of their best customers, and give the best offers to those people who've never spent a penny with them...

Some of my "favourite" 1-star reviews: "smug look at how awesome the author is" "no help for small business owners unless they're already millionaires" "my god you have to wade through an awful lot of pointless rambling to get there" My books have attracted more than 2,000 five-star reviews.. yet it's the handful of negative ones that stick with me...

Here's what happened when I tried to get up at 5am and follow Hal Elrod's "miracle" morning routine: It'd take a miracle for me to follow it again! THE morning routine doesn't matter. What matters is that you HAVE a morning routine - one that's 💯 designed for YOU...

Time happiness is about enjoying your work and life. It's essential to be proud of what you do, and understanding what makes you tick is crucial for happiness. In this episode of the Ambitious Lifestyle Business podcast, One Percenter Neil Symonds introduces us to "Time Happiness" - the guiding principle that Neil uses to run his business - and TRULY enjoy his life.

A few weeks back, I had my left knee sliced open, and was signed off work for two weeks. Upon being handed my sick note, I laughed out loud. Because I run my own business. "If I don't work, I don't earn" Only that's not strictly true...

Not long after I started my first business, I was interviewed by my local newspaper. It makes me cringe to read it today: I genuinely don't recognise the person I was back then. I was thinking WAY too small. And 24 years later, I'm lamenting how much that has cost me. Especially TWO crucial mistakes I made - that I see others making today...

Do you use vision boards? Are they "woo-woo", or a scientifically-proven way to make achieving your ambitious lifestyle business goals more likely? I'm VERY much in the second camp. Here's why... (btw, the One Percent Club doors are open right now for our September intake. Click here for more info )