A Brilliant Gamble

This week I'm talking to the co-founder of Happy Start Up, a business school with a difference. Happiness - not the smiley-all-time kind but deep-sense-of-fulfilment kind - lies at the heart of their business philosophy. What if business could meet your personal needs, be an expression of your values and, by the way, do good in the world (even in some small way)? Laurence talks to me about the Happy Start Up Canvas - a 7 part, one-page business plan template that helps budding entrepreneurs think through the foundations of their business idea. However, after 17 years in business I found it useful to test my business model against these 7 areas too. What would your answers be if you ran your function, role, or company through the same template? If you run your own company, or are thinking of starting, you'll get lots of food for thought from Laurence. But if you work for an established, big business, I think you'll enjoy this insight in to the mind of the funky, start-uppy world that the disrupters come from. To share your views tweet (@blairepalmer), instagram (@blairelyspalmer) or email ([email protected]). And please share this podcast and comment on iTunes! We're growing and we want more and more people to hear these ideas!

This week I'm talking to the co-founder of Happy Start Up, a business school with a difference. Happiness - not the smiley-all-time kind but deep-sense-of-fulfilment kind - lies at the heart of their business philosophy. What if business could meet your personal needs, be an expression of your values and, by the way, do good in the world (even in some small way)? Laurence talks to me about the Happy Start Up Canvas - a 7 part, one-page business plan template that helps budding entrepreneurs think through the foundations of their business idea. However, after 17 years in business I found it useful to test my business model against these 7 areas too. What would your answers be if you ran your function, role, or company through the same template? If you run your own company, or are thinking of starting, you'll get lots of food for thought from Laurence. But if you work for an established, big business, I think you'll enjoy this insight in to the mind of the funky, start-uppy world that the disrupters come from. To share your views tweet (@blairepalmer), instagram (@blairelyspalmer) or email ([email protected]). And please share this podcast and comment on iTunes! We're growing and we want more and more people to hear these ideas!

Do we need to re-think what we mean by "influence"? Often "influencing techniques" are tricks we use to get people to take us seriously, to do what we say, to get people to do what we want them to do. But what if influence really begins far before you actually have to change anyone's mind? What if it starts with you, your ability to connect with others and YOUR ability to change YOUR mind? That's what we're talking about in this episode. And we'd love your thoughts - twitter: @blairepalmer, instagram: @blairelyspalmer, email: [email protected]

Do we need to re-think what we mean by "influence"? Often "influencing techniques" are tricks we use to get people to take us seriously, to do what we say, to get people to do what we want them to do. But what if influence really begins far before you actually have to change anyone's mind? What if it starts with you, your ability to connect with others and YOUR ability to change YOUR mind? That's what we're talking about in this episode. And we'd love your thoughts - twitter: @blairepalmer, instagram: @blairelyspalmer, email: [email protected]

Welcome back to the first episode of 2017! In this show I talk about leadership not as a profession (like being a lawyer or doctor) but more as a way of being, more like being a citizen or a friend. When we attempt to professionailse leadership we end up with complex, theoretical approaches and the need to "teach" people how to do it. It becomes an academic endeavour. But if we see it as a way of being, learning to be a great leader is more like learning to be a great member of society. It is self-directed and self-determined. I'd love to know what you think of this idea! Also, if you are curious about how work might look in future we have a special promotional code that gives you access to a special price for tickets to the first "Agile Working Event" conference in London on March 29th, 2017. Listen to the show more for information. Please stay in touch via twitter (@blairepalmer), instagram (@blairelyspalmer) or email ([email protected]). We love hearing from you!

Welcome back to the first episode of 2017! In this show I talk about leadership not as a profession (like being a lawyer or doctor) but more as a way of being, more like being a citizen or a friend. When we attempt to professionailse leadership we end up with complex, theoretical approaches and the need to "teach" people how to do it. It becomes an academic endeavour. But if we see it as a way of being, learning to be a great leader is more like learning to be a great member of society. It is self-directed and self-determined. I'd love to know what you think of this idea! Also, if you are curious about how work might look in future we have a special promotional code that gives you access to a special price for tickets to the first "Agile Working Event" conference in London on March 29th, 2017. Listen to the show more for information. Please stay in touch via twitter (@blairepalmer), instagram (@blairelyspalmer) or email ([email protected]). We love hearing from you!

In this, the final episode of the Punks in Suits podcast for 2016, I share the 10 books, podcasts and concepts that have inspired me the most during 2016. You may even get a few gift ideas from it! I'm back on 9th Janurary 2017 but meantime do stay in touch on instagram (@blairelyspalmer), twitter (@blairepalmer) and on the Punks in Suits Facebook page. Have a wonderful festive season and a happy New Year!

In this, the final episode of the Punks in Suits podcast for 2016, I share the 10 books, podcasts and concepts that have inspired me the most during 2016. You may even get a few gift ideas from it! I'm back on 9th Janurary 2017 but meantime do stay in touch on instagram (@blairelyspalmer), twitter (@blairepalmer) and on the Punks in Suits Facebook page. Have a wonderful festive season and a happy New Year!

What does it feel like to walk away from the security of a management job in a big company to start your own business, when you don't know what business you want to start? How does it feel when you start breaking unwritten "cultural laws" because of the way you've chosen to work, the philosophy that guides your life and the decisions you make about how you live? In this interview with Sally McCutchion, one of the UK's only Holacracy facilitators, we hear what her experience has been of all of this. Whether you're curious about alternatives to the hierarchical structure or whether you're asking yourself deeper questions about how you live and what's authentic to you, there's lots to inspire you in this interview. To contact me email blaire@thatpeoplething or you can follow me on instragram (@blairelyspalmer) or twitter (@blairepalmer) or join our new faceboo page, Punks in Suits. I'd love to read you comments and hear about your experiences.

What does it feel like to walk away from the security of a management job in a big company to start your own business, when you don't know what business you want to start? How does it feel when you start breaking unwritten "cultural laws" because of the way you've chosen to work, the philosophy that guides your life and the decisions you make about how you live? In this interview with Sally McCutchion, one of the UK's only Holacracy facilitators, we hear what her experience has been of all of this. Whether you're curious about alternatives to the hierarchical structure or whether you're asking yourself deeper questions about how you live and what's authentic to you, there's lots to inspire you in this interview. To contact me email blaire@thatpeoplething or you can follow me on instragram (@blairelyspalmer) or twitter (@blairepalmer) or join our new faceboo page, Punks in Suits. I'd love to read you comments and hear about your experiences.