Today I’m speaking to John Lamerton.

John and I have known each other on and off for many years but it was only recently, on the publication of my best-selling book 'Hitting the Wall', that we reconnected, discovering a number of value connections and shared experiences.

John is the author of three books, which only makes my slightly jealous! He is someone I’ve long admired for his business skills but also his skills as a human being.

John talks about his journey from Civil Servant to entrepreneur and the "moment" that made him realise that success from him was very different to what people said he "should" do. We look back on his moments of failure when the assets he didn't control destroyed his ability to generate customers and chat about why playing the long game, with basic principles trumps the quick win.

We also talk about the pain of losing our respective sisters, only three months apart; and how it has given us both a perspective on what's important to us - now.

This is an episode with practical marketing insight as well as simple business principles, valuable to anyone on the entrepreneurial journey.