In this conversation, Chris Fenning – communications expert, coach and author – deep dives into transforming workplace communication. Tired of inefficient meetings? Chris suggests empowering all participants to take charge, seeking clarity on agendas, and addressing distractions head-on to boost engagement.

Chris offers his unique perspective on communication, including his methods for delivering impactful updates and simplifying complex topics. From his advice on honing email effectiveness to his insights on intertwining leadership skills with everyday exchanges, Chris offers valuable tools for ensuring your message is heard loud and clear.

Listen and get practical tips on breaking down the barriers to effective communication in the workplace and how to leverage AI's potential. Chris shares book recommendations and a fresh outlook that will leave you inspired. Whether you're an intern or an executive, this episode promises actionable strategies to revolutionise how you connect and convey your ideas. So, let's jump in and learn how to mind your f**king business more efficiently!

Takeaways

• Clarity is key for clear communication.
• Shared responsibility for effective and efficient meetings.
• How to handle distractions and bring conversations back politely.
• Positive problem solving to demonstrate competence.
• Top tips for effective email communication.
• Goal, Problem, Solution Communication Model.
• Public Speaking vs. Communication Fundamentals.

Timestamps

(00:00) Be More Effective in Communication with Chris Fenning.

(00:17) Early Life Crisis Leading To Comms.

(04:36) Learning How To Teach.

(06:48) Clear, Concise, and To-The-Point Methodologies.

(09:20) Asking The How.

(11:40) Goal, Problem, Solution.

(14:08) Safety in Mediocracy.

(18:16) Psychological Safety in Leadership.

(19:09) Delivering Bad News.

(21:05) Effective Emails and AI.

(26:55) Clear Communication in Questions.

(29:32) When Should Comms. Be Taught?

(32:42) Teaching Across Levels.

(34:41) How To Do Meetings Differently.

(39:35) Quick Fire Questions with Chris Fenning.

(41:40) Book Recommendations.

About Chris Fenning

Chris Fenning helps us master our communication at work. He helps experts talk to non-experts, teams talk to executives, and much more. Chris's practical methods are used in organisations like Google and NATO, and have appeared in the Harvard Business Review. He is also the author of multiple award-winning books on communication and training that have been translated into 16 languages. 

Find out how Chris can help you at www.chrisfenning.com 

Follow Chris Fenning

Website: https://chrisfenning.com 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-fenning/ 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmIXD8AIH-LUV-B1V5KJ4Ww 

Books by Chris Fenning

The First Minute: https://chrisfenning.com/books/#the-first-minute 

Effective Emails: https://chrisfenning.com/books/#effective-emails 

39 Ways to Make Training Stick: https://chrisfenning.com/books/#39-ways 

The First Minute Workbook: https://chrisfenning.com/books/#the-first-minute-workbook 

The First Minute Interview Answer Workbook: https://chrisfenning.com/books/#the-first-minute-interview-answer-workbook 

Book Recommendations

Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt

The Workshop Survival Guide by Rob Fitzpatrick

The Culture Map by Erin Mayer

The Thought Leaders Practice by Matt Church

Mentioned in this episode:

Mind Your F**king Business – The book

Today we are re-sharing one of our most controversial episodes so far, with the man who's been called the UK's Most Hated Sales Trainer, Benjamin Dennehy.

Benjamin joins Dominic as they discuss the art of selling and the common misconceptions about sales. This is truly a sixty-minute conversation that will change how you look at sales!

Benjamin explores the importance of self-confidence, being in control, and understanding the motivations behind prospects' questions. He emphasises the need for salespeople to focus on having meaningful conversations and helping prospects discover their needs rather than pushing products or services.

He also highlights the importance of hiring and training salespeople effectively and challenges the traditional sales approach of show up, throw up, and hope for the best. In this conversation, the UK's Most Hated Sales Trainer shares his unconventional approach to sales and prospecting.

He emphasises the importance of getting prospects emotional and focuses on the purpose of a prospecting call. He also discusses the need for consultative selling and the importance of asking probing questions. The conversation covers topics such as the future of cold calling, the myth of 'people buy people,' and the risks and rewards of entrepreneurship.

Takeaways

• Sales is the art of conversation and enabling prospects to discover their needs.
• Good salespeople are self-confident and in control, while poor salespeople often beg and plead.
• Salespeople should focus on understanding the motivations behind prospects’ questions and avoid making assumptions.
• Hiring and training salespeople effectively is crucial for success in sales.
• The traditional approach of show up, throw up, and hope for the best is ineffective. The purpose of a prospecting call is to get the prospect emotional.
• Consultative selling requires asking probing questions and understanding the prospect’s pain points.
• Cold calling will become more challenging with the rise of AI, but there will still be a need for skilled salespeople.
• The myth that ‘people buy people’ is not entirely true; people buy people who are like them.
• Entrepreneurship requires taking risks and being willing to fail.
• Success in sales is about mastering a methodology and continuously improving.
• Salespeople should focus on critical thinking, communication, and emotional control.
• It’s important to know when to quit and when to persevere in business.

Timestamps

(04:00) Book Recommendations and the Misconception of Sales Books

(07:19) Why the UK's Most Hated Sales Trainer is Hated

(09:08) The Problem with Traditional Sales Approaches

(23:19) The Art of Asking and Answering Questions in Sales

(28:44) Creating Comfort and Lowering Walls in Sales Conversations

(31:25) Getting Prospects Emotional: The Purpose of a Prospecting Call

(33:44) Consultative Selling: Asking Probing Questions and Understanding Pain Points

(35:42) The Future of Cold Calling and the Rise of AI

(39:03) The Myth of 'People Buy People'

(45:49) The Risks and Rewards of Entrepreneurship

(50:40) Mastering a Methodology: Continuous Improvement in Sales

(51:33) Critical Thinking, Communication, and Emotional Control in Sales

(59:51) Knowing When to Quit and When to Persevere in Business

About Benjamin Dennehy

He’s been called the UK’s most hated sales trainer and the GOAT of cold-calling; Benjamin Dennehy is an engaging and entertaining trainer and speaker. He will shake up your thinking about your role and function in sales with humour, insight and psychology.

Benjamin is The UK’s Most Hated Sales Trainer, but why?

Marketing of course. He made it up. There is no international body that measures hostility towards sales trainers. (Should there be?)

Having said that, he does make brutal observations that many in sales recognise and accept as true. Sometimes those truths hurt. Take, why are most people in sales? Answer – not by design but by default.

Benjamin qualified as a Barrister and was called to the bar in New Zealand. Did he ever imagine he’d be in sales, let alone teaching it? Nope. Very few people wanted to be in sales as a kid (there’s always the odd exception, so bully for you!). They wanted to be astronauts, lawyers, doctors etc – so what happened, how did they end up in sales? They grew up, got a degree in Sports Psychology and realised that in the real world no-one would pay them for that knowledge. They needed a job. Who’s always hiring? That’s right, Sales. They’re young, thin, look good in a suit and can string a sentence together whilst not dribbling in the interview. That’s all you need to qualify as a sales professional. 

So, the fact most people are doing a role that deep down they never wanted to do explains why so many are mediocre to average, at best. That hurts, but it’s also true. This is why he’s hated!

Follow Benjamin Dennehy

Website: https://www.uksmosthatedsalestrainer.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamindennehy/?originalSubdomain=uk

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/c/UKsMostHatedSalesTrainer

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benjamindennehy/

Mentioned in this episode:

Get Mind Your F**king Business

In this special episode, we hear from Dominic and other industry experts (Michelle Hulse, Director of Revenue Operations at PAX8, Paweł Nicał, a pioneering RevOps expert from Poland) from the UPGRADE'24 conference. 

Revenue Opertions is at the heart of this panel discussion. Listen in to how aligning sales, marketing, and finance creates a seamless customer journey. Michelle shares examples from PAX8 and how they revolutionised their lead handling with data-driven strategies. Dominic provides a walk through of the strategic implementation of OKRs and how RevOps can drive sustainable growth without the need for constant funding. Paweł discusses the critical metrics for RevOps success and the role technology plays in this unified approach.

Real-world examples are shared of optimising sales performance, leveraging AI for operational efficiency, and the philosophical underpinnings that make RevOps a game-changer across industries—from SaaS to any business with a recurring revenue model. Whether RevOps is a buzzword or the future of strategic alignment, this discussion reveals its undeniable impact on business agility and growth.

Takeaways

• Collaboration is Key: Revenue Operations joins the dots between Marketing, Sales, and Customer Experience providing a seamless workflow instead of silos.
• Strategic Growth through OKRs: Objectives and Key Results are significant for structuring tasks and teams.
• Tech and Innovation in RevOps: pioneering technology tool 'Clay,' which integrates various data sources and automates processes, enabling "all bound" operations.
• AI can automate data collection, but humans will always lead creative strategic decisions.

Timestamps

(03:35) Panel Introductions from Karol Popa: UPGRADE’24

(05:31) What is Revenue Operations?

(08:51) Is RevOps A New Way Forward or Just A Buzzword?

(13:53) When To Bring RevOps Into Business.

(18:03) Example of RevOps Teams in Pax8.

(22:13) Silo Focus Needs To Align.

(23:37) Steps To Start With RevOps In Your Business.

(26:33) Different Functions In A RevOps Team.

(29:00) Strategic Growth Opportunities.

(34:21) Aligning Teams With Data.

(38:03) Real Impact and KPIs.

(44:19) Segmentation of Ideal Partner Profile.

(49:16) Technologies For Effective RevOps.

(55:37) AI in Revenue Operations.

(58:22) Boldest Experiments Within RevOps.

(01:03:39) Use RevOps To Drive Innovation & Strategic Change.

About UPGRADE'24

The UPGRADE'24 conference took place on 21-22 November 2024 in Wrocław, Poland. Organised by ITCorner, the event focused on the technology sector and catered to business owners and C-level executives in the IT industry.

The conference addressed strategies for adapting to market changes, methods to enhance business growth and profitability, and opportunities for networking and knowledge exchange with industry leaders. Attendees participated in talks, workshops, and panels designed to help businesses stay competitive during rapid technological transformations.

For more information about UPGRADE'24, please visit www.letsupgrade.pl or search for #UPGRADE'24 on social media platform.

Follow UPGRADE'24

Website: https://letsupgrade.pl 

About Dominic Monkhouse

Founder of Monkhouse & Company, Elite Business Coach and CEO Mentor, author of two smash hit books 'Mind Your F**king Business' and 'F**k Plan B’ and Host of the Top 2% Global Podcast 'Mind Your F**king Business’; Dominic Monkhouse is on a mission to demystify business growth. As a Founder and CEO, he has a track record scaling up award-winning technology service businesses and has been called ‘Britain’s best boss’ for his habit of creating great places to work. He now specialises in helping ambitious business leaders achieve fast and sustainable growth by building high-performing teams and developing clear, actionable strategies.

About Karol Popa

Karol Popa is Poland’s first certified Scaling Up coach, helping businesses in Poland, Estonia, and the UK scale effectively, focusing on companies with 100–1,000 employees and 50–300 million revenues. With a background in advertising, strategic consulting, and leadership in a cloud technology firm, he brings practical experience to his coaching. As a European Growth Institute partner and certified Gallup CliftonStrengths trainer, Karol specialises in unlocking organisational potential by leveraging individual and team strengths.

About Michelle Hulse

As the Director of Revenue Operations EMEA at Pax8, the World’s leading Cloud Commerce Marketplace, Michelle Hulse leverages her 24 years of experience in the tech industry to drive revenue growth by aligning Marketing, Sales, and Experience (Success) teams. Using data, processes, and technology, she has been instrumental in scaling Pax8's EMEA operations, contributing to 100% year-over-year revenue growth.

About Paweł Nicał

Paweł Nicał is a strategic advisor and expert in the area of ​​​​​Revenue Operations. In the years 2020-23 he was the Head of RevOps at Nethone, where he built one of the first teams in this area in Poland and, together with the management board, led the company through the Seed, Series A and Private Equity acquisition rounds. He also gained experience working with companies such as RTB House, Mangopay and Boston Consulting Group on the EMEA, US and APAC markets. Since 2023, he has been running a consulting business, specialising in the implementation and development of RevOps, RevTech and Outbound areas in B2B SaaS companies.

Mentioned in this episode:

Get Mind Your F**king Business

In this conversation, Kevin Dutton explores the fascinating world of cognitive flexibility and how adaptability in decision-making can pave the way to success in business. Known for his groundbreaking work on psychopathy, Dr Kevin Dutton is a British psychologist now working down at the University of Adelaide in Australia. He's the author of a number of books including, Flipnosis: The Art of Split Second Persuasion, Wisdom of Psychopaths, and A Good Psycho's Guide to Success (co-authored with Andy McNabb).

Kevin shares his unique perspective on psychopathic traits, likening them to a mixing desk of personality settings. We'll delve into his thoughts on "precision-engineered psychopathy," the benefits of certain psychopathic traits in professions, and the crucial distinction between "good" and "bad" psychopaths. From humorous anecdotes to profound insights, this episode is packed with thought-provoking discussions. Whether you're curious about how low empathy scores impact leadership or how Kevin's fearless nature led him to the brink of risk-taking, this conversation promises to enlighten and entertain.

Takeaways

• Cognitive flexibility is crucial and the importance of adapting decision-making strategies.
• Precision-engineered Psychopathy can be advantageous in specific professions, from surgeons to CEOs.
• Decoupling emotion from behaviour in difficult conversations
• Unpack the distinctions between harmful and beneficial psychopathic traits.
• Empathy types and their impact.
• Psychopath Quiz: Test where you fall on the psychopathy spectrum with Kevin’s personality test!

Timestamps

(00:00) Being a Good Psychopath with Kevin Dutton.

(04:17) Public understanding of psychology.

(05:19) Why study psychopaths?

(08:03) Kevin’s upbringing and journey.

(13:08) Defining “psychopath”: traits and stereotypes.

(18:12) Hot empathy and cold empathy.

(20:40) Quiz: Are You A Psychopath?

(26:21) Measuring psychopathic personality.

(28:07) Training traits and emotion regulation.

(33:42) Tips for making difficult conversations in business.

(37:49) Quick Fire Questions.

(45:41) Book Recommendations.

About Kevin Dutton

Professor Kevin Dutton, PhD, FBPsS, is one of the world’s foremost authorities on psychopaths. Having spent the last twenty years at the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, he was appointed in 2022 as Australia’s first Professor of the Public Understanding of Psychology at the University of Adelaide. He is a Fellow of the British Psychological Society.

Kevin is the author of the acclaimed bestsellers Flipnosis: The Art of Split-Second Persuasion, The Wisdom of Psychopaths: Lessons in Life from Saints, Spies and Serial Killers, The Good Psychopath’s Guide to Success (with Andy McNab), and Black and White Thinking: The Burden of a Binary Brain in a Complex World. The Wisdom of Psychopaths saw him awarded a ‘Best American Science and Nature Writing prize, and Black and White Thinking was nominated by the Big Ideas Club as one of the must-read non-fiction titles of 2021.

Kevin’s work has been translated worldwide into over twenty-five languages, and his writing and research have been featured in Scientific American, New Scientist, the Guardian, the Times, Psychology Today, the New York Times, the Wall St Journal, the Washington Post, Newsweek, Slate, USA Today among other publications. He regularly publishes in leading international scientific journals and speaks at conferences around the world.

Alongside his academic commitments, Kevin also consults in the elite sport, business, and military sectors and often appears on radio, TV, and podcasts. He also co-hosts the podcast Psycho Schizo Espresso with Iron Maiden front man, Bruce Dickinson.

Find out more about Kevin and his work on drkevindutton.com.

🔍 Are You a Psychopath? Find Out Now! 🔍

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:share:7275481957277331456/?utm_campaign=Publish_Success_Real-time&utm_content=Publish%3A+Update+Succeeded&utm_medium=email_action&utm_source=customer.io

Follow Kevin Dutton

Website: www.drkevindutton.com 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profkevindutton 

X: https://x.com/therealdrkev?mx=2 

Psycho Schizo Espresso Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh2-FHcUx_3kaOgUNXeNSaw/featured 

Books by Kevin Dutton

The Wisdom of the Psychopaths: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0099551063/ 

Flipnosis: The Art of Split-Second Persuasion: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Flipnosis-Split-Second-Persuasion-Kevin-Dutton/dp/0099505622/ 

The Good Psychopath's Guide to Success: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Good-Psychopaths-Guide-Success-Psychopath/dp/0552171069/ 

Black and White Thinking: The Burden of a Binary Brain in a Complex World: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Black-White-Thinking-matters-collide-ebook/dp/B07YYXN42R 

Sorted!: The Good Psychopath’s Guide to Bossing Your Life: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sorted-Psychopaths-Guide-Bossing-Psychopath/dp/0593075579/ 

Book Recommendations

Switchcraft by Elaine Fox

Mentioned in this episode:

Get Mind Your F**king Business

Summary

In this conversation, Matt Phelan, the co-founder of the Happiness Index and author of "The Business Case for Happiness" and "The Happiness Index, " shares valuable insight into measuring emotions in the workplace. Matt challenges the old business adage, "If you can measure it, you can manage it," emphasising that understanding and supporting employee happiness leads to better performance.

Listen to this entrepreneur’s story, which led to pioneering the integration of happiness metrics in workplace culture. Highlighting Richard Branson's belief that employees come first, Matt introduces his data-driven approach to fostering workplace happiness and its significant impact on business outcomes.

The episode explores the complex relationship between measuring and managing happiness and the importance of emotional well-being in the workplace. Matt also offers book recommendations and practical advice for enhancing happiness at work, making this a must-listen for any leader eager to disrupt the norm and prioritise employee satisfaction.

Takeaways

• Mythbusting the business concept, “If you can measure it, you can manage it.”
• Understanding the correlation between happiness and productivity.
• Professor Jeremy Dawson’s fascinating NHS hospital research.
• Breaking down the Employee Net Promotor Score questions.
• Debating in the office or work-from-home models.
• Pixar’s global emotions framework.

Chapters

(00:11) From digital agency to workplace happiness with Matt Phelan.

(03:48) The Happiness Index V1

(05:54) Measure it and understand it better.

(07:52) Changing the value prop.

(09:23) Defining happiness as an understandable business metric.

(13:26) Employee Net Promoter Score questions.

(17:23) TED Talk - Super Chickens.

(20:22) Solving different problems from client to client.

(24:31) Are happier employees more productive?

(27:01) Happy Hospitals vs. Unhappy Hospitals.

(28:53) In The Office or Work From Home?

(31:40) Building Relationships.

(34:08) Quick Fire Questions with Matt Phelan.

(39:18) Book recommendations.

About Matt Phelan

Matt Phelan is the co-founder of the Happiness Index, an organisation that aims to understand what makes people happy at work and how that relates to their work performance. He is a self-confessed proud geek and a supporter of decent people.

Matt’s career started when he founded a digital marketing agency called 4Ps Marketing when he was 25 years old. After driving this agency to immense success, Matt and his partners sold the company and opted to double down their investment to go again.

The Happiness Index is a SAAS platform that helps organisations measure their key employee engagement and happiness drivers. 

Follow Matt Phelan

Website: https://mattphelan.co.uk/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewphelan/ 

X: https://twitter.com/MatthewPhelan 

Happiness and Humans Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/7h6wCWnjsgOIZSR6h0DKbq 

Book Recommendations

Freedom To Be Happy: The Business Case For Happiness by Matt Phelan

The Happiness Index by Matt Phelan

The Little Book of Hygge by Meik Viking

The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor

Will It Make The Boat Go Faster by Ben Hunt-Davis and Harriet Beveridge

Mentioned in this episode:

Get Mind Your F**king Business

Summary

Farley Thomas, the co-founder and CEO of Manageable joins today’s conversation and shares his revolutionary insights on empowering organisations through highly skilled management. 

Farley highlights the incredible impact of upskilled, confident, and competent managers on organisational success, and why traditional training methods often fall short, diving into the practical approaches his company adopts and drawing fascinating parallels between language learning and workplace skills training. 

Farley also unpacks the critical importance of practice and real-world application in management training, supported by eye-opening examples and personal experiences. From the harmful effects of untrained management on employee well-being to innovative solutions like the Leadership Capacity Profile, this episode is packed with actionable insights that challenge conventional leadership development, advocating for early-career focus and continuous learning that can transform the future of work.

Takeaways

• The concept of Empowerment and the importance of skilled management.
• Ineffectiveness of traditional training and the importance of practice over theoretical knowledge.
• The Impact of poor management on employees and Manageable’s approach on managers training.
• Differences between Managers and Leaders.
• Evaluating leadership capacity- a hypothetical scenario for discovering leadership potential among contributors.
• Skill development and behavioural change through practice.
• Redefining leadership and management roles- ​​reallocating training resources towards early career managers.

Timestamps

(02:15)  Introducing Farley Thomas - the Concept of Empowerment and effective management in organisations.

(14:01) Traditional Training vs. Practical Application.

(18:01) The five principles of Manageable’s effective training programs- the importance of data-driven efforts, bite-sized training, social learning, live sessions, and role models.

(24:00) The impact of Poor Management on Employee Well-Being.

(28:00)  Effective Leadership and Management Practices (Manager vs. Leader).

(34:01) Continuous learning and resource allocation for early career Managers.

(45:00) Thomas’ personal reflections and business advice (critique of work practices).

(54:02) Book Recommendations

(57:00) Final Thoughts and future vision.

About Farley Thomas

Farley Thomas is the co-founder and CEO of Manageable, the leadership-skills-focused EdTech firm on a mission to give everyone the gift of a great manager. 

Prior to founding Manageable in 2020, Farley established a highly successful executive coaching and leadership advisory practice in 2014. He has been advising and coaching CEOs and their teams across diverse industry sectors ever since. 

The core of his previous corporate experience was gained at HSBC, where he was CRO at HSBC Asset Management for over a decade, ultimately setting up and leading teams in over 30 countries worldwide. He has consistently been trusted to develop new initiatives, products and markets.

Follow Farley Thomas

Website: https://www.manageable.works

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/farleythomas/

Manageable Conversations Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/manageable-conversations/id1586790766

Book recommendations

The Geek Way by Andrew McAfee

Nine Lies About Work by Marcus Buckingham & Ashley Goodall

Mentioned in this episode:

Get Mind Your F**king Business

Summary

In this conversation, Marques Colston, a former NFL player transitioned to leading the boardroom playbook, dives into the dynamic world of sports and business ventures. Marques discusses his innovative investments in the sports value chain, including sports medicine, technology, and fan engagement. The conversation covers Marque's insights on the socioeconomic impact around stadiums, the rising popularity of lacrosse, and his hands-on approach to parenting. He also opens up about coaching his son's football team and the importance of instilling resilience in his children.

Marques also shares his football crossover strategy to finding sustainable and scalable investments, his philosophy on team dynamics, and the challenges athletes face when transitioning from professional sports. From founding Champion Venture Partners to raising a $100 million fund, Marques Colston's story is a testament to innovation and resilience.

Takeaways

• Marques’ investment portfolio focuses on the sports value chain.
• From athlete to investor, Marques seamlessly transitioned from the field to venture capitalism.
• Marques introduces his three levels of awareness—self, peripheral, and situational.
• Understanding team dynamics and individual roles can maximise collective performance.
• A focus on democratising investments, making it more accessible for others.
• Marques shares his parenting approach to build resilience.

Chapters

(00:00) From Football Field to Business Strategy with Marques Colston.

(03:43) Run down of Marques Colston’s 10-year football career.

(06:13) Introducing Champion Venture Partners, a fund that invests in sports companies.

(07:00) Democratising private investments for average investors.

(12:51) Humble beginnings and embracing challenges to strengthen growth.

(14:37) Sports teach resilience and self-awareness through adversity.

(16:59) Marques Colston’s career highlights include consistency.

(20:04) Motivation as an internal standard.

(21:50) Transitioning from professional football to next career.

(23:36) Early career investments built skills and confidence for the next steps.

(30:16) Evaluating scalability and sustainability of businesses.

(35:37) Creating access to opportunities in alternative investments.

(37:27) Changes to opportunities in the pandemic.

(40:10) Taking football team experience into executive coaching.

(45:12) Culture and leadership impact performance and rewards.

(46:06) Quick fire questions with Marques Colston.

(49:12) Book recommendations.

About Marques Colston 

Marques Colston is a former NFL star now leading wins in the business field of venture capitalists. He is a Founding Partner at Champion Venture Partners, a fund dedicated to innovative investment opportunities that generate meaningful returns in the sports ecosystem.

Marquesis humble about his outstanding 10 year career as a wide receiver for New Orleans Saints. He was the Saints all time leader in receptions, receiving yards, touchdowns, and he played a key role in their super bowl victory in 2009. Since stepping off the field, he's seamlessly transitioned into the world of business applying the same Creating Separation mindset that defined his football career.

Over the last 15+ years, he has become a trusted leader in business strategy, private equity, and sports business, driving sustainable growth for companies across various sectors. He's passionate about supporting athletes in navigating the shift from professional sports to business, creating a pathway and holding the door open for those coming up behind him.

Marques wants to democratise investment capability, or the ability of people to invest in early-stage businesses. His current $100 million fund aims to invest in sports, sports tech, and wellness businesses at Series A. 

Marques is also a dedicated father to three children, carefully navigating the role of coach and parent.

Follow Marques Colston

Website: https://www.championventurepartners.com/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marques-colston 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marquescolston/ 

X: https://x.com/marquescolston 

Book Recommendations

Hidden Potential by Adam Grant

Mentioned in this episode:

Get Mind Your F**king Business

Summary

In this conversation, Minette Norman, a seasoned leader and author, explores psychological safety, leadership myths, and managers' real impact on employee wellbeing. Minette shares her journey from technical writer to leading an enormous team of 3,500 engineers at Autodesk without learning any code. 

Minette has a genius way of simplifying the complex. She shares insight from her two books, The Boldly Inclusive Leadership and The Psychological Safety Playbook, giving you tangible how-to’s. Minette successfully navigated resistance to collaboration in her long-held position in Silicon Valley. From book recommendations to actionable insights for creating safe and productive work environments, this episode is packed with wisdom for aspiring leaders and curious minds alike.

Takeaways

• Debunking leadership myths and offering a model of vulnerability.
• Psychological safety fosters an environment where team members can openly ask questions, make mistakes, and share ideas without fear.
• Career pathway options for leaders and individual contributors.
• Building an inclusive workplace with the tipping point percentage.
• Offering the How-To guidance leaders are seeking.
• The importance of having an open mind in business.

Chapters

(00:00) Collaborating Ideas With An Open Mind With Minette Norman.

(03:08) Minette’s Journey From Technical Writer To Leader.

(04:59) Transforming Workspace Culture and Unify Teams.

(06:54) Overcoming Resistance To Collaborative Coding and Internal Competition.

(10:57) Importance of Yearly Summit In-Person Gathering.

(12:01) Adapting Meetings to Equalise Space & Include Quieter Individuals’ Insights.

(14:52) Reasons Behind The Boldly Inclusive Leader.

(17:36) Conceit of Leadership.

(21:47) Psychological Safety, Inclusion & Interpersonal Risk Taking.

(24:28) Co-Authoring Focused on How To Increase Psychological Safety.

(26:27) Asking For Other Points of View With An Open Mind.

(28:16) Learning From Mistakes.

(31:59) Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Leadership Conference.

(35:17) Overcoming Affinity Bias To Embrace Diverse Groups.

(38:49) Loneliness in the Workplace.

(41:39) Quickfire Q&A with Minette Monkhouse.

(47:02) Book Recommendations.

About Minette Norman 

Minette Norman is an author, speaker, and leadership consultant who previously spent decades leading global technical teams in the software industry.

Minette has extensive experience leading internationally distributed teams and believes that when groups embrace diversity in all its forms, breakthroughs emerge, and innovation accelerates. Before starting her consultancy, her most recent position was as Vice President of Engineering Practice at Autodesk. Responsible for influencing more than 3,500 engineers around the globe, she focused on state-of-the-art engineering practices while nurturing a collaborative and inclusive culture.

​Minette is a keynote speaker on inclusive leadership, psychological safety, collaborative teams, and empathy. Named in 2017 as one of the “Most Influential Women in Bay Area Business” by the San Francisco Business Times and as “Business Role Model of the Year” in the 2018 Women in IT/Silicon Valley Awards, Minette is a recognised leader with a unique perspective.

​Minette is the author of The Boldly Inclusive Leader and the co-author of The Psychological Safety Playbook.

Minette holds degrees in Drama and French from Tufts University and studied at the Sorbonne Nouvelle in Paris.

Follow Minette Norman

Website: https://www.minettenorman.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/minettenorman/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/minettenorman/

Book Recommendations

The Boldly Inclusive Leadership: https://www.minettenorman.com/boldlyinclusiveleader 

The Psychological Safety Playbook: https://thepsychologicalsafetyplaybook.com

The Culture Map by Erin Meyer: https://erinmeyer.com/books/the-culture-map/

Fearless Organization & Right Kind of Wrong by Amy Edmondson: https://amycedmondson.com/books/

Unlearning Silence by Elaine Lynn Herring: https://elainelinhering.com/

Mentioned in this episode:

Get Mind Your F**king Business

Summary

In this conversation, Alan Miltz, a renowned financial analysis and business strategy expert, shares insights into scaling up a business and improving its cash flow. He dives deep into the intricacies of financial management, from optimising cash flow and managing working capital to the fine art of pricing strategy.

Alan keeps the conversation simple, outlining how small 1% changes in one day can revolutionise a company's financial health. He offers his understanding of The Magic Number 200 and practical tools for improving cash flow and sustaining growth, even in challenging economic climates. Finally, Alan provides some excellent book recommendations for anyone looking to find hidden value in their business segments.

Takeaways

• Mastering the seven financial levers to enhance cash flow.
• Understand the power of incremental 1% improvements.
• Ensure your financial strategies are aligned with your bank's focus.
• Keep financial reports simple and relatable.
• Manage meetings so everyone understands the company’s story.
• Overcome the hesitation to raise prices.
• The Magic Number 200 explained simply.

Chapters

(00:00) Discussing Cash Flow, The Power of One and More With Alan Miltz

(05:13) Cash Flow Is Crucial In The Current Economy

(9:58) Seven Levers and Four Chapters In Business

(13:53) Management Team Responsibilities

(17:08) Cash Flow Burn 

(20:42) Relationship of Price vs. Volume to Cash Flow and Profit

(25:37) Identifying Profit Segments Using Cash Flow Ladder

(34:12) Magic Number of 200

(38:58) Cash Flow Story Software Tool

(41:02) Book Recommendations for Improving Business

About Alan Miltz

Alan Miltz has dedicated his life to helping business leaders and everyone in their team love the numbers. Revenue is vanity, Profit is sanity and Cash is king (or queen) are usually his opening words.

Alan is a co-author of Verne Harnish’s global best-selling book Scaling Up (having written the financial component of the book).

Alan believes that running a business is like managing a sports team: Everyone needs to know the score. Every business wants to scale up its profit, cash, and value. The Power of One, developed by Alan and the team at Cash Flow Story, is your company’s code. How many 1% or 1-day changes do you need to make to achieve your desired financial results?

Everything Alan has developed has had one common theme – to make the complex simple. As a founder of Inmatrix (known as Optimist software) in 1998, which is now the global standard for over 500 banks in more than 90 countries. More recently co-founded Cash Flow Story allowing non-financial individuals to easily analyse and improve business Profit, Cash & Value. This has helped 1000’s of businesses to scale 2xProfit, 3xCash and 10xBusiness Value.

Alan has been voted best speaker in Australia for TEC (the world’s largest CEO forum) and continues to speak at many CEO conferences globally, including the CEO syndicate in Australia, Entrepreneurs Organisation, and YPO. He also sits on the boards of 15 well-recognised companies globally.

Follow Alan Miltz

• Website
• LinkedIn

Mentioned in this episode:

Get Mind Your F**king Business

Summary

In this conversation, Nick Bradley - world-renowned author, speaker, and business growth expert - shares his insights on private equity, business exits, and the common myths and mistakes entrepreneurs make when preparing to sell their businesses. He emphasises the importance of leadership, understanding the dynamics of private equity, and the need for businesses to focus on growth and valuation strategies. Nick also discusses the impact of customer concentration on business value and the transition from being a business owner to an investor. Throughout the conversation, he highlights the significance of personal growth, defining success, and the role of culture in scaling businesses. Finally, Nick offers book recommendations that can aid entrepreneurs on their journey.

Takeaways

• Common myths about exiting businesses can lead to mistakes.
• Leadership plays a vital role in business growth and scaling.
• Understanding private equity dynamics is essential for business owners.
• Valuation is influenced by both tangible and intangible assets.
• Customer concentration can significantly impact business value.
• Preparing for a successful exit requires strategic planning.
• The transition from business owner to investor can be rewarding.
• Personal growth and defining success are key to a fulfilling entrepreneurial journey.

Chapters

(00:00) The Importance of Recording Interviews

(02:57) Navigating Private Equity and Exits

(05:56) Common Myths and Mistakes in Exiting Businesses

(08:53) The Role of Leadership in Business Growth

(12:00) Understanding Private Equity Dynamics

(15:06) Valuation and Growth Strategies for Businesses

(18:03) The Impact of Customer Concentration on Value

(21:01) Preparing for a Successful Exit

(24:04) The Transition from Business Owner to Investor

(27:00) The Evolution of Business Owners

(29:56) The Role of Culture in Scaling Businesses

(32:50) Defining Success and Personal Growth

(35:52) The Next Act After Exiting a Business

(38:59) Book Recommendations for Entrepreneurs

(42:07) Quickfire Questions with Nick Bradley

Mentioned in this episode:

Get Mind Your F**king Business