Robert Kelsey is motivated by his own perceived failures. Something that actually, we all draw motivation from even if we aren’t aware of it.

The author of 3 Amazon bestselling personal development books, Robert changed his life by beginning to understand why he measured himself so harshly and has made a successful literary career through helping entrepreneurs like you do the same.

This episode is a deep insight into the psychology that drives all of Robert’s decisions and during the episode you will learn:

* The anatomy of a bad decision

* The reasons we’re bad at making decisions

* The effect second guessing and under confident decision making can have on all aspects of our lives

* Is this a nature or nurture question: can we overcome this by understanding it?

Furthermore, Robert shares is fantastic and ACTIONABLE tips for overcoming the decision making paralysis that, at times, stymies us all.

Links to Robert’s work:

* Robert-Kelsey.co.uk

* What’s Stopping You? Why Smart People Don't Always Reach Their Potential and How You Can by Robert Kelsey

* What’s Stopping You Being More Confident? by Robert Kelsey

* Get Things Done - What Stops Smart People From Achieving More and How You Can Change by Robert Kelsey

Robert’s new book “Outside Edge” hits stores and online outlets in March 2015.

Don’t forget, the more you expect from yourself, the more you WILL excel!

Brad Burton is the UK’s #1 motivational speaker, founder of the 4Networking organisation that holds over 5,000 events throughout the UK each year, and author of the highest rated and reviewed business books on Amazon.

But it wasn’t always like that.

Brad came from a working class background in the North of England and created his business at a time when he was £25,000 in debt. Crazy? No. Inspired? Yes.

Brad has a true “Get Off Your Arse” mentality, so much so that it is the title of his first book, that has seen him rise from lacking motivation and self-belief, to spearheading a multi-million pound business - all in t-shirt and trainers.

How? Honesty, transparency and being himself.

During this interview, Brad shares his unique and charismatic advice on how you can cut the crap and get off YOUR ass to affect real, lasting and positive change in your life - learn how to deconstruct yourself and rebuild with Brad’s 4 actionable takeaways.

Links mentioned in the show:

* Get Off Your Arse by Brad Burton

* Get Off Your Arse Too by Brad Burton

* Life. Business.: Just Got Easier by Brad Burton

* BradBurton.biz - Brad's own website

* 4Networking

Don’t forget, the more you expect from yourself, the more you WILL excel!

Image credit: Jonathan Jacob

Keith Evans, founder of CidaCo, has made a career out of helping entrepreneurs excel. It's something he's passionate about, believes in and is truly accomplished in.

What makes Keith so successful?

His open mind and willingness to think differently.

In a world of uncertainty, your business needs to remain agile, open minded and employ creative thinking in order to allow it to grow, develop and surpass your expectations - but how can you break free of the traditional mindsets that we have all been conditioned to live within?

During this insightful interview, Keith shares his actionable advice on how you can leverage a more open attitude in order to break down the walls that may be holding you back, thus allowing your business to truly achieve and SURPASS it's potential.

What a start to 2015, this interview will energise you into taking positive action for yourself and your business.

For a copy of the CidaCo Environmental Mapping Tool mentioned in this episode, simply email Keith!

Don't forget, the more you expect from yourself, the more you WILL excel!

2014 closes out with a time to celebrate your successes and an opportunity to allow yourself to EXCEL in 2015.

This is my message to you, a thank you and a challenge: create your 2015 roadmap and give yourself no choice BUT to succeed!

Thank you so much for all of your loyal support through 2014, it’s my honour to be able to share value with you every single episode and here’s to a happy, healthy and successful 2015 for you.

Happy Christmas and don’t forget, the more you expect from yourself, the more you WILL excel.

David Lewis set out with the goal of rebuilding a dwindling choir in his home country of Wales. What he actually achieved is a record breaking, over 6,000 member choir that tours the world; sells out the biggest venues across the globe and performs both with & for some of the most influential figures of our time.

How?

Self belief and an open heart.

David created Young Voices, a youth choir that now performs across the world for some of the most influential people of our time. Throughout his journey, David admittedly made some mistakes; mistakes that he learned from and that allowed him to grow and flourish. By continuing to have an open heart and give everyone the time and respect that they deserve, David has crafted a path that has led him to working with Tom Jone, Shirley Bassey, Ben E. King and the amazing Maya Angelou.

David is proof that no matter the scale of your goal, you can achieve it with some devout attention and a pragmatic approach to life; it’s a formula that we can all follow and a formula that echoes that of some of the world’s most successful entrepreneurs.

If David can achieve goals AND break records doing so, what’s stopping you seizing your own life right now?

Nothing, nothing at all.

“Resources & Reflections” – Even More Value, Even More Action From David Lewis's Episode…

“Resources & Reflections” is my follow up episode to help you take action and EXCEL!

Publishing after each topical, expert interview, I share my own actionable advice along with resources & recommendations to galvanise your thoughts into the will to take action.

Listen to This Week’s “Resources & Reflections”

Each episode of “Resources & Reflections” focusses solely on the topic in hand on the previous episode and is only available via your subscriptions feed – iTunes, Stitcher et al – or the player within each individual episode like this one:

* My reflections

* If someone tells you something is too big, or too hard, it’s usually because THEY’RE scared. Don’t let that stop you, make sure you’ve done your due diligence and you have taken David’s advice of filling out the idea, testing measuring and repeating and if everything lines up, DO IT - don’t seek permission, just do it and the people who doubted you, forget them.

* First resource

* The Business Idea Factory: A World-Class System for Creating Successful Business Ideas by Andrii Sedniev - Why? Because it’s based on a tried and tested system and systems WORK!

* Second resource

* Trello.com - Define, refine and develop your ideas with this superb online project software.

* What’s YOUR action plan for this week?

Don’t forget, the more you expect from yourself, the more you WILL excel.

Inspired by the marvellous work of Simon Sinek, this week successful financial entrepreneur  Bill Bottomley takes us on a journey from a career path with little fulfilment, to directorship of a thriving business that he passionately believes in.

Episode 16 is an episode for all of us, an episode that helps us to reassess where we are and why we do exactly what we do. Throughout the episode Bill discusses the vital importance of:

* Self belief

* Belief in your "mission"

* The positive impact that can have to your internal company culture

* The positive effects it has on your customers and your bottom line

* How this approach builds longevity into your business

* The happiness that can be drawn personally from this kind of approach

Bill is a firm believer in doing the 'right thing', with Lifetime's philanthropical efforts playing a huge role in that business' overall success. This all stems from Bill's solid belief in WHY he turns up to work every day and WHY he conducts himself the way he does.

Links mentioned in the episode:

* Lifetime Financial Management

* Simon Sinek - Start With Why

It's an inspirational episode closed by the usual high quality actionable takeaways that will allow you to begin your own journey of discovery to reveal your true "why".

Don't forget, the more you expect from yourself, the you will excel.

In this continuation of my interview with Ben Beaumont from 48.3 Scaffold Design Ben dives into the famous Excellence Expected actionable takeaways section...

Ben share his 3 simple steps to begin your journey to becoming the ultimate business person through systemisation.

Ben shares expert insight and actionable tips covering:

* Overcoming the paralysis of starting - EVERYONE needs to systemise. EVERYONE.

* Identifying the pain points within your business that are stopping you excelling and how to systemise through these.

* How to leverage the technology around us to shift the effort onto reliable tools & resources.

Ben is proof that systemisation leads to reward and an explosion in effective business practice.

Why aren't you doing it?

Don't forget: the more you expect from yourself, the more you will excel.

Ben Beaumont is serious about success. Having set out only a few short years ago to transform the service expectations within the scaffold design industry, his business, 48.3 Scaffold Design has seen wild growth and admirable success.

Ben's secret?

He trusts his people and his systems.

Ben began a journey to transform his business over the last 18 months through thorough and efficient systemisation that has allowed his business to thrive and maintain it's impeccable customer service ethos even through a period of rapid growth.

In part one of this interview I interview Ben, an old friend, and he shares some vital insights into how he came to realise what systemisation actually means, how it can be applied to any business and how he began going through a process of change that ultimately resulted in wild success and personal pride.

Throughout this episode you will be taken on a journey to discover:

* How to increase the time you have available

* How to increase profitability by

* Doing things quicker and more efficiently

* Maintaining quality through consistent process

* Enabling the person with the lowest possible skillet to carry out the function (by using the system)

* Person on lowest wage executing the task

* More serious staff or skilled staff freed to concentrate on more complex or higher income generating tasks.

* Most valuable if less dependency on you or one key team member

* How to create a culture of embodiment of your ethos, mission & values in your team

* How to introduce systems and processes to allow others to do carry out the tasks you shouldn't be doing

* How to empower your team to do their job with right support

* How to begin working "on" not "in" your business.

This is an empowering episode full of ACTION, it will help you shape your business over the next few years and allow you to achieve what YOU want to achieve.

Remember, the more you expect from yourself, the more you will excel.

Every business owner, every entrepreneur is on a journey of self discovery.

For most entrepreneurs and business owners, there is someone there to accompany them on that path. Today I talk about 3 of the biggest lessons I’ve learned in my time starting up and building a business, welcoming one of my partners on that journey to deliver those lessons: Mr. Donald Gent.

Donald is a highly successful business person, having started his career in the heady days of 1960s London, before building a property portfolio and establishing the global design & digital agency DMSQD with myself and 3 other friends.

Since I met Donald in late 2008, I've had the privilege of calling him a friend and being able to call upon him as a fine, patient and generous mentor. Without Donald, I doubt I you would even be listening to this show.

This episode is packed full of insights and actionable takeaways, delving deep into the lessons we have learned together since we started. Myself and Donald chart some of the most challenging times we’ve faced in business and some of the hard decisions we’ve had to make.

Links featured in this episode:

*  @RoystonDon - Donald Gent on Twitter

I’d LOVE to hear your stories and allow you to share your lessons from your own business journey - the comments are waiting folks!

Don’t forget: the more you expect from yourself, the more you will excel.

Katie Portman has an enviable position as a happy mother and a successful PR and journalistic professional who has successfully managed to strike the perfect balance between her working life and the life she wants to live.

But, it seems it didn’t come easy and this episode focusses on Katie’s journey to that perfect balance and along the way she shares her top tips on how you can begin to balance your life better, starting today!

During the episode, Katie shares her inspirational and actionable insights that will help you to:

* Learn how to find family time whilst keeping your clients happy

* Prepare for a life change and how to incorporate that into your business including:

* Preparing clients

* Managing their expectations

* When to say "no"

* How to ensure you can "come back" when the time is right for you

* Create boundaries between the most important aspects of your life

* Ensure that clients understand these boundaries and come to respect your resolve in sticking to them

* Find your perfect work / life balance - remember this is unique to you, only you can create it and only you can change it today!

Links mentioned in this episode:

* "Linchpin: Are You Indispensable? How to drive your career and create a remarkable future" by Seth Godin

* "Thrive: The Third Metric to Redefining Success and Creating a Happier Life" by Adrianna Huffington

* PoutingInHeels.com

* @KateLPortman

How do you balance your working life with your ‘real’ life? Let me know in the comments and let’s share how we can all improve!

Don't forget: the more you expect from yourself, the more you will excel.