Prosperity Podcast with Nicole Bremner

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EP130: Olive recently celebrated her 94th birthday and is still in fine form. Her active mind and unfussy approach to life is refreshing in people of any age, not least those in their 10th decade. She narrates her story in exactly the same way, and even when tragedy strikes - for example the loss of a dear cousin and step-sister in a car accident - she is able to see the bigger picture. This is a lively and spirited account of a long life lived to the full.

Olive's story is a remarkable one. Beginning in the north east of England in the late 1920s, her life encompassed the aftermath of the First World War, the upheavals for Word War Two and the unexpected post war opportunity to travel and see the world.

Born in Morpeth, Northumberland, in March 1928. Her parents had suffered the hardships of a working class upbringing but at the time of her birth were happy and settled into family life. This was all to change with the death of her father, who died in 1934 of TB, the result of a chest weakened by a gas attack during World War One. Her mother married again, but after just two years she died while giving birth to twins. These children were adopted and Olive was left as an orphan.

As Olive's story unfolds, interspersed from extracts from her husband Ron's account of his war years and subsequent word for GCHQ, her resilience and optimism shine through, even as she moves away from her beloved north east to explore the exotic shores of Malaysia, Hong Kong and the Mediterranean. Her account is humorous and knowledgeable, casting lift on the constraints of the 1930s, the fear and exhilaration of the war years and, eventually, the chase to see the world and become immersed in cultures that a person of her background would otherwise have little access to.

From the book, Stepping Stones by Olive Roberts which can be purchased here.

Follow Olive on Instagram here. 

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Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast belong solely to the host and guest speakers. The view and opinions of the guest speakers do not represent that of the host. Always do your own research. 

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EP129: "We are in a very interesting time. On one side, we have the Chancellor trying to encourage house sales with fiscal stimulus. And on the other, we have the Bank of England using monetary policies to control lending. What makes the decision of when to invest more interesting is exchange rates."

In the first of a new monthly series I met with Eyeedul Haque of My Property Consultant for a live discussion on the UK house prices. Each month Eyeedul puts together a tracker plotting the changes in the major house price indicators. On one page you can see the latest data from the Halifax, Nationwide, ONS and others.

Live on my LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube, we discussed:

- The indicators, what they are and whether they're leading, lagging or real time
- What September's indicators are, well, indicating
- Recent changes in the Truss government's mini-budget including SDLT and tax rates
- Recent interest rate increases and how they will impact house prices
- Making sense of the current turbulent economic environment and how this might impact house prices
- The ultimate problem with house prices - supply and demand.

Thanks to those who joined us live for some great questions on SDLT surcharges, the difference between house and flat values and what might spark a national house price collapse. Eyeedul very bravely put out a prediction. Let's see next month if he's correct or will need to take a U turn on his call.

"We've had amazing news in the last few weeks. We had interest rates go up again last week... We then had the mini-budget with the changes to stamp duty...to come into play. There's a third element with the pound taking the biggest fall in 37 years against the US dollar. All these moving parts make it an interesting conversation around when is the right time to invest."

Follow Nicole on LinkedIn to be notified of the next live discussion: www.linkedin.com/in/nicolebremner

You can follow Eyeedul on Instagram @eyeedul_mypropertyconsultant or  website https://myproperty-consultant.london/

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Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast belong solely to the host and guest speakers. The view and opinions of the guest speakers do not represent that of the host. Always do your own research. 

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EP#128 "If you've had some sort of trauma in your early life...the problem you potentially suffer with is an inherent feeling of a lack of self worth. And success won't fill that."

Sam White tragically lost her mother to an overdose at age 23. By 24 Sam launched her first business from her sister’s conservatory and she hasn’t stopped since. Starting as a small uninsured loss company in 1999, Sam has grown the Freedom Group to become a hugely influential and expanding business. In the past 20 years she has spearheaded the growth of a dynamic company in an ever-changing sector, all the while maintaining a strongly principled approach to business.

But the road has not been an easy one. While living her best life in LA even having Robbie Williams, her neighbour, sing at her wedding, a regulatory change saw Sam lose 60% of her business's revenue overnight. Swift action eventually saved the business but it was not without the war wounds of going through an experience like that.  

With the continued growth of the Freedom Group, Sam always has her sights set on new projects and directions, which includes the launch of Stella, a woman focussed insurance company based in Australia. 

We also talk about: 

- Making and losing millions
- How Robbie Williams sang at her wedding (really)
- Same sex marriage, divorce and finding love again
- Having and raising children in a same sex relationship
- travelling, weight loss and so much more. 

You can find her on Twitter @SamWhiteCEO, Instagram @samwhiteentrepreneur and LinkedIn. 

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Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast belong solely to the host and guest speakers. The view and opinions of the guest speakers do not represent that of the host. Always do your own research. 

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EP127: "We've had amazing news in the last few weeks. We had interest rates go up again last week... We then had the mini-budget with the changes to stamp duty...to come into play. There's a third element with the pound taking the biggest fall in 37 years against the US dollar. All these moving parts make it an interesting conversation around when is the right time to invest."

Join us live every month as Eyeedul Haque of My Property Consultant and I crunch the data behind the UK house price headlines.  Our first session will be live at 11:00 on 29 September on my LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube, links below. We hope you can join us as we look at the indicators and explain what they are, what they're indicating and how this might impact your buy, sell and hold strategy.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolebremner/
https://www.facebook.com/NicoleSBremner
https://www.youtube.com/c/NicoleBremner

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Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast belong solely to the host and guest speakers. The view and opinions of the guest speakers do not represent that of the host. Always do your own research. 

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“My whole life has been one safari and I am still living it now. Even as I sit here in Monaco, I cannot wait to get up and have another adventure.”

My guest today, Geoffrey Kent, is the founder of luxury international travel company, Abercrombie & Kent, and the pioneer behind safari being a “hunt with a camera, and not with a gun.” 

After being expelled from school, riding a motorbike off into the Kenyan sunset, and later training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Geoffrey brought all his experiences together to forge a business that would not only change the face of travel, but also people’s lives, forever. “Nobody had ever decided to camp on safari and guide people to take photographs.”

We discuss Geoffrey’s journey from starting with nothing but an old Land Rover and visionary ideas to how, 55 years after the founding of Abercrombie & Kent, he is enjoying life’s safari with adventures spanning 150 countries - from the Galapagos to the South Pole. We also reflect on the meaning of prosperity and important lessons about money:

“The most important thing about money I actually taught myself. You need to balance instinct with listening to other people. I am very instinctive and sometimes have had my fingers burned as a result. There will be moments where you make a lot of money and then think, ‘Wow, that was easy.’ That is a big mistake, because making money is not easy. If you do not realise this the first time, then you are lucky. The second time around and you will come to understand how difficult it can be.”

We also talk about:

·       The origins of the word ‘safari’.

·       Military training and its relationship with the new safari.

·       The rationale behind Geoffrey’s drive to succeed.

·       The importance of keeping active through adventures.

·       The passion of polo and tangible liquid investments.

Nicole Bremner is an investor and podcaster. After a successful decade building a multi-million property portfolio in London, Nicole was forced by a number of external obstacles to stop, take stock and figure out what really matters in life.  

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Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast belong solely to the host and guest speakers. The view and opinions of the guest speakers do not represent that of the host. Always do your own research. 

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EP125: “I was on fire. I was fighting well. Then I've got to one of the most important fights I just needed to get through. This fight was probably the most important fight to get that chance to have the Olympic gold medal. I received a head kick with two seconds to go, and two seconds just wasn't enough to get the points back.”

Jordan was on the pathway to Tokyo Olympics 2020 when he missed his dream by two seconds. Rather than wallow in the disappointment Jordan has shown incredible resilience to jump back up and keep going. 

Jordan was very aware of the risks in this sport. His father was also a world and European karate champion. He was also aware of what a financial strain it could be to fund full time sport. For many years Jordan worked full time training others before turning his focus on training himself in the evenings. 

“...before my world final, I got a message the night before that my phone bill had bounced...I was 22 at the time…Then I won my world final, very convincingly…and still came back home, and couldn't pay my phone bill because I still had no money.”

We also talk about: 

1. How mindset is the most important tool
2. Being run over by a car and told he would never walk again
3. Choosing between football and karate
4. The life of a full time athlete
5. Following in his father’s footsteps
6. Jordan’s work with charity Inspire You

Jordan is active on Instagram and is preparing to climb Mount Kilimanjaro with a group of underprivileged young people for the charity Inspire You.  

Nicole Bremner is an investor and podcaster. After a successful decade building a multi-million property portfolio in London, Nicole was forced by a number of external obstacles to stop, take stock and figure out what really matters in life.  

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Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast belong solely to the host and guest speakers. The view and opinions of the guest speakers do not represent that of the host. Always do your own research. 

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EP124: My podcast is back! We have another series of 12 guests to share with you over the coming weeks.

“Many people reach the age of 50 having been on a treadmill of career and families and they're faced with this realisation…they need to take responsibility for themselves as they move into the last period of their working life…If they don't, they may face a retirement…which could be less comfortable than they had in mind.”

Paul Green came from a conservative background where money wasn't something that people talked about. As he went through life, he realised it’s one of the key things to get right. Heading into retirement himself and shocked by how little people knew on the subject, Paul founded Over50sMoney to help people sort out their finances as they prepare to enjoy their retirement. 

In this show you’ll hear about: 

·       How Over50sMoney came about

·       People’s expectations of their retirement

·       Your home as a potential retirement pot

·       The social care conundrum 

·       The importance of cashflow management for the day to day expenses 

·       Supporting your children financially and leaving money to them when you die.  

“I use an investment adviser. The original reason was that when we first had enough money to invest at a significant scale I was fully active in work. The adviser brings a lot of other advantages. He looks at things that I probably wouldn't. Because we've worked with him now for 12 years, he understands where we are in our lives... I certainly don't believe that I would invest as wisely if I hadn't had my guy on the case for many years.”

Paul did experience a short period when money was tight early in his entrepreneur journey. Now, however, thanks to years of diligent savings their only concern is for the wellbeing of their children and how much or little to support them. 

“Like all parents the thing that you're always concerned about [is] your children. We have three bright young adults ranging from the early twenties to the late twenties… You have this whole debate about how much help you should give them on whether or not giving them support is helping them benefit themselves a little more. I don't think that's an easy question to get the correct answer to.”

When not walking along the beach in the picturesque south west, Paul can be found on Facebook at Over50sMoneyand the website. 

 Nicole Bremner is an investor and podcaster. After a successful decade building a multi-million property portfolio in London, Nicole was forced by a number of external obstacles to stop, take stock and figure out what really matters in life.  

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Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast belong solely to the host and guest speakers. The view and opinions of the guest speakers do not represent that of the host. Always do your own research. 

It's time to say goodbye but welcome you to my brand new podcast, the Prosperity Podcast. Please do pop over and listen to our fresh new sound at a fresh new location.

The feed is here: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/1568677.rss

Thank you for all the support and we look forward to this new stage in our lifespan. 

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“Being a stripper taught me more lessons than I could possibly imagine, a lot of which I’ve been able to apply to my business life..” 

For the penultimate episode of The Nicole Bremner Podcast, I’m joined by former stripper Paulina Tenner. Paulina is the founder of GrantTree, where she leads a team of 50 people in helping businesses secure government funding. To date, the company has raised over £200m for tech start-ups and larger companies. 

Originally from Poland, Paulina is a true trailblazer, challenging the status quo of how companies are set up and scaled and proposes a truly radical alternative of financial transparency and self-set pay.

“[Self-Set pay] is a very courageous and responsible process but it’s hugely empowering for people and I think that anything that you implement in your company that is empowering to your people has long-term advantages.” 

Like many business people, Paulina has had times where she has faced burnout and it was during one of these periods that a chance encounter ignited a passion for burlesque dancing, which led her to become a showgirl. 

She writes about her experiences of being a stripper and leading a double life in her book, Laid Bare: What the business leader learnt from the stripper. 

“It was the biggest, most badass adventure of my life,” she says. “I think our sexual energy is a life-force, a life-force that can be manifested in a sexual way but also a creative way. When you awaken that, the entirety of your being and your leadership style changes.”
 
We also talk about: 

• Embracing your wild side to build confidence in business
• Workplaces of the future and the importance financial transparency 
• How to identify and use feminine and masculine paradigms in business

Paulina's book is available to buy from January 7, 2022 and can be ordered from paulinatenner.com. Follow @Paulinatenner on Twitter and Instagram for updates. 

About The Nicole Bremner Podcast:
Nicole Bremner is an investor, speaker, writer, and podcaster. After a successful decade building a multi-million property portfolio in London, Nicole was forced by a number of external obstacles to stop, take stock and figure out what really matters in life.  

Following a period of healing and reflection, she discovered that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger and, so very often, setback is followed by real success. On The Nicole Bremner Podcast, she speaks to others who have triumphed in the face of adversity and explores the lessons they have learned along the way. 

To find out who’s coming up next on The Nicole Bremner Podcast, follow Nicole on Instagram @nsbremner and facebook or subscribe to her YouTube channel. You can also support the show here.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast belong solely to the host and guest speakers. The view and opinions of the guest speakers do not represent that of the host. Always do your own research. Support the show. 

Support the show

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast belong solely to the host and guest speakers. The view and opinions of the guest speakers do not represent that of the host. Always do your own research. 

Send us Fan Mail

“‘Workations’ have become really popular. We’ve ditched the office and have really embraced ‘out of office’ work.” 

My guest today, Ivo Gospodinov, is one of the entrepreneurs behind industry leading prop-tech company Staykeepers, which he runs with his brother, Miroslav across the UK, US, Spain, Ireland, Germany and France. 

Aimed at the Build to Rent market, Staykeepers is a fully-compliant, user-friendly online platform which ‘uses Smart Technology to sell empty rooms’, generating passive income for both long-term tenants and building owners by offering short lets while the tenant is away or the unit is vacant. 

Travel and tourism was one of the key markets hit heavily by the pandemic but Staykeepers were one of those agile companies who were able to adapt their offering and consequently achieved 520% growth from January to August this year. 

“The pandemic was one of the best things that could happen to our business. It really made us think about what we do and how we do it,” he says. “Initially, it impacted our revenue by about 95%. However, we managed to identify how we could adapt the way we target guests and travellers, changed our distribution channels and even signed some contracts with the NHS providing keyworkers with accommodation. That dynamic allowed us to think about how we bullet proof our position.” 

We discuss how and why the businesses started back in 2015, how it has adapted and what operational and management techniques the company uses to stay on track.

We also talk about: 

The importance of the RACI matrix in the workplace  
Building the right team for success
Raising capital through crowdfunding 
What is meant my ‘growth hacking’
How daily personal development can boost a business 

You can find out more about Staykeepers by visiting: staykeepers.com or following @staykeepers on Twitter. To contact Ivo directly, email [email protected]. 

 About The Nicole Bremner Podcast:

 Nicole Bremner is an investor, speaker, writer, and podcaster. After a successful decade building a multi-million property portfolio in London, Nicole was forced by a number of external obstacles to stop, take stock and figure out what really matters in life.  

Following a period of healing and reflection, she discovered that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger and, so very often, setback is followed by real success. On The Nicole Bremner Podcast, she speaks to others who have triumphed in the face of adversity and explores the lessons they have learned along the way. 

To find out who’s coming up next on The Nicole Bremner Podcast, follow Nicole on Instagram @nsbremner and facebook or subscribe to her YouTube channel. You can also support the show here.
 
Disclaimer
The views and opinions expressed in this podcast belong solely to the host and guest speakers. The view and opinions of the guest speakers do not represent that of the host. Always do your own research. 

Support the show. 

Support the show

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast belong solely to the host and guest speakers. The view and opinions of the guest speakers do not represent that of the host. Always do your own research.