Bill Law, retired Construction Director, shares his story of how pen and ink drawing helped his Parkinson's

(Photo courtesy of drawing by Bill Law showing the 3 bridges over the Tyne and surrounding buildings in the centre of Newcastle Upon Tyne)

1 min 25 secs long

Bill Law, retired construction director, talks to me about how he has managed to lead an active life over the last 12 years with Parkinson's.

Bill developed Parkinson's in 2012 at 63 years of age, just before his retirement and shares his stories with me, on what has worked well for him in managing this condition.

In 2018, he climbed the Blencathra mountain in the Lake District with 25 of his family and friends and raised £4,500 for Parkinson's UK

25 mins duration

1. Intro 

2. Tell me alittle about yourself (1 min)

3. In 2012 what were the symptoms you received that made you go an get it checked out (1 min 44 secs)

4. How did you cope with the diagonosis of Parkinson's in the early years (3 min 38 Secs)

5. What has worked well for you in managing Parkinson's both mentally and physically (6 mins 28 secs)

6. Tell us about the story of the Blencathra climb (16 mins)

7. What advice would you give a partner or family member who is looking after someone who has Parkinson's (21 mins 40 secs)

Michael Mitten, former CEO of Houghton International and now an acquisitions and merger consultant, explored the Artic North pole in 2009 and Antarctica in 2019.  He shares with us his learnings of what Polar adventure taught him about Leadership and particularly Leadership in Business.

In our natural conversation and stories around the theme of the extreme environment, there is the odd adult language contained within:- 

Duration time 43 mins and topics discussed:-

1. Why Polar Adventure? 0.50 secs

2. Flying into the North Pole on a Russian Cargo plane 4 mins 50 secs

3. What was it like to be in an extreme polar environment and find that leadership from within? 6 mins 15 secs

4. Planning and Preparation in Leadership. What did your adventures teach you about this. 15 mins and 36 secs.

5. Trust in Leadership is so important and you have a story to tell about this in your North Pole adventure. 21 mins 23 secs

6. Keep on going or turning back? Antarctica. 29 mins 34 secs

7.  Leaders taking time away from the business? The Benefit from your experience. 38 mins 30 secs.

The dulcet tones of the Durham Business Group singing on board the wonderful Weardale railway, on our way back from Wolsingham to Stanhope on 26th November 2024.  

Length 53 secs

Singing inspires, lifts the spirits and creates togetherness. We all have a voice within us! I was brought up in the Weardale valley and with my Father, was introduced to old folk songs in the pubs of Weardale and Cumbria. I even organised talent shows of song and dance between the homes and businesses when I was MD at my family business, which were great evenings. 

Singing lifts morale and builds community. Will you be singing this Xmas?

Listen to my discussion around leadership with Graham Purvis, MD of Robson Laidler, a business who in 2024 were awarded one of the Best Places To Work by the Sunday Times and they were the first organisation in the North East to be awarded B Corp accreditation.

Graham was born in North Northumberland, studying Law at University of Leeds, moving to KPMG as tax manager for 8 years and joined Robson Laidler in 1998, 26 years ago, as Tax manager, then Tax partner and MD for the last 8 years plus.

One of Graham’s primary goals is to deliver real sustainable value for all stakeholders, customers, people and communities. 

Podcast - 27 mins long. 

1. What are the most important characteristics or skills of a leader?  1 min 20 secs
2. In your opinion what is the environment which a good leader should be creating in the workplace?  5 min 30 secs
3. What has been the biggest learning for you as a leader of an organisation, which you are happy to share? 14 min 25 secs
4. Conflict can always be a difficult area to manage. Any practices which you have found which work well here?  17 min 20 secs
5. How do we develop resilience in the next generation of leaders, who are coming out of school and education? Any of your own which have served you well?  20 min 30 secs
6. The phrase the Tax tail wagging the dog I have heard a few times in business. How do you manage this, balancing tax advice versus the leaders individual personal or company goals?   23 mins 40 secs

I am today joined by Ammar Mirza CBE, an award winning enterprise and innovation expert who has been involved in helping establish many businesses globally through design, development, delivery of accelerator and scale up programmes.

Ammar has been considered the most influential Asian in the North East in terms of impact and helping businesses grow.

He has held many Chair roles, notably recently the chair of Business Advisory board on the UK government body of the North East Local Enterprise Partnership.

Ammar has particular interest in education and was appointed CBE in 2014 for outstanding services to business and community.

Time - 37 Minutes

Areas we cover in our discussion:-

1. Why is inclusivity important in business 1 min 17 secs
2. Community - how and why should a business get involved in the buisness community and the community locally where the business is based.  7 mins 23 secs
3. What opportunities are there in developing international trade 14 min 37 secs
4. Networking - what works well  20 mins 7 secs
5. Biggest learning as a leader 23 min 3 secs
6. Managing conflict - tips 25 mins 29 secs
7. Resilence for the next generation - ideas and advice.  30 mins 46 secs  

In this episode we are talking with Frederik Imbo, trainer, speaker, actor and football referee on the subject of how best to communicate in a position of authority, managing conflict and how to not take things personally.

Frederik has been involved in the world of communication for 24 years and has also been a football referee for 5 years, with over 280 football matches under his belt.

Subjects we will be covering in this podcast are around Frederik's insights as a football referee and following on from his Ted talk on how to not take things personally (Duration 32 mins) :- 

1. What took you into football refereeing?

2. As a football official, how important is it that you maintain fun in a match?

3. How can we use acting skills in positions of authority, when we might not be sure of our decisions, or doubt our ability?

4. What usually starts a conflict in a game?

5. When there is conflict in life and or as a referee, when you have experienced abuse, how can we tell ourselves it is not about us and to not take it personally?

6. How can we be empathetic to ourselves in times of stress and conflict?

I am joined by Jon Chadwick who is Founder and MD of Durham Distillery and Durham Gin. Jon is going to share his story when he set up the business over 10 years ago. Durham Distillery distil and manufacture small batches of craft spirits, set in the historic city of Durham. 

I discuss with Jon why he took the plunge and set up Durham Gin. The mindset challenges for making the career change, the transition across, managing yourself, creating a sustainable business and moving into a new sector.

In detail, topics we will cover - 31 mins length:- 

1.       Why did you completely change career direction and secondly decide to set up a Distillery business? 1 min 31 secs

2.       What mindset challenges did you have to overcome at the start? 5 mins 18 secs

 3.       The Transition across. If someone is considering a new business venture, what advice would you give on any planning before you take the plunge?  11 mins 16 secs

 4.       When we may have come from a secure environment of a large organisation or paid role for many years, what do we need to be aware about managing yourself in business? 15 mins 06 secs

 5.       Other than above, any other challenges in those early years? 20 mins 40 secs

 6.       Once you have established a great product or service. What can you do to ensure the business is protected and sustainable for the future medium to long term?   23 min 10 secs  

 7.       As a newcomer into an industry in those early years, how can we communicate or work with the industry to strengthen your business? 26 min 05 secs

 8.       One other challenge and or teaching over the last 10 years of business? 27 mins 30 secs

Family businesses are an integral part of our economy and in this podcast I talk to; Michael Mitten, CEO of Houghton International, who shares his story around succession and the challenges he faced in growing the family business to being the best in the world in improving the performance of electro mechanical assets around the world. 

Michael took on the CEO role in 2006 and the companies Head office, the Ronnie Mitten works, is based in Shields road, Newcastle Upon Tyne. They serve  industries such as power generation, rail, oil and gas, mining, water and wind power, manufacturing and bus and coach.

Topics we cover:-

1. Intro
2. How did you start out in the business?   1 min 56 sec
3. How did you become CEO? 5 min 30 sec
4. Looking back, wearing another hat, what advice would you have given the Directors in those early days around succession for the next generation?    9 min 20 sec
5. When you took the CEO role on, how did you know the way forward?   14 mins 50 secs
6. What were those challenges in the early days in 2006?    20 min 20 sec
7. How did you embed the values into the business?  22 min 40 sec
8. What are the challenges today and for you as CEO? 27 min 08 sec
9. What advice would you give a CEO about how to let go? 30 min 45 sec
10. It is a lonely job at times as a CEO. How do you continue to enjoy the responsibility? 35 mins 02 sec
11. What advice would you give a young person starting out in business around integrity?  27 mins 28 sec. 

Interview with Jane Netts Psychotherapist and counsellor, to discuss what are the key ingredients of a successful long-term marriage or partnership. 

41 minutes long and contains adult content.

Covering:-

1.       What is the most important key ingredient of a marriage or long-term partnership? And a close second? 
2.       What risk may we take in a marriage or partnership?
3.       When there are differences how do partners work well together?
4.       How important is honesty?  
5.       How important is agreement on finance and money in a relationship? Also you mentioned sex? 
6.       When trust has been broken, can it be easily repaired? Where does forgiveness play it's part here?
7.       Any tips on how to create an environment of good communication with partners?
8.       When there are pressures of work, or a focus on bringing up the kids, or looking after Grandparents how important is it we bring the focus back to the couple?

 Over the next 40 mins or so Jane and I will be exploring the answer to these and other questions.

 Jane Netts is originally from a Commercial background working for ten years in business and marketing. Since then she has been a Psychotherapist and counsellor for 25 years working with individuals, couples, young people and specialising in psychosexual and couples work. She also supervises and trains other counsellors.

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