Success is a System

In this episode of Success is a System. Mike talks to Jonathan James. Jonathan is the owner of the James Graven Group based in Cambridgeshire and runs a chain of Convenience Stores and formerly ran the Budgens Supermarket in Dersingham

Mike talks to Jonathan about transitioning from being a farmer to a businessman, what it takes to be an entrepreneur and the effect that a successful lifestyle can have on your mental health. 

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Expanding your business can be incredibly damaging if you haven’t set up a good foundation. Always invest in the best accountants / advisors.
• Look after your mental health and learn to switch off. This can be very hard for entrepreneurs and is the key to longevity.
• Find and sell your USP. What will make people turn to you instead of your competitors?

BEST MOMENT

“The bank vault is a great place for keeping vegetables”

ABOUT MIKE GREENE

Mike Greene, star of Channel 4's Secret Millionaire, interviews some of the leading business-people of our generation. Mike reveals the key systems that these entrepreneurs have in place to achieve their version of success. Because success isn't luck, Success is a System.

Subscribe to Mike on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMtHlqOmNeiaYm-ICZcSOSA

Follow Mike on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikegreenemg/

Follow Mike on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@mikegreenej1qt?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

Entrepreneur Neville Wright turned 37p into £100 million and he joins Mike to talk about his journey and how his dyslexic  brought unexpected change and opportunity into his life

He discusses how the vital element of consistent systems across all areas of his business were key in its phenomenal growth and record-breaking valuation and shares great content on what it really takes to grow a successful business

Neville’s Book - The Answer is Yes Now what is the Question? - Neville Wright

Neville’s Website - https://nevillewright.com/

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• With dyslexia and ADHD, you make systems because otherwise, you can’t cope
• We are pushed more by our emotions than driven by our dreams
• I do my best work in a team organising other people
• Every element in the business needs a system, you need to focus on how your business looks from the customer's viewpoint
• Consistent systems were the key to building a business that ultimately had such a high value
• You have to walk in the steps of the customer and put in systems to make sure the experience is positive every time
• People are looking for a salesperson to sell them what they want and need
• Integrity is a key aspect of a successful business
• Whatever you want to achieve there are steps you need to go through to get there

BEST MOMENTS

‘Focus each day on seeing your business how your customer sees your business’

 ‘The challenges made me create systems to overcome them’

‘You can be the best at anything you want to be but to be rich you have to have other people’

ABOUT MIKE GREENE

Mike Greene, star of Channel 4's Secret Millionaire, interviews some of the leading business-people of our generation. Mike reveals the key systems that these entrepreneurs have in place to achieve their version of success. Because success isn't luck, Success is a System. 

Subscribe to Mike on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMtHlqOmNeiaYm-ICZcSOSA

Follow Mike on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikegreenemg/

Follow Mike on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@mikegreenej1qt?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc 

Oliver Woolley, CEO and Co-founder of Envestors has helped thousands of businesses raise millions of pounds and talks with Mike about how businesses can prepare to make the pitch for investment 

They discuss the viewpoints of both the entrepreneur and investor when coming together and the importance of alignment and valuation when raising investment.

Oliver on Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/woolleyoliver/?originalSubdomain=uk

Envestors Website - https://www.envestors.co.uk 

KEY TAKEAWAYS 

• The biggest challenge is educating people to be investment ready, there needs to be an alignment of the investor and the entrepreneur 
• Communication is key in any relationship 
• A pre-revenue start up needs to engage with their own community and sector and due to the high risk only 2 to 5% are successful in getting investment 
• Its having a pitch that really focuses on what the business has to offer
• You have to have passion and enthusiasm when you are speaking 
• A pitch should be a shop front that leaves you wanting more 
• The more you can de-risk your business the higher the chance of investment 
• Ultimately it comes down to trust, the investor needs to trust the management team

BEST MOMENTS

‘We are passionate about educating the entrepreneur and business to get better deals done’ 

‘There is plenty of capital out there for the right businesses’ 

‘We tread carefully with other people’s dreams’

ABOUT MIKE GREENE

Mike Greene, star of Channel 4's Secret Millionaire, interviews some of the leading business-people of our generation. Mike reveals the key systems that these entrepreneurs have in place to achieve their version of success. Because success isn't luck, Success is a System. 

Subscribe to Mike on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMtHlqOmNeiaYm-ICZcSOSA

Follow Mike on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikegreenemg/

Follow Mike on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@mikegreenej1qt?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc 

Joseph Valente serial entrepreneur and winner of the apprentice is with Mike talking about his 3 step success philosophy, how he has come to understand his creative drive and why education is the key to moving up  to the next level in business

If you are not where you want to be this is an inspiring and informative listen with great content that any entrepreneur can take action on.

Follow Joseph Valente Here - https://beacons.ai/josephvalente

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Entrepreneurship is about wanting to provide value and create wealth and it starts with the creation of opportunities
• Maintaining is where hopes and dreams go to die, you are doing the stuff that’s needed day to day but nothing else
• Always continue to grow and this completes the circle creating the next opportunity
• You have to approach a business with the right skills and education is the key to getting to the next level
• You have to be conscious about adding more value to the marketplace if you want to grow
•  As an entrepreneur, you need to be able to maintain your creation, your business
• Entrepreneurs want to do what they want to do
• I realised the importance of education in the field you want to be in

BEST MOMENTS

‘If you deliver good value to the marketplace you can create good wealth’

‘When you can create a system that you can replicate then success is guaranteed’

‘Create it, maintain it for a period of time, put people in place to continue it and  then move on to the next thing’

Mike Greene, star of Channel 4's Secret Millionaire, interviews some of the leading business-people of our generation. Mike reveals the key systems that these entrepreneurs have in place to achieve their version of success. Because success isn't luck, Success is a System. 

Subscribe to Mike on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMtHlqOmNeiaYm-ICZcSOSA

Follow Mike on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikegreenemg/

Follow Mike on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@mikegreenej1qt?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc 

Alex Curtis, founder of The Lead Engine talks with Mike about his business journey and how important it is to create the time to work on your business.

They also discuss the systems that mean a business can move on from being at a small level and why planning and a destination are key if you want to achieve your goals.

The Lead Engine - https://theleadengine.co.uk/about-us/

Follow Alex Curtis - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-curtis-lead-generation/?originalSubdomain=uk 

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Start with the end in mind
• Initially, we were only growing our clients and didn’t have time to grow ourselves
• With a system, you can gain perspective, an overview and the opportunity to grow your business
• Writing down your goals means your creative subconscious will work to achieve them
• You learn everything you need to know about marketing your business from speaking to potential  clients
• Having a system for marketing in place means you can successfully work on growing the business
• Believe that you can do it and know that if you keep pushing forward you will never fail
• When you set a destination and a map to get to it you can be focused and disciplined on the journey to reaching your goal

BEST MOMENTS

‘Set your goals in concrete but your plans in sand’

‘A goal needs to be written down and then it becomes achievable’

‘Without a system to follow businesses stay at a small level’

ABOUT MIKE GREENE

Mike Greene, star of Channel 4's Secret Millionaire, interviews some of the leading business-people of our generation. Mike reveals the key systems that these entrepreneurs have in place to achieve their version of success. Because success isn't luck, Success is a System. 

Subscribe to Mike on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMtHlqOmNeiaYm-ICZcSOSA

Follow Mike on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikegreenemg/

Follow Mike on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@mikegreenej1qt?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc 

Corporate lawyer Ian Brent joins Mike to discuss the planning and actions that can be implemented to increase the multiple of a business prior to it being sold

The multiple only becomes relevant at the point of sale but to make a positive change you need to start working to increase the multiple several years prior to selling

Hear about the importance of a strong management team, why potential buyers will judge your business on how it runs without you and how you can plan ahead with the end in mind to make your business attractive to the right buyers

Follow Ian on Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-brent/?originalSubdomain=uk 

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Average is the bottom of the top, the top of the bottom
• The most important element is having a strong management team, winning teams only have the best players
• You should be planning three years in advance of wanting to exit
• Small changes can alter the multiples of a business
• Showing a steady pattern of growth will drive the multiple up
• A buyer will want risk spread through several customers not focused on one or two big customers
• Different sectors are hotter and attract higher multiples
• Plan ahead and make your business attractive to buyers
• There is only one number-one player in any sector and people will pay a premium for the number one
• Buy and build, bringing together several similar businesses, and aggregating them can increase the multiple

BEST MOMENTS

‘A buyer will judge your business on how well it runs without you’

‘If you can move from 6 to 10 that’s 2 million in free money’

‘People do business with people they know like and trust’

ABOUT MIKE GREENE

Mike Greene, star of Channel 4's Secret Millionaire, interviews some of the leading business-people of our generation. Mike reveals the key systems that these entrepreneurs have in place to achieve their version of success. Because success isn't luck, Success is a System. 

Subscribe to Mike on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMtHlqOmNeiaYm-ICZcSOSA

Follow Mike on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikegreenemg/

Follow Mike on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@mikegreenej1qt?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc 

In this episode Mike is with TV presenter Gregg Wallace, talking about the systems that have made him successful. Gregg reveals how he met is Masterchef partner John Torode (before he got the job on the hit BBC TV show) and how he built a world class green grocers business.

They discuss why failure isn’t the opposite of success but an important part of the journey and how Gregg’s love of listening and talking with other people is a foundational element in his success across different businesses. Hear why writing down your goals really does make a difference and how you can achieve what you really want if you are focused and disciplined

Gregg Wallace’s Show Me Fit - https://showme.fit 

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Don’t be scared to be you, it’s really important to be yourself
• There is no educational route to being a TV presenter, everybody is in it by accident
• Your future success depends on the people you meet and the books you read
• When you give your creative subconscious a specific goal it will work to make it happen
• If you have a goal you will get there and the more dedicated you are the faster you will achieve it
• Planning is what brings freedom and means your life doesn’t happen to you by accident
• The passion project of my life is ShowMe.Fit, to maintain a healthy life you have to make what you eat and your wellbeing a priority
• To have a healthy lifestyle you have to organise your life first
• Having a business that actually helps people is a phenomenal thing

BEST MOMENTS

‘Failure is part of success, it’s how you learn’

‘The job I’m doing now on the telly is the same job I was doing at the start with fruit and veg, it's interacting with people’

‘If you don’t plan life just happens to you’

ABOUT MIKE GREENE

Mike Greene, star of Channel 4's Secret Millionaire, interviews some of the leading business-people of our generation. Mike reveals the key systems that these entrepreneurs have in place to achieve their version of success. Because success isn't luck, Success is a System. 

Subscribe to Mike on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMtHlqOmNeiaYm-ICZcSOSA

Follow Mike on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikegreenemg/

Follow Mike on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@mikegreenej1qt?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc