The Business Babble

Landlord and former ad man Guy Harrower joins Johnny and Mike to share how he pivoted from running a creative agency to managing a mixed commercial and residential property portfolio across Edinburgh, Dundee and beyond. We get into why he sold Edinburgh rentals and moved into Dundee student lets, the real pros and cons of commercial leases with national tenants, and how Scottish regulation, rent caps and Section 24 have reshaped the market. Guy talks candidly about failing fast, learning faster, and why due diligence beats auction “bargains”. You will hear practical tips for first-time landlords on choosing a strategy, financing without overreach, picking the right streets, and managing risk after Covid and rising rates. We also cover business mindset, networking, NLP, protecting your health, and knowing when to pivot or let go.

What you will learn:

• Commercial vs residential in Scotland and where the returns really are
• How to pick an area and tenant profile that actually works
• The impact of regulation, interest rates and stress tests on buy to let
• Red flags when buying at auction and how to avoid costly mistakes
• Mindset lessons on failure, focus and taking action

Perfect for anyone eyeing buy to let in Scotland, scaling a portfolio, or debating a pivot in business.

In this episode of The Business Babble, Johnny, Mike, and Wicus dive into a practical exercise that reveals the nine essential roles every business owner takes on — from thinker and finder to hunter, farmer, organiser, and analyst. Discover why scaling your business isn’t about doing it all yourself, but about knowing when to delegate, outsource, and build the right structure around you.

Packed with real-world insights, lively debate, and even a few unexpected laughs, this conversation tackles the fundamentals of growth: culture, leadership, honesty, and challenging the status quo. Whether you’re a startup founder, small business owner, or scaling entrepreneur, you’ll walk away with a fresh perspective on how to design your organisation for long-term success.

Listen now to learn how to:

• Identify the 9 roles at the heart of every business
• Avoid burnout by knowing which responsibilities to let go of first
• Reset company culture when it’s gone off track
• Think differently about growth, innovation, and leadership

This is your business, your world — shape it before someone else does.

In this explosive episode of Business Babble, Wicus, Johnny, and Mike dive into the uncomfortable truths every entrepreneur needs to face in 2025.

From protests and cultural attitudes toward change, to recession-proof strategies and the dangers of complacency — nothing is off the table. The hosts debate:

• Why some businesses thrive in downturns while others collapse.
• The ruthless truth about cutting costs and outsourcing.
• How to recession-proof your business by focusing on risk, honesty, and the customer journey.
• Building loyalty when money is tight — and why collaboration (even with competitors) might be the secret weapon.
• Shifting consumer habits: credit culture, monthly payments, and why complacency kills.
• Society, leadership, and the loss of respect — and how this filters back into business culture.

This episode is raw, unfiltered, and packed with insights that will challenge the way you think about business and leadership in tough times.

👉 If you’re serious about growing through uncertainty, hit subscribe and join the conversation.

In this episode of the Business Babble Podcast, Wicus, Johnny, and Mike strip business growth back to its foundations.

👉 Are you clear on who your ideal client really is?

👉 Do you know why people actually choose YOU over competitors?

👉 Are you focusing on value, or just competing on price?

The guys get brutally honest about their own podcast journey, exploring:

• Why businesses lose sight of their ideal customer profile
• How to define your target audience by demographics, behaviours, and lifestyle
• The importance of market validation (testing what really works)
• Why networking and connections matter more than scatter-gun social media
• The psychology of value vs. price — and how brand perception shapes buying decisions

Whether you’re a startup owner, solo entrepreneur, or scaling up, this episode gives you practical insights, real talk, and a reminder that every business needs to go back to basics sometimes.

⚡ Listen in and rethink how you’re growing your business.

📌 Sponsored by Danes Accounting – Dunfermline’s #1 Accountants

🌐 www.danes.com

In this powerful episode of Business Babble, Wicus, Johnny, and Mike lift the lid on a topic often left in the shadows – the emotional and mental battles men face in business.

From the pressures of being the provider, to silent struggles with anxiety, burnout, and depression, we explore what it really takes to stay resilient as an entrepreneur. You’ll hear honest conversations about panic attacks, boundaries, changing habits, and why small daily shifts can make a huge difference.

We discuss:

• Why so many men suffer in silence in business
• How entrepreneurs can protect their mental health
• Simple but powerful mindset shifts for resilience
• The link between boundaries, burnout, and success
• Real stories of overcoming deep stress and depression
• Why connection, conversation, and gratitude matter

Whether you’re a sole trader, a start-up founder, or running a growing company, this episode is packed with relatable stories, practical strategies, and empowering reminders that you’re not alone — and you can build a business without losing yourself in the process.

💬 Join the conversation, share your story, and let’s change how we talk about men’s mental health in business.

#businesspodcast #mensmentalhealth #resilience #entrepreneurship #mindset #burnout #businessowner #selfimprovement #startuplife #successmindset #mentalhealthawareness #smallbusiness #businesstips #personaldevelopment

In this episode of Business Babble, Johnny, Wicus, and Mike dive deep into the real, raw truths facing business owners in 2025. From political and economic shifts to changing customer behaviours and rising operational costs, this candid conversation covers what it really takes to survive and thrive this year.

🔍 Topics Covered:

• Why most business owners fear change (and how to overcome it)
• How to adapt your ideal client profile to today’s economy
• The systems and operational numbers that really matter
• What it means to lead with vision (not stress)
• Why trying to be “everything to everyone” will kill your business
• Strategies for retention, lean operations, and staff morale
• How letting go of outdated mindsets creates room for growth
• Marketing, automation, and acquisition in a contracting market
• The myth of luck in entrepreneurship—and what really drives success

Whether you're a startup founder, a letting agent, a seasoned entrepreneur, or somewhere in between—this episode offers grounded insight and sharp business advice you can act on today.

🎯 Don’t just survive 2025—learn how to adapt, evolve, and lead through uncertainty.

👇 Let us know in the comments: What changes are YOU making in your business this year?

#BusinessBabble #Entrepreneurship2025 #BusinessStrategy #AdaptAndThrive #BusinessGrowth #OperationalExcellence #Leadership #ChangingMarkets #MarketingStrategy #Automation #CustomerRetention #UKBusiness #SmallBusinessTips #StartUpAdvice #PodcastUK

In this episode of the Business Babble podcast, we dive into the real-life challenges of running a business with a hilarious and honest chat about risk, mindset, and decision-making. Fresh from a weekend of chaos, the team explores the Six Thinking Hats framework — a powerful tool used by entrepreneurs and leaders to improve business strategy, manage risk, and encourage creative thinking. We discuss how business owners can balance data-driven decisions with gut instinct, build resilience in uncertain times, and stay organised with simple but effective systems. Whether you're a startup founder, small business owner, or just love hearing authentic stories from the world of entrepreneurship, this episode is packed with insight, laughs, and practical advice for anyone navigating the ups and downs of business in 2025.

#businesspodcast #entrepreneurship #mindsetmatters #businessgrowth #sixthinkinghats #resilience #leadershiptalk #datadriven #gutinstinct #riskmanagement #positivemindset #creativebusiness #businessstrategy #scottishbusiness #founderstories #startuplife #realbusinesschat #businessbanter #podcastrecommendation #mondaymotivation

This week Johnny and Wicus go unscripted while Mike’s away, diving deep into what it really means to be a business owner. From summer holidays and stepping back from the grind to the uncomfortable truth about why most entrepreneurs are still stuck working like employees, nothing is off-limits.

Expect blunt honesty on leadership, scaling, parenting, politics, porn, OnlyFans, societal collapse, data-driven decisions, and the weird state of the world in 2025. It’s part business therapy, part social commentary, and 100% raw.

If you’ve ever questioned why you’re doing what you’re doing, or whether you’ve built a business or just bought yourself a high-pressure job, this one’s for you.

#businessbabble #businesspodcast #entrepreneurmindset #scalingabusiness #smallbusinesslife #worklifebalance #truthbombs #realbusinesschat #ukbusiness #businessowners #founderstories #businessgrowth #leadershiptalk #rawandreal #mindsetmatters #honestconversations #2025business #socialcommentary #microbusiness #selfemployedlife #businesslessons #summerbreak #futureofwork #datadriven #moralcompass #businessmindset

In this episode of Business Babble, we’re joined by stand-up comedian Connor Burns, who shares the real behind-the-scenes graft that most people never see. From ditching a steady job three weeks before lockdown to playing sold-out shows across the UK, Connor talks about what it’s really like to build a career in comedy from the ground up.

We talk about the realities of self-employment, chasing gigs that lose money but open doors, and learning to trust your gut even when everyone else thinks you’re daft. Connor gets honest about social media, agents, fame, the grind of the Fringe, and why working-class comedians have to hustle twice as hard to break through.

If you’ve ever thought about going all in on your dream, this one’s for you.

#ConnorBurns #ScottishComedy #StandUpLife #EdinburghFringe #Fringe2025 #ComedianOnTheRise #LiveComedy #BusinessBabble #SelfEmployedLife #CreativeEntrepreneur #BuildYourBrand #HustleAndFlow #FreelanceLife #WorkingClassSuccess #BehindTheScenes #HonestConversations #RealTalkPodcast #FromTheGroundUp #TrustTheProcess #ChasingTheDream #DoTheWork

In this episode, we sit down with Craig and Ross from Dofos, a third-generation pet business with a story that’s anything but ordinary. From painting shop walls in -4°C to rebuilding from bankruptcy, these brothers share how they transformed a struggling family store into a thriving brand with four locations, their own product lines, and a booming e-commerce arm.

They open up about tough beginnings, surviving COVID, building a strong team culture, and launching a data-driven empire—plus how surviving personal adversity reshaped their business outlook. This is a raw, honest, and inspiring look at resilience, grit, and scaling smart in modern retail.

Whether you’re building a business, bouncing back from failure, or just love a real entrepreneurial story—this one’s for you.