The Business Lockdown Podcast

Welcome to Episode 48 of The Business Lockdown.

 There’s been a few paradigms in lockdown: the bittersweet home-schooling, the advantages and disadvantages of working at home and the newfound ultra-importance of a good internet connection. All of these have been felt by Hayley Sylvester, new business director of Quickline, a mum and a great friend of Co Host James Ash.  

She tells us how the increased demand of broadband has affected her work and how lockdown and schooling have affected her personal life; it seems most aspects of Haley’s business and personal time have been changed to suit the situation we find ourselves in. 

We have all felt the social aspects of an increase of internet use change; Haley tells us the technical aspects of broadband demand’s peak and what it means for rural areas, and on a lighter note we discuss James and Haley’s school time together, including his very “of-the-time” haircut. These memories are key to a positive mindset in lockdown, and by looking to the past we can look forward to when we will be able to meet our friends and family again. 

View Hayley’s Platforms Below: 

Quickline: 

www.quickline.co.uk

Facebook

@QuicklineUk

Twitter 

@QuicklineUK 

YouTube

Quickline UK - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCABPTw5JeiANrdkj8sh90Kg

LinkedIn - Quickline Communications Limited

‘Balance’.

Welcome to episode 47 of The Business Lockdown.

From working in mental health alongside Co Host James Ash to creating his very own vintage clothing powerhouse in Vintage Wholesale Company, Riccardo Seaton’s business journey is by no means conventional but is undeniably relatable. He recalls the moment he received his first multifigure invoice when meeting his first major client, who is now a close friend of Riccardo’s after working with him for 14 years. 

Riccardo and James worked together on a number of creative projects, such as vintage retail businesses, along with running and branding a football team to causing mischief on a colourful business trip to Bangkok! In our discussion with Ricardo, we not only discuss our favourite memories with Riccardo, but we cover the preparation that can seem impossible to gain in the final stages of retail lockdown. As this easing develops and changes every day, so will the strategy behind it. 

We touch on the personal love James, Phil and Riccardo have for Thailand in the final minutes of the episode, a gentle reminder of the adventures we can look back on as we begin to look to the future with new challenges and experiences in mind. 


View Riccardo’s Platforms Below:

The Vintage Wholesale Company

www.thevintagewholesalecompany.com 

Facebook

www.facebook.com/vintagewholesalecompany/  

Instagram

 @the_vintage_wholesale_company


Twitter

@info_vwc

Poor Boy Boutique

https://poor-boy.co.uk/

Facebook

@PoorBoyBoutique

Instagram

@poorboyonline 

Twitter

@poorboyboutique

Worth the Weight

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/worththeweightvintage/

Twitter

worthweightkilo

Instagram

@worththeweightvintage

Temple Gym

www.the-temple.co.uk

Facebook

www.facebook.com/templehumberst/

https://www.facebook.com/templelife/

Instagram

@temple_gym_hull

@temple_hesslewood

Twitter

https://twitter.com/HumberstTemple?s=20

@Temple_Life

@HumberstTemple

'Amsterdam’s Situation’.

Welcome to episode 46 of The Business Lockdown.

We are today joined by Mirjam Schieveld and Ian Kenny who are the director and a coordinator of The University of Amsterdam’s world-renowned Summer School respectively. From their experience in culture studies and academics, they tell us their version of current events in Amsterdam, a city that is slowly lifting lockdown. 

We discuss the differences of the beautiful city of Amsterdam in lockdown and how it compares to normality, and the various misconceptions surrounding a place that Co-Host James has visited over 46 times! On a more global note, discuss what we can all learn from this lockdown experience in terms of togetherness – this has undoubtedly caused mishaps and struggles within our life, but we can overcome this together and learn from these mistakes. Mirjam and Ian tell us about their team trips to Morocco, and how this change in environment (one that we are all currently missing!) can help to provide fresh perspectives and a closer team experience. 

For obvious reasons, the Summer school has had to cancel all 2020 programmes. In response to this, they have developed a space with free podcasts and other interesting readings available here: https://summerschool.uva.nl/summer-school-online/summer-school-online.html

View The Summer School platforms below:

www. https://summerschool.uva.nl/

Facebook

GSSS Summer Programmes Office University of Amsterdam

'Threat Or Challenge'.

Welcome to episode 45 of The Business Lockdown.

Do you perceive obstacles as a threat or a challenge? The threat of an obstacle can consume us so much that we unconsciously steer towards it. 

Having just come out of mental health awareness week, we want to show that mental health awareness never stops and discuss the ways we can support others and achieve a different mindset; In today’s episode, we cover a range of topics around the theme of mental health and anxiety with Martin Johnson of Trans2 Performance. 

The surge of anxiety associated with COVID-19 means we are all aware of the obstacles in our life. However, if we perceive an obstacle as a challenge, we can overcome it whilst creating advantages for ourselves.

We also discuss the four fundamentals to achieving a healthy mind, and how to keep them in check. During this lockdown, we may experience a surge of anxiety because of the threat of COVID-19: As Martin tells us, we can transform this anxiety to better us. Through accountability, we can look at our own source of anxiety and work around it. 

A space for us to talk about mental health can never be understated, and we extend this space as we talk to Martin about how to keep our own mental health in check and the psychology and science behind this. 

View Martin's Platforms here: 

www.trans2performance.com & www.t2hub.co.uk

LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/company/trans2-performance

Twitter

@Trans2P   

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/trans2performance

Instagram 

https://www.instagram.com/trans2performance

YouTube – Martin Johnson T2

 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCy6YaIcOHxsiAF1s2RfK5hA

Podcast

 https://www.t2hub.co.uk/hubcast

Welcome to episode 44 of the Business Lockdown.

A huge part of our journey is it’s up and downs. This is what defines us – it is from these changes that we grow and develop. Alex Hall is no stranger to change – his business has changed a number of times, pivoting from an electricians service, to a renewable energy supplier and now to Bambu, a scaffolding company who are the main sponsor of Hull FC and a fundraiser who’s activities involved Co Host James abseiling down a high rise building in a huge frog suit! 

We talk about the various platforms that Alex uses to spread positivity and resource – his fundraising activity in 100KInMay transformed into a WhatsApp group in which resource and positivity was spread by Alex. This again changed, as Alex decided to use his Pand@Monium podcast platform as a resource group – using his established expertise to further promote wellbeing and information! 

We can overcome these challenges together – we are stronger together and for Alex, this strength came from his experience and diversity. Having this experience, we can learn from Alex as he tells us how to use this strength to further our own positivity. We also chat about not only his business journey but his personal journey into podcasting and connecting with more people – something we are sure you are aware we have a passion for! We also talk about our own personal GOATS; the athletes we think are the greatest of all time. Who is yours? 

Alex has run a number of charity events, and his latest completion was the amazing 100K in May. If you want to get into contact with Alex and get involved with his future charity events you can WhatsApp him on this number: 07929 566612 or donate here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/forroux. The latest fundraiser is a lockdown challenge: running and cycling the full length of Britain in 14 days. This is to raise money for Leeds Cares, specifically for the Owen family and their baby Roux. For more information, visit the link and join the WhatsApp group, which is also a great place for sharing resources, positivity and information! 

View Alex’s Platforms here:

www.bambu.co.uk

Facebook

@bambuitswhatwedo

Instagram

 https://www.instagram.com/bambu_scaffolding/

Twitter

 https://twitter.com/Bambu_Hull

Pand@Monium Podcast 

 https://open.spotify.com/show/4Hv32qLD6SUwBCviDEG3MW

https://anchor.fm/alex-hall6/episodes/PandMonium-Episode-1---ROUXARMY-General-Anthony-Owen--Alex-Hall-eemhao?fbclid=IwAR1-35_rAzTlTugxDQGvxcxRYA2dqw0dn0Yib9nCU5q5xynm56dcOum_UG0

Alex’s fundraiser

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/forroux

‘Unlocking the True Self’. 

Welcome to episode 43 of the Business Lockdown.

Today’s guest is the amazing and influential Jamie Catto.

Join us as we talk to Jamie about film production, the source of creativity and genius, how to become your true self and more! Jamie has worked on a number of creative projects, and is highly regarded by academics, intellectuals, film makers and creatives alike.

A critically acclaimed filmmaker, musician, mentor, and philosopher. Jamie is a founding member of the globally celebrated Faithless, and has produced films that have been Grammy nominated, such as the cult classic 1 Giant leap, a film that documents the amazing journey taken by Jamie whilst traveling around the world for 7 months and recorded in over 50 locations. 

Jamie’s outlook on life is not easily summarised but stems from the idea of spontaneity and the true self; it is within our true, unedited self that we should find our inspiration, and this raw and vulnerable inspiration sparks moment of genius. Through working with our unconventional qualities, we can reach our true potential. We should focus on what makes us who we are and use this individualisation to become a reflection of the true self, rather than its shadow. 

Jamie is a true creative, and we can become inspired by his journey.

View Jamie’s Platforms here:

 www.jamiecatto.com/  

Facebook 

https://www.facebook.com/jamie.catto.1

Facebook Page

https://www.facebook.com/JamieCattoWorkshops/

Instagram

@jamiecatto

 Twitter

@JamieCattoLive

Welcome to episode 42 of the Business Lockdown.

Growth may seem impossible. We have been locked down for so long, that the idea of business growth could be seen as a fantasy. Jonathan Leafe returns to The Business lockdown once again to show us how to turn this fantasy into reality: we learn from the business guru the best ways of growing your network, strengthen long term relationships with your existing clients and how to generate up to 50% more revenue from said clients.

Jonathan tells us how to come out of lockdown on top, and how to build value in lockdown and strategize the ‘new world’. If we think about what the new world will need, we can create opportunity.  We can strengthen our existing value with clients by providing value in these tough times, and this will not only help each other’s mental wellbeing but also provide long term benefits. 

We will inevitably face obstacles and challenges in our business journey. Jonathan helps us see this crisis as just another challenge ready for us to overcome and tells us how to not only overcome this challenge but turn it into a solution. 

www.leafe.co.uk

LinkedIn – Jonathan Leafe 

Twitter - @Jonathan Leafe

Welcome to episode 41 of the Business Lockdown

Metaphysician and transformation catalyst Vernon Frost and international organiser Di Williams joins us for today’s episode of The Business Lockdown. Vernon is a healer and clairvoyant who leads mediation sessions all over the world, and because of lockdown, digitally as well. In this pandemic, we may have felt scared or threatened; Vernon helps us to reach such an important space in this lockdown: calm.  We can use these states to heal, and progress at a time where this can seem near impossible.

We talk to Vernon and Di about the change in their working environments; the ability to identify thought patterns is still present for Vernon in an online environment, as seen by our team’s guided mediation with Vernon. We also cover the advantages and disadvantages of discovering our world: through exploring the different cultures of places like Turkey, Vernon tells us what this contrast may be.

We will be doing a week of guided mediation based on our session with Vernon, and we plan to document the results. Meditation is just one of the many ways we can take a step back from the noise and have a few minutes truly to ourselves. In these strange times, we can become stronger together by focusing on the mind: it is the most important factor in our health and wellbeing.

Free meditations

https://youtu.be/w80PVkpMo0M

https://youtu.be/8tNj6qEn5eM

https://youtu.be/iOX7_vR04PU

https://youtu.be/Utr0SphS6Bc

View Vernon’s Platforms here:

www.vernonfrost.co.za

Facebook

/vernonfrost

Vernon Frost Transformational Catalyst

Instagram

/vernon.james.frost

Twitter

Vernon_frost

YouTube

vfrostsa

Welcome to episode 40 of the Business Lockdown.

Jonathan Leafe joins us once again in the third part of his weekly series on the business lockdown. Today’s conversation focuses on the idea of retreating to the core of your ideas; re-evaluation and focus on the core values of your business, it's service and products, as well as clients are the fundamentals of the continuation of success. 

We discuss simple methods you can carry out to ensure a fresh and exiting business strategy, and unorthodox ways of keeping this newfound freshness; Jonathan tells us that pitches are a thing of the past, and the best way to develop a great relationship with a client is through the business you do together in the long term. In Jonathans experience, If a client wants to work with you, and you want to work with them, then there is no need for a pitch! This source of genuine interest will ensure that you and your clients achieve their maximum potential.

We also discuss how returning to your core values can actually create new ideas, and how the return to a normal will in-fact be different; the lockdown has led to many business owners and entrepreneurs rethinking their strategy. We will all come out of this stronger together as lockdown has provided us with a retreat to the core, whether we like it or not! Jonathan, through his expertise, shows us how to use this to our advantage. 

View Jonathan’s Platforms here: 

www.leafe.co.uk

LinkedIn

Jonathan Leafe 

Twitter

@Jonathan Leafe

Welcome to Episode 39 of the Business Lockdown.

Every two hours in the UK, a man will take his own life. Suicide is a global problem, and in the UK, Suicide is the biggest cause of death for men under 45. On today’s episode of the business lockdown, we talk suicide with Leon McQuade of Andy’s Man Club, a mental health charity that encourages its members to speak up and talk to one another about their mental health issues. The stigma around mental health is slowly changing, as men are less subject to the burden and expectation of being told to ‘man up’. However, the issue of mental health is still one of massive proportions, and the statistics speak for themselves.  

 We talk to Leon about how he became involved in Andy’s Man Club, a far cry from his background in IT, with his co-owned business Think Cloud Inc. We cover how he chose to follow his true source of happiness rather than becoming more caught up in the business lifestyle and chasing materialism rather than looking at what he truly wanted to experience. Leon resigned when he realised he wanted to take his kids to school, rather than buying a Rolex or chasing expensive cars. 

We can become inspired from this story and it should serve as a powerful reminder; we need to take a step back. We can keep our mental health in check by thinking about what is important to us, and through strength, determination, and each other’s support we can achieve what is important to us. 

 Andy’ Man Club provides a safe space for men to talk about their mental health and about suicide; we want to extend this space to our community. If you are affected by any of the issues raised in today’s episode, you can visit Andy’s Man Club here: 

Facebook 

@andysmancub

@Hullandysmanclub

Instagram

@andysmanclubuk

Twitter

@HullAMC

LinkedIn

#ANDYSMANCLUB

View Leon’s Platforms here:

www.think-cloud.co.uk 

Facebook

@ThinkCloudIncLtd

Instagram

@think_cloud_inc_ltd

Twitter

@ThinkCloudInc

YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbP212VrmTIeNeOFp1gOyug

LinkedIn

@ThinkCloudInc

Pig Wrestling Podcast

https://www.think-cloud.co.uk/pigwrestlingpodcast/

Facebook

@PigWrestlingPodcast

Instagram

@pigwrestlingpodcast

LinkedIn

References

Pig Wrestling: The Brilliantly Simple Way To Solve Any Problem...and Create the Change You Need, By Pete Lindsay and Dr Mark Bawden.

https://bit.ly/PigWrestlingByPeteLindsayAndMarkBawden

Support and Helplines

Samaritans – for everyone (UK)

Call 116 123

Email [email protected]

Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) – for men (UK)

Call 0800 58 58 58 – 5pm to midnight every day

Visit the webchat page: https://www.thecalmzone.net/help/webchat/

Papyrus – for people under 35 (UK)

Call 0800 068 41 41 – Monday to Friday 9am to 10pm, weekends and bank holidays 2pm to 10pm

Text 07860 039967

Email [email protected]

Childline – for children and young people under 19 (UK)

Call 0800 1111 – the number will not show up on your phone bill

Befrienders – (Global)

http://www.befrienders.org