Most manufacturing businesses spend their time chasing new leads while overlooking one of the biggest opportunities already sitting in front of them.

In this episode, we are joined by Rene Power, an industrial marketing specialist with more than 30 years' experience helping manufacturing and professional service businesses attract, convert and retain high value clients. CIM qualified and self employed since 2015, Rene has guided businesses through the challenges of pre Covid, the pandemic itself and the ever changing business landscape that followed. Today, through Rene Power Marketing, he helps businesses build sustainable growth using practical, high impact marketing strategies that actually generate results.

Together we discuss the "blindingly obvious" strategy that many manufacturers still aren't using, why businesses are often afraid to simply "make the ask", and how historical sales data could become your most valuable source of new work.

In this episode we cover:

●      Why reactivating previous prospects is often faster and more profitable than cold outreach.

●      The real reason business owners avoid direct conversations.

●      How to combine LinkedIn, personal branding and one to one networking effectively.

●      Turning past enquiries into a warm sales pipeline.

●      Managing ghosting, stalled projects and inconsistent sales cycles.

●      Lessons from running businesses through Covid and beyond.

●      Why being brave enough to ask can transform your business.

Whether you're a manufacturing business owner, sales director or marketer looking to win more of the right work, this episode is packed with practical advice you can put into action immediately.

Connect with Rene Power:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/renepower/

Connect with the hosts:
Hayley Baxter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hayley-baxter-/
Phil Davenport: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-davenport-affirmit/

AI is everywhere, but are small businesses actually using it to save time and improve the way they work?

In this episode of What One Thing, hosts Hayley Baxter and Phil Davenport are joined by AI specialist Marie Piercy to explore how business owners can move beyond experimenting with AI and start building practical, repeatable systems that make a real difference.

From creating AI-powered ideal client profiles using your existing customers, to building sales and marketing processes without losing the human touch, this conversation is packed with practical ideas that any business can start implementing today.

After the interview, Hayley and Phil reflect on the episode, sharing the ideas they'll be taking back into their own businesses, the importance of starting small, and why making time to "play" with AI might be the biggest step of all.

• How to use AI to build a better ideal client profile
• Why your existing customers are the best place to start
• How AI can support your sales and marketing process
• Why AI should enhance, not replace, human relationships
• Simple ways to start using AI without feeling overwhelmed
• The practical changes Hayley and Phil are making after this conversation

Whether you're completely new to AI or looking for practical ways to use it in your business, this episode is full of actionable insights that you can implement straight away.

🎙 About What One Thing

Every episode we ask successful business owners one simple question:

"What's the one thing that's helped move your business forward?"

Hosted by:

Hayley Baxter – Corbar Accounting

Phil Davenport – Affirm IT

New episodes every other Wednesday.

Subscribe for bi-weekly conversations that give business owners one practical idea they can implement immediately.

Every episode asks one successful business owner:

What's your one thing?

Connect with us

Hayley Baxter – Corbar Accounting

Phil Davenport – Affirm IT

Connect with Marie

Marie Piercy - fusion growth

#Sales #Marketing #BusinessGrowth #SmallBusiness #Entrepreneur #USP #SalesStrategy #BusinessDevelopment #CustomerExperience #BrandStory #BusinessPodcast #WhatOneThing #LeadGeneration #BusinessAdvice #MarketingStrategy

Everyone says you need a USP.

But what if that's the wrong place to start?

In this episode of What One Thing, hosts Phil Davenport and Hayley Baxter are joined by sales consultant Alastair Ruston to explore one of the most powerful concepts in sales and marketing:

People don't buy what you do. They buy the result of what you do.

From the famous phrase "People buy holes, not drills" to practical ways of uncovering what really makes your business different, this conversation is packed with ideas every business owner can put into practice.

Whether you're an accountant, IT company, manufacturer or service business, if you've ever struggled to explain why customers should choose you, this episode is for you.

✅ Why your USP probably isn't your real differentiator

✅ The simple questions every business owner should ask themselves

✅ Why your staff can help uncover what makes your business special

✅ How your customers already know your biggest selling point

✅ Why people buy emotionally before they justify logically

✅ How AI can help turn customer feedback into compelling marketing

If you've ever found yourself saying "we're different because we offer great service," this episode will completely change how you think about selling your business.

🎙 About What One Thing

Every episode we ask successful business owners one simple question:

"What's the one thing that's helped move your business forward?"

Hosted by:

Hayley Baxter – Corbar Accounting

Phil Davenport – Affirm IT

New episodes every other Wednesday.

Subscribe for bi-weekly conversations that give business owners one practical idea they can implement immediately.

Every episode asks one successful business owner:

What's your one thing?

Connect with us

Hayley Baxter – Corbar Accounting

Phil Davenport – Affirm IT

Connect with Alastair

Alastair Ruston - Blitz Sales Solutions

#Sales #Marketing #BusinessGrowth #SmallBusiness #Entrepreneur #USP #SalesStrategy #BusinessDevelopment #CustomerExperience #BrandStory #BusinessPodcast #WhatOneThing #LeadGeneration #BusinessAdvice #MarketingStrategy

Running a business isn't just about writing a business plan... it's about continually evolving it.

In this episode of What One Thing?, Hayley Baxter and Phil Davenport are joined by structural engineer and business owner Laura Holland to explore why business planning should be a living document, not something you complete once and forget.

Laura shares the honest reality of growing an engineering consultancy from scratch, the confidence challenges that come with leadership, when to hire (and when to say no), and why business coaching transformed the way she runs her company.

Whether you're starting your first business or scaling an established one, this episode is packed with practical advice on planning for growth without losing sight of why you started.

✔️ Why your business plan should evolve with your business
✔️ The confidence challenges every business owner faces
✔️ Hiring, staffing and growing the right team
✔️ Knowing when to say no to new work
✔️ Vision boards vs business plans
✔️ Business coaching and accountability
✔️ Why success often feels uncomfortable
✔️ Building a business around the life you actually want

One of the biggest lessons from this conversation is that nothing in business is fixed. Businesses evolve, people evolve and your plans should evolve too.

If you've ever felt overwhelmed by business planning, struggled with confidence or wondered whether you're growing too quickly, this episode is for you.

Subscribe for bi-weekly conversations that give business owners one practical idea they can implement immediately.

Every episode asks one successful business owner:

What's your one thing?

Connect with us

Hayley Baxter – Corbar Accounting

Phil Davenport – Affirm IT

Connect with Laura

Laura Holland - Ecotech Engineers

#BusinessPlanning #BusinessGrowth #SmallBusiness #Entrepreneur #Leadership #BusinessCoach #ScalingABusiness #BusinessOwner #SME #Confidence #Hiring #VisionBoard #WorkLifeBalance #WhatOneThing #Engineering #LeadershipDevelopment

In a world obsessed with algorithms, followers, and going viral, what if the real secret to growing your business was much simpler?

In this episode of What One Thing?, Hayley Baxter and Phil Davenport sit down with lead generation specialist Daisy Ferns, whose one thing is refreshingly straightforward: talk to people.

Daisy shares how building genuine relationships has helped her create multiple successful businesses, including a six-figure business, and why so many business owners are overlooking one of the most powerful growth tools available to them – real human conversations.

Together, they explore:

✅ Why social media isn't a substitute for relationships
✅ The biggest mistakes business owners make when generating leads
✅ How to start conversations without feeling pushy or salesy
✅ Why follow-up is where most opportunities are won or lost
✅ Daisy's simple five-step process for generating leads through genuine connection
✅ How to identify and engage with your ideal clients on LinkedIn and beyond

If you're tired of chasing algorithms and wondering where your next client will come from, this episode is a timely reminder that business is still built on people.

Daisy helps established business owners generate leads through authentic relationship-building and strategic outreach. Rather than relying solely on inbound marketing, Daisy's approach focuses on creating meaningful conversations that turn into opportunities and long-term clients.

Find Daisy on LinkedIn and Instagram

What One Thing AI Podcast

Everyone is talking about AI.

But what if most businesses are approaching it completely the wrong way?

In this episode of What One Thing AI, Phil Davenport and Hayley Baxter are joined by Richard Geary and Scott Evans from the AI Foundry to discuss one of the biggest mistakes business owners make when implementing AI.

Instead of starting with ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini or the latest AI tool, Richard argues that businesses should first identify the problem they are trying to solve.

The conversation explores:

✅ Why AI should be the last part of the solution, not the first
✅ The People, Process and Technology framework
✅ How small business owners can identify AI opportunities without spending thousands on consultants
✅ Why AI licences alone don't create productivity gains
✅ The importance of training, experimentation and leadership buy-in
✅ How to use AI to analyse your business and prioritise opportunities
✅ Hallucinations, bias and whether AI can actually be trusted
✅ Practical first steps any business owner can take today

If you're wondering how to implement AI in your business without wasting time, money or effort, this episode provides a practical framework to help you start in the right place.

What One Thing AI explores the real-world AI tools, strategies and lessons that business owners can use to improve their businesses. Each episode focuses on one practical idea that can make a meaningful difference.

Hosted by Hayley Baxter of Corbar Accounting and Phil Davenport of Affirm IT Services.

#AI #ArtificialIntelligence #ChatGPT #Copilot #Gemini #BusinessGrowth #SmallBusiness #BusinessOwner #DigitalTransformation #Productivity #WhatOneThingPodcast #AIForBusiness #BusinessSystems #BusinessLeadership #BusinessStrategy

Phil Davenport and Hayley Baxter reflect on their attempt to implement a 30-day relationship-building challenge inspired by their own podcast advice.

What started with good intentions — outreach messages, networking coffees, introductions, and accountability — slowly became overwhelming as real business life got in the way.

In this honest conversation, they unpack:

• why consistency is harder than motivation
• the pressure business owners put on themselves
• relationship-building in growing businesses
• accountability vs competitiveness
• and why slower, more sustainable habits often work better long term

A thoughtful episode for business owners trying to balance growth, networking, marketing, and actually running the business at the same time.

🎙️ Brought to you by Corbar Accounting and Affirm IT Services Ltd.

Marc’s What One Thing is:

Be real.

In this episode, we explore the pressure many business owners feel to look successful, polished, and “together” — even when reality feels very different behind the scenes.

Marc shares his experience growing up in a family business, the pressure to prove himself, and how networking changed once he stopped trying to project perfection and started having more honest conversations.

We also discuss:

• vulnerability in leadership
• authentic networking
• managing teams as humans, not resources
• balancing professionalism with personality
• the difference between honesty and oversharing
• why real relationships grow better businesses

A very human conversation about leadership, business culture, and letting your guard down a little.

Brought to you by Corbar Accounting and Affirm IT Services

Connect with:

Marc Johnson

Phil Davenport

Hayley Baxter

Why do some deals close instantly… while others drag on forever and go nowhere?

In this episode of What One Thing, we sit down with Diyar to break down a different way of thinking about sales, marketing, and lead generation.

Instead of focusing on your product or service, this conversation explores how understanding data, timing, and buyer intent can completely change how you win business.

We talk about:

• Why “ideal client” might not mean what you think
• The difference between a good fit and a deal that actually closes
• How to use your existing customers to identify patterns
• Why most businesses are unknowingly targeting the wrong people
• The role of timing, triggers, and personal context in buying decisions
• How to build a simple but powerful data-led approach to growth

If you’ve ever felt like your marketing should be working… but isn’t converting, this episode will help you rethink where to focus.

Brought to you by Corbar Accounting and Affirm IT Services Ltd.

Connect with:

Diyar Abdullah

Phil Davenport

Hayley Baxter

In this episode of What One Thing, we sit down with entrepreneur and author John Lamerton to explore the single shift that transformed his business — and his life.

After years of running multiple businesses, working long hours, and trying to do everything himself, John hit breaking point.

A health scare forced him to rethink how he was working and led him to a powerful realisation:

You don’t need to do more. You need to focus on one thing.

John shares how he went from being a “busy fool” juggling everything — from marketing to operations to finance — to focusing on his role as the marketer of his business.

We cover:

• Why doing everything holds your business back
• How to identify your “one thing”
• The dangers of constant busyness and burnout
• Practical ways to simplify your workload
• How to capture ideas without getting distracted
• Why focus beats productivity every time

This episode is for business owners who feel overwhelmed, stretched too thin, or stuck in the day-to-day running of their business.

🎧 If you’re ready to stop doing everything and start focusing on what actually moves the needle, this one’s for you.

John's Website