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Description
Welcome to The Reality of Business, the go-to podcast for insights, stories, and straight-talking advice on all things business.
With over two decades of running Reality Training, Bob & Jeremy have coached thousands, spoken at global conferences, and worked with businesses of all sizes - from start-ups to household names. Their experience, paired with their unique storytelling style, makes this podcast a must-listen for anyone looking to sell smarter, lead better, and think differently about business.
What You’ll Get
🎙️ Expert insights & strategies to transform your approach
😂 Honest, light-hearted discussions - no corporate jargon, just real talk
💡 Lessons from global business leaders & industry disruptors
🌍 Stories from working with world-renowned brands
Launched in June 2021 as Bob & Jeremy’s Conflab, the show has evolved into The Reality of Business, delivering thought-provoking discussions, entertaining banter, and actionable takeaways to help you navigate the challenges of modern business.
Why Listen?
📈 Want to sell more and manage better? We’ve got you.
💬 Looking for fresh perspectives on leadership & sales? You’re in the right place.
🎧 Need an engaging listen while you work, commute, or unwind? We’re here for that too.
🔗 Discover more about Reality Training & our work with global businesses: www.realitytraining.com
🎵 Original music by Charlie Morrell.
If you enjoy the show, leave a rating and review - we’d love to hear your thoughts!
🚀 Listen now & rethink the way you do business.
98 Episodes
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We launch a three-part series on the future of contact centres, starting at the front line with the operator’s changing role. We explore how AI removes repetitive work, why complex conversations now define value, and how multiskilling and hybrid work create real career growth. • why automation now handles routine requests • why complex and emotional calls need humans • how to multiskill across voice, chat, email and social • how real‑time AI guidance boosts speed and accuracy • why CX beats ...
Why do some people push harder at work while others just do the minimum? In this episode of The Reality of Business, Bob and Jeremy look at how incentives, rewards and recognition really affect employee motivation. They talk about the difference between incentives and perks, why some bonus and commission schemes work while others backfire, and how things like fairness, culture and recognition shape workplace performance. Using examples from real sales environments, they explore the psychology...
We’ve all sat in meetings where a lot of word are used, and nothing really gets said. In this episode, Bob and Jeremy talk about the language that’s crept into politics and management over the years. The phrases that sound confident and purposeful but often dodge the issue or leave everyone none the wiser. Why do we accept that certain areas of work and public life are packed with oddly chosen terms that make our skin crawl or test our patience? And at what point did we lose the habit o...
Standards are essential for successful, growing brands. But here’s the real question: what are your standards? Can your people clearly explain them? Do they know what ‘good’ looks like day to day? And are those standards actually being maintained or quietly ignored? In this episode of The Reality of Business, Bob and Jeremy talk honestly about why standards have slipped across sales, service and leadership and why this is a leadership issue, not a people problem. They explore how ‘expec...
If you’re always busy but nothing really seems to move forward, this episode is for you. In part two of our Team Leaders series, we take a closer look at what gets in the way of consistent leadership and how to get back on track. It’s a practical conversation about replacing firefighting with focus and giving your team (and yourself) a clearer sense of direction. From endless meetings to shifting priorities, we explore what’s actually worth your time and how to make it count. We cover: Spotti...
If you lead a team, or have just started, this is part 1 of two episodes all about making that role easier and more effective. We talk about the stuff that’s hard: What to do when someone says the rules don’t apply to themHow to respond without backing down or starting a rowDealing with likeable people who still aren’t performingHelping quiet team members feel confident to speakGetting two people to work together when they clearly don’t want toYou’ll also hear how to open a meeting with purpo...
Are your days full of meetings, messages, and madness? Feel like you’re reacting instead of creating? In this episode, Bob and Jeremy take on the chaos of modern working life – hybrid schedules, constant pings, and the illusion of being ‘back-to-back’ busy – and show you how to get a real grip on your time. From Stephen Covey’s time matrix to Ivy Lee’s brilliantly simple ‘Success Six’, they share practical tools to help you prioritise what matters, reclaim your focus, and feel accomplished – ...
What does it take to build a successful sales training business - and still be laughing 25 years on? In this special anniversary episode, Bob and Jeremy reflect on the lessons, surprises, and stories they’ve collected over a quarter of a century of running a training company. One of the biggest revelations? Learning to take business a little less personally. As Bob admits, “Every knockback felt like a blow to the heart” in those early days. Over time, they learned to separate self-worth from ...
Sales managers & salespeople: Be honest - have you ever assumed a customer wouldn’t go for the higher-priced option so you left it out altogether? You might be losing more sales than you think. It’s easy to filter choices for customers based on your own biases or assumptions, often without realising you’re doing it. But when you take the decision away from the buyer, you limit their options – and potentially their satisfaction. From choosing the “cheap” option on a customer’s behalf...
Are values just words on a wall? Or something you’re willing to stand by – even when it’s hard? In this episode, Bob & Jeremy take on the uncomfortable question many businesses are now facing: What happens to your integrity when you quietly scale back your DEI programme? We’re seeing it everywhere - big names like Google, Pepsi, and investment banks are stepping back from the DEI work they once shouted about. And here’s the thing: it’s not just a budget decision. It’s a values decision. S...
Don't you love a sales conference? Motivating your customer-facing teams to sell with greater enthusiasm... "There, you've had your sales conference - are you more motivated now?" "Yeah!" Really? Does your sales conference actually deliver the impact you’re hoping for? You’ve invested time, energy, and budget into your annual event – but does it truly equip your team to sell more effectively? A few hours of inspiration is great, but what if your event could turbo...
What if marketing could be as surprising and impactful as guerrilla warfare? In this episode of The Reality of Business, Bob – an enthusiast of military history – and Jeremy share insights into the art of ambushes and raids, translating these military principles into creative marketing campaigns that surprise and engage audiences in unexpected ways. They revisit the revolutionary ideas of J. Conrad Levinson, the visionary of guerrilla marketing in the 1980s, whose concepts revolut...
Struggling to retain loyal customers? Feeling the pressure of rising costs or sustainability demands? In this episode, we’re to help you work out the secrets of business success in 2025 and come out stronger than ever. We kick things off with a light-hearted sketch before exploring practical strategies to keep your best customers engaged and scale your business without sacrificing quality. Using insights from trusted sources like Forbes, we'll share ways to meet evolving customer expectations...
Digital nomads: A lifestyle revolution or a passing trend? Can remote work truly free us from the traditional office, blending adventure with productivity? Or is it an overhyped fad destined to fade away? Join us as we explore the intriguing world of digital nomads – exploring the rise of this global phenomenon and the unexpected challenges it brings. Through engaging anecdotes and a fictional exchange between a CEO and a director debating the push for more in-office days, we reveal the reali...
What truly makes employees want to stay, grow, and give their best? In this insightful episode, Bob and Jeremy discuss the complex world of employee motivation and retention, blending historical perspective with actionable strategies to help you rethink workplace satisfaction. Starting with Henry Ford’s revolutionary workweek reforms, their discussion moves through decades of evolving workplace culture, reaching today’s pressing need for flexibility and autonomy. Bob and Jeremy explore Gallup...
How do you measure a company's performance effectively? Join us for a lively exploration of performance measurement in organisations, complete with a humorous sketch that pokes fun at the murky world of target setting. We unravel the history of performance measurement, tracing its roots from the chaos of the Industrial Revolution to the precision of today's AI-driven insights. Discover how methodologies have evolved over centuries and how companies today strive to balance efficiency wi...
Ever wondered how you can transform a toxic workplace relationship into a thriving collaboration? In this episode, we unravel the example case of Maureen and examine how executive coaching can turn around even the most challenging team dynamics. We delve into the core principles of coaching as a client-centered, goal-driven partnership that stands apart from traditional training methods. By exploring the evolution of coaching practices from their mid-20th century roots to today's sophi...
In the fourth and final episode of The Reality of Business mini-series, inspired by their upcoming book Whose Side Are You On? Disloyal Bonding and Strategic Lies, Bob Morrell and Jeremy Blake uncover the essential steps to building a loyal, trustworthy workforce that will transform your business. Throughout this episode, Bob and Jeremy reflect on crucial lessons covered in the series – spotting disloyal bonding, eradicating strategic lies, and building a culture of integrity. They offer act...
In the third episode of our mini-series inspired by Whose Side Are You On? Disloyal Bonding and Strategic Lies, Bob & Jeremy continue their examination of deceptive business practices that manipulate customer loyalty – such as disloyal bonding and strategic lies. Through insightful role-plays, they reveal real-world examples: a coffee shop falsely promoting recyclable materials, a tailor’s deceptive discount schemes, and a car service misleading customers with unnecessary software upgrad...
What happens when businesses prioritise short-term gains over long-term integrity? In the second episode of a special mini-series inspired by their upcoming book, Whose Side Are You On? Disloyal Bonding and Strategic Lies, Bob and Jeremy explore the hidden dangers of strategic lies in the corporate world. When businesses prioritise short-term gains – whether to boost senior executives’ desire for bonuses or prepare for a sale – they often sacrifice long-term customer trust and company repu...
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