Leadership & Life Chat

Four years, 131 episodes, 38 guests and three presenters later, it’s time to say goodbye to the Leadership & Life Chat ‘band’ as we know it.  In this episode, original presenter, James Lay, makes a triumphant return and, alongside Becky, questions Mark on exactly how he’s been able to pre-plan and orchestrate his retirement at only 49, and the lessons he’s learnt on the way. Mark is, as always, open about his views on taking control of one's life, and recognising choices while always having a focus on a roadmap for the future, both in business and personal life. The team also dive deep and reflect on the importance of embracing personal purpose.  They discuss the insights of previous guests around living to your values, stepping out of your comfort zone, overcoming fear, the power of support and encouragement, fears of public speaking, making sacrifices, challenging the perception of success, the importance of continuous learning, the power of asking questions and so much more. In this final EVER episode, Mark reflects on his past success and failures, shares the advice he would give to his younger self, and looks back on what he’s learned throughout his career, including the importance of being brave and speaking up, avoiding black and white thinking, and developing an internal locus of control.  *Insert profound heavy metal lyric in honour of Mark here*…. Producer Lizzie can’t think of any, she’s a Taylor Swift fan… Show notes Impromptu Business Chat/Leadership & Life Chat episodes: •    Interview with Paul McVeigh - the power of beliefs in business •    How to be an AWESOME leader and achieve a great work-life balance, with coach and author Ben Coomber •    Selling up is hard to do. What comes next? With business strategist, Dawn Bloomer •    Highway to the conquer zone with profit hunter Freddie Bennett •    Interview with Dr Chris Mason on Leadership Success •    Find meaning in your work: Meaningful May •    Power of public speaking with Andrew Brammer •    Special interview episode with Damian Horner: The Dark Art of Marketing Marks Books/Podcasts Rich Dad Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not! The Way of Wyrd Never Finished David Goggins The Fifth Sacred Thing – Starhawke Reality Blind: Integrating the Systems Science Underpinning Our Collective Futures The Great Simplification with Nate Hagens podcast

In this episode, Garath Symonds, the founder of Reconnect Coaching, joins Mark and Becky to discuss his upcoming book, ‘The Anxious Leader’. They explore how anxiety impacts decision-making and leadership, the importance of rational thinking and ego reflection, as well as strategies for tolerating anxiety as opposed to rejecting it. They delve into the role of meditation and self-reflection for leaders, along with managing trauma's impact and the importance of vulnerability and psychological safety in top level roles, and ultimately, embracing life’s lessons. Tune in for fascinating insights into leadership and personal growth in the podcast’s penultimate episode! GET IN TOUCH! We would love to hear your thoughts on today’s episode, email us at podcasts@larking-gowen.co.uk. We’d also love it if you could rate us 5 STARS on Apple Podcasts or Spotify; this really helps people find us! You can also watch us on YouTube! Click here   Show notes Connect with Garath on LinkedIn Reconnectcoaching.co.uk  Books The Practice of Adaptive Leadership: Tools and Tactics for Changing Your Organization and the World – Ronald A Heifetz The Bhagavad Gita – Eknath Easwaran What Matters Most – James Hollis  Keep your eye on Garaths channels for the release of his upcoming book 'The Anxious Leader' - due to be published in 2024  Thank you to our sponsors Larking Gowen, Chartered Accountants and Business Advisors – check out their website to see how they could help your business www.larking-gowen.co.uk © Larking Gowen LLP 

In a world of quiet quitting and the ‘Great Resignation’, what should employers be doing to keep their best people?  This week Mark chats to Steve Jacobs, a director at WTW, to discuss the importance of employee benefits and how to navigate the ever-changing trends in the workplace.  With the shift in employee expectations post COVID-19, and a focus on flexibility and work-life balance, they look at the differences between employer and employee perspectives on what constitutes a ‘benefit’ now and, in particular, what employees sometimes value above money. They discuss diversity and inclusion, global differences in legislation and the challenge of the multi-gen workforce.  With a background in the Merchant Navy, and now working for WTW, a world leader in data driven, insight-led solutions in the areas of people, risk and capital – Steve has seen it all, and his business has helped businesses to navigate stormy, unpredictable waters.  GET IN TOUCH! We would love to hear your thoughts on today’s episode, email us at podcasts@larking-gowen.co.uk. We’d also love it if you could rate us 5 STARS on Apple Podcasts or Spotify; this really helps people find us! You can also watch us on YouTube! Click here   Show notes    •    Connect with Steve on LinkedIn •    Find out about the work of WTW: wtwco.com & UK: wtw-healthandbenefits.co.uk •    Leadership & Life Chat – Andy Nicol and Sue Liburd  •    Brené Brown podcasts  •    Ken Blanchard: ‘The One Minute Manager’  •    Ravin Jesuthasan: The future of work Thank you to our sponsors Larking Gowen, Chartered Accountants and Business Advisors – check out their website to see how they could help your business www.larking-gowen.co.uk © Larking Gowen LLP 

You might not think this topic applies to you – but it’s a conversation that might be important for someone you love.  TRIGGER WARNING: This episode contains mention of drug addiction, depression and suicide We open the LAST EVER series of the podcast with Mark and Becky chatting to Nick Jonsson in one of our most frank, honest and powerful episodes surrounding the often brutal reality of leadership and its toll.  Nick opens up about his personal journey with executive loneliness and his own ‘rock bottom’, what led him to seek help, and his path to creating a safe space for senior executives and business owners to discuss their challenges. Nick is the co-founder and Managing Director of EGN, one of Asia's premier networking organisations, and his path takes him from his native Sweden to Australia and beyond! Nick is passionate about the need to change the perception of vulnerability and encourages leaders to embrace it as a strength.  This conversation is a powerful dive into the realities of identity and purpose in the workplace, the impact of isolation on younger generations and the dangers of inflated ego in CEOs and business owners!  GET IN TOUCH! We would love to hear your thoughts on today’s episode, email us at podcasts@larking-gowen.co.uk.  We’d also love it if you could rate us 5 STARS on Apple Podcasts or Spotify;  this really helps people find us! You can also watch us on YouTube! Click here You can find all of the Leadership & Life Chat episodes here Show notes Nick's website Nick’s book: Executive Loneliness  SUICIDE SUPPORT – UK: SAMARITANS Call 116 123 USA: Call or text 988 or text TALK to 741741  Vistage – peer network  Leadership & Life Chat: Be more Labrador! Building trust at work with Darryl Stickel PhD  

Do you listen to music whilst you work? There are countless studies and arguments on whether music can really make us more productive. We often hear radios playing in forecourts, offices and shops, and since the launch of Spotify and shrinking of headphones, playing music at work has become much less frowned upon. But what is the scientific impact on our brains? Should we be encouraging or discouraging our teams to embrace Beethoven whilst working? (or in Marks case, Metallica…) GET IN TOUCH! We would love to hear your thoughts on today’s episode, email us at podcasts@larking-gowen.co.uk.  We’d also love it if you could rate us 5 STARS on Apple Podcasts or Spotify;  this really helps people find us! You can also watch us on YouTube! Click here You can find all of the Leadership & Life Chat episodes here Show notes Leadership & Life Chat - Practical guide to de-stressing with Havening Technique expert Tony Burgess Impromptu Business Chat - Up Your Energy - Increase your energy levels (part 1 of 2) Andrew Huberman – Huberman Lab podcast Thank you to our sponsors Larking Gowen, Chartered Accountants and Business Advisors – check out their website to see how they could help your business www.larking-gowen.co.uk © Larking Gowen LLP

This conversation is far from a laugh riot, but is a fascinating insight into the reality of what it’s like for many teams members out there right now working under bad bosses. The stats will blow your mind! Fearless Organisation Practitioner Rob Kalwarowsky, famous for his speech ‘How to Avoid Becoming an As*hole Boss’; outlines the 6 different destructive leader types: •    The arrogant or violent boss  •    Abusive narcissist  •    Messy boss •    Cowardly boss (ghost managers) •    Passive aggressive boss •    Passive egocentric boss Do you recognize yourself as any of these? If so, it might be time to make a change. They seem extreme but Rob outlines the data and research behind how these categories came into the lexicon and how too much stress on teams will result in costs for businesses in the long term. There is a demand for the right people needed in businesses, but there’s a disconnect with the overall quality of leadership in businesses across the world – recent trends of quiet quitting and the great resignation are directly tied to specific managers.  Rob believes that his insights can literally help to change your business and the lives of those working with you, forever. GET IN TOUCH! We would love to hear your thoughts on today’s episode, email us at podcasts@larking-gowen.co.uk.  We’d also love it if you could rate us 5 STARS on Apple Podcasts or Spotify;  this really helps people find us! You can also watch us on YouTube! Click here You can find all of the Leadership & Life Chat episodes here Show notes Contact Rob: elitehighperformance.com Watch the full speech How to Avoid Becoming an As*hole Boss here Find Rob on: Instagram Youtube Linked In TikTok Spotify Thanks to www.expertbookers.com - visit them and find out how they can help support your podcast! Mindfulness Meditation by Jon Kabat-Zinn Jamesclear.com No Bad Parts - Dr Richard Schwartz Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself – Michael Singer 7 Rules of Power: Surprising - But True - Advice on How to Get Things Done and Advance your career – Jeffrey Pfeffer Thank you to our sponsors Larking Gowen, Chartered Accountants and Business Advisors – check out their website to see how they could help your business www.larking-gowen.co.uk © Larking Gowen LLP

In this episode we talk all things chaos theory. No, not the ‘interdisciplinary area of scientific study and branch of mathematics focused on underlying patterns and deterministic laws of dynamical systems that are highly sensitive to initial conditions’ (thanks Wikipedia). Rather, how our unpredictable behaviour can impact our work and those around us. Mark and Becky discuss how there’s a difference between chaotic and energetic, how the differences impact our productivity, and how the pros and cons of what can be perceived as chaos in the workplace impact our relationships.  GET IN TOUCH! We would love to hear your thoughts on today’s episode, email us at podcasts@larking-gowen.co.uk.  We’d also love it if you could rate us 5 STARS on Apple Podcasts or Spotify;  this really helps people find us! You can also watch us on YouTube! Click here You can find all of the Leadership & Life Chat episodes here Show notes Leadership & Life Chat - How to cultivate creativity at work Thank you to our sponsors Larking Gowen, Chartered Accountants and Business Advisors – check out their website to see how they could help your business www.larking-gowen.co.uk © Larking Gowen LLP

Psychotherapist, Gin Lalli, supports people in finding practical solutions for mental fitness when feeling out of control, and how to avoid negative thinking with the aim of limiting your stress. Stress is a consequence of negative thinking, and the responses come from the part of your brain that is designed to keep you safe – they were vital for survival in caveman days, but we don’t need them daily in 2024. We can retrain our brains to understand that thoughts and internal chatter are NOT facts. It takes time and commitment, but it is possible. Gin outlines the scientific role sleep plays in our mental health; how to cope if we don’t get enough sleep; the importance of micro-interactions; what the cause and effect of modern-day stress is and how our cortisol levels really work for and against us. There’s a lot of polar bear talk, supermarket self-checkout rage, and ‘Producer Lizzie’ even manages to wedge in the psychological benefits of horror films! GET IN TOUCH! We would love to hear your thoughts on today’s episode, email us at podcasts@larking-gowen.co.uk.  We’d also love it if you could rate us 5 STARS on Apple Podcasts or Spotify;  this really helps people find us! You can also watch us on YouTube! Click here You can find all of the Leadership & Life Chat episodes here Show notes: Visit Gin's website at Ginlalli.com Gin’s book - Solution-Focused Therapy Handbook: How to Empty Your Stress Bucket & podcast - Stress Bucket Solutions The Chimp Paradox – Prof Steve Peters The work of Trevor Moawad Susan Jeffers – Feel the Fear and do it anyway Just One Thing – Michael Mosley podcast Sleep is your superpower – Matt Walker TED Talk Why We Sleep – Matthew Walker  Thank you to our sponsors Larking Gowen, Chartered Accountants and Business Advisors – check out their website to see how they could help your business www.larking-gowen.co.uk © Larking Gowen LLP

We are back for series 7! Loyal listeners will know that Mark and Becky are huge fans of Jim Collins, so they decided it was time to dive deep into his work, and look at the seven key questions he claims all leaders need to ask themselves. They outline how each question can help with recruitment and retaining our talented people! Jim once said leaders should be “rigorous, not ruthless.” Can this really be applied to success? GET IN TOUCH! We would love to hear your thoughts on today’s episode, email us at podcasts@larking-gowen.co.uk.  We’d also love it if you could rate us 5 STARS on Apple Podcasts or Spotify;  this really helps people find us! You can also watch us on YouTube! Click here You can find all of the Leadership & Life Chat episodes here Show notes Jim Collins – Good to Great Value setting within business episode of Leadership & Life Chat –  Working 9-5, not the only way to make a living Leadership & Life Chat - You’ve got the power The 7 questions Are you beginning to lose other people by keeping this person in the seat? Do you have a values problem, a wills problem or a skill problem? What is the person's relationship to the window and the mirror? Does the person see work as a job or a responsibility? Has your confidence in the person gone up or down in the last year? Do you have a bus problem or a seat problem? How would you feel if this person quit? Thank you to our sponsors Larking Gowen, Chartered Accountants and Business Advisors – check out their website to see how they could help your business www.larking-gowen.co.uk © Larking Gowen LLP

Do you think you’ve grown as a person, or as a leader, or have you allowed your challenges or failures to hold you back? Human Potential Coach Kamini Wood is passionate about helping people to understand their worth and grow their personal and professional paths, or as she puts it, “I mess with how people think!” Do you ever feel like you don’t belong? You don’t fit in? What do you allow your inner critic to tell you? Kamini started her journey into personal development after realising, as a mother of five, she needed to start adopting a more conscious parenting tactic, as she was projecting too much of her own emotion onto her children. She could see people doing this at her family law firm too. Our relationship with ourself is the most important one we’ll ever have, so Mark and Becky chat to Kamini about how we can tap into our goals and values, and reject the fear response for the better of our businesses and brains! GET IN TOUCH! We would love to hear your thoughts on today’s episode, email us at podcasts@larking-gowen.co.uk.  We’d also love it if you could rate us 5 STARS on Apple Podcasts or Spotify;  this really helps people find us! You can also watch us on YouTube! Click here You can find all of the Leadership & Life Chat episodes here Show notes Facebook https://www.facebook.com/kamini.wood.5  Instagram https://www.instagram.com/itsauthenticme/?hl=en  LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaminiwood/ Kaminiwood.com RiseUp - Live Joy Your Way podcast Atlas of the Heart – Brené Brown Viktor Frankl Russ Harris – The Happiness Trap    Thank you to our sponsors Larking Gowen, Chartered Accountants and Business Advisors – check out their website to see how they could help your business www.larking-gowen.co.uk © Larking Gowen LLP

This week, Mark and Becky reflect on a topic which keeps coming up with their guests – the importance of emotional intelligence. They look back on their AI episodes and how the human in the loop theory will become more important in the future, extending past the technical aspects of a job, and into how to retain the people in your team; after all, people join organisations but leave managers.  They discuss how EQ skills can be taught and learned, and why it’s so important for leaders to get hold of their own self-awareness, set the drum beat and audit their own emotions and how others perceive you.  GET IN TOUCH! We would love to hear your thoughts on today’s episode, email us at podcasts@larking-gowen.co.uk.  We’d also love it if you could rate us 5 STARS on Apple Podcasts or Spotify;  this really helps people find us! You can also watch us on YouTube! Click here You can find all of the Leadership & Life Chat episodes here Show notes AI Special roundtable with Alison & Alix Thank you to our sponsors Larking Gowen, Chartered Accountants and Business Advisors – check out their website to see how they could help your business www.larking-gowen.co.uk © Larking Gowen LLP

This episode is a complete refresh on the topic of leadership. Antonio Garrido, former architect and author of My Daily Leadership: A Powerful Roadmap for Leadership Success, has dedicated the latter half of his career to helping CEO’s better tap into their emotional intelligence, understand the art of truth telling and create more productive working relationships. His energy and experience offers a reinvigorated perspective on modern day business, as he philosophises with Mark over the reality of business ownership and management in 2023, he gives some uncomfortable examples of the type of personalities still allowed to operate at top levels, and why those businesses open themselves up to failure. Do you want to create a carrot or stick culture? GET IN TOUCH! We would love to hear your thoughts on today’s episode, email us at podcasts@larking-gowen.co.uk.  We’d also love it if you could rate us 5 STARS on Apple Podcasts or Spotify;  this really helps people find us! You can also watch us on YouTube! Click here You can find all of the Leadership & Life Chat episodes here Show notes LinkedIn www.mydailyleadership.com Email Antonio: antonio@mydailyleadership.com Blinkist  Leadership & Life Chat – How to cultivate creativity at work My Daily Leadership book Example of someone who has worked from the bottom up – Karen Hester COO of Adnams on Tourism Business Chat. Books Freedom from Command and Control: A Better Way to Make the Work Work Ted X – Itay Talgam - Lead like the great conductors The One Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results, Gary Keller 10x Is Easier than 2x: How World-Class Entrepreneurs Achieve More by Doing Less, Dan Sullivan  Eating the Big Fish: How Challenger Brands Can Compete Against Brand Leaders Seth Goden books Purple Cow: Transform Your Business by Being Remarkable Servant Leadership in Action: How You Can Achieve Great Relationships and Results The Creative Act: A Way of Being Thank you to our sponsors Larking Gowen, Chartered Accountants and Business Advisors – check out their website to see how they could help your business www.larking-gowen.co.uk © Larking Gowen LLP

The world of business is changing again and, where once we were encouraged to be proactive in our businesses, now, thanks to the advancement in AI, we might have to start being predictive – but how easy is this for humans, and will the world look like Minority Report!  Mark and Becky reflect on their special roundtable chat this summer with AI experts, Alison Alexander and Alix Rübsaam, and discuss their fears around AI and the reliance that we might put on it, going forwards. They discuss the bias that will exist in the algorithms, how we must always be questioning AI’s answers, the potential stunt in creativity, and the possible dangers around predicting human behavior, especially in business.  GET IN TOUCH! We would love to hear your thoughts on today’s episode, email us at podcasts@larking-gowen.co.uk.  We’d also love it if you could rate us 5 STARS on Apple Podcasts or Spotify;  this really helps people find us! You can also watch us on YouTube! Click here You can find all of the Leadership & Life Chat episodes here Show notes •    AI SPECIAL - Roundtable with Alix Rubsaam & Alison Alexander •    Jocko Willink - Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win •    Minority Report (2002) Thank you to our sponsors Larking Gowen, Chartered Accountants and Business Advisors – check out their website to see how they could help your business www.larking-gowen.co.uk © Larking Gowen LLP

Studies suggest that selling your business or retiring early do not necessarily make someone happier. Dawn Bloomer, a former veterinarian turned strategic advisor, knows this all too well.  Dawn guides us through her journey after selling her successful practice and finding herself adrift – she hadn’t planned what to do next! She chats to Mark and Becky about the importance of exit plans and considering ‘what comes next’. They talk about the accountability and logistics often over-looked in any move, and the toxic ‘workaholic’ culture that still exists despite its known impact on our wellbeing. Dawn prefers to look at work-life balance as ‘integration’. This is a great episode for anyone looking to climb the career ladder, but who’s worried about the sacrifices they think are needed; those planning for an exit; and managers who need to better understand the implications of their teams returning after maternity, sickness or other forms of leave.  GET IN TOUCH! We would love to hear your thoughts on today’s episode, email us at podcasts@larking-gowen.co.uk.  We’d also love it if you could rate us 5 STARS on Apple Podcasts or Spotify;  this really helps people find us! You can also watch us on YouTube! Click here You can find all of the Leadership & Life Chat episodes here Show notes Contact Dawn - www.productivepressure.com Linkedin Larking Gowen Corporate Transactions Books Transitions (40th Anniversary): Making Sense of Life's Changes - – William & Sue Susan Bridges The Big Leap: Conquer Your Hidden Fear and Take Life to the Next Level – Gay Hendricks Reinventing Yourself – Steve Chandler – get the audio-book! Thank you to our sponsors Larking Gowen, Chartered Accountants and Business Advisors – check out their website to see how they could help your business www.larking-gowen.co.uk © Larking Gowen LLP

We’re back for series SIX, and what better way to start than letting Mark do what he does best – philosophise about himself! He muses around what ‘being a creative person’ really means, and how we can embrace creativity and innovation in our businesses.  Mark and Becky look at how creativity can’t be forced and how the pressures of work diaries, workloads and deadlines, particularly for business owners, can stunt creativity and what impact this has on your work and wellbeing. They discuss practical ways to empower your teams and how permission to think outside the box is sometimes all a person needs to find that spark!  GET IN TOUCH! We would love to hear your thoughts on today’s episode, email us at podcasts@larking-gowen.co.uk.  We’d also love it if you could rate us 5 STARS on Apple Podcasts or Spotify;  this really helps people find us! You can also watch us on YouTube! Click here Show notes The Creative Act: A Way of Being – Rick Rubin Impromptu Business Chat with Damian Horner - The Dark Art of Marketing (2021) Leadership & Life Chat - Practical guide to de-stressing with Havening Technique expert Tony Burgess  Thank you to our sponsors Larking Gowen, Chartered Accountants and Business Advisors – check out their website to see how they could help your business www.larking-gowen.co.uk © Larking Gowen LLP 

This week’s episode is all about coping with Christmas! James and Mark look back nostalgically on bygone years, and have musical references aplenty to keep spirits up. They have been inspired by recent guest Chris Anthony, and in the spirit of Christmas, decided to devote this episode to the mantra of ‘being in service to others’ and offer their wellbeing tips for coping with the festive period. How can you actually switch off, cope with burnout, and set realistic expectations? Many will be feeling the ‘pressure of Christmas’ after another challenging year, and James and Mark are here with their top tips on what you can do to manage expectations and pressure. We want to wish all our listeners a happy holiday season, and a prosperous new year! We will be taking a break for a while as we reboot in the new year - make sure you are subscribed to the Impromptu Business Chat channels on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Audible and more, so you don’t miss the exciting announcement on our revamped series, coming early 2022! You can also contact the team at podcasts@larking-gowen.co.uk if there are any topics you think we should cover in the future, or if you think you are an expert in your field, and think we should chat to you on a special episode!   Show notes Tip1: 03:00 – Set realistic expectations, add a sense of realism, and create a routine Tip 2: 09:00 – Set a few hours aside to plan aims for the new year but only if you have had some down time! Tip 3: 12:49 – Think about the people around you - who might not be looking forward to this period, and what can you do to show them that you care. IBC - How to succeed with New Year Resolutions - WOOP there it is!

*SPOILER ALERT* FOR NO TIME TO DIE! If you still haven’t seen the latest Bond film, please skip to 02:58! James and Mark are watching over the news this week as James’s self-imposed ‘No News November’ ends, and they discuss what the new COVID variant Omicron could mean for businesses as we head into winter. They discuss how we need to lean on the skills and lessons we have learnt during the last 18 months including how to adapt, lead by example, and empower people to take responsibility. *Please note this episode was recorded before the Government update on COVID restrictions made on 8.12.21* Top tips 06:58 Tip 1 - Adapt – “Planning is important, but plans are a waste of time” Winston Churchill 10:50 Tip 2 – “Sweep the sheds” - nobody is too senior to roll their sleeves up 13:30 Tip 3 – Take responsibility, act like a leader Show notes: David Marquet’s talk on ‘Greatness Leadership on a Submarine’ Books: Scrum – Jeff Sutherland James Kerr – Legacy David Marquets Turn the Ship Around!: A True Story of Building Leaders by Breaking the Rules

For those in the corporate world, the festive season brings with it invitations to parties with an expectation that alcohol will be freely consumed….and you will be involved! How do you navigate these events if you’re sober? Mark and James welcome the ‘Sober Exec’ Chris Anthony to chat about navigating the corporate drinks culture. Chris talks about what life is like at the top of the corporate world; with over 25 years’ experience in the tech sector, Chris is now the Vice President of U.S. Consumer Goods at Salesforce Marketing Cloud. He stands out not only for his expertise and experience, but for his 15 years of sobriety. He offers inspiration and guidance for others struggling to navigate their way through the drink-heavy culture that exists in the competition for corporate management roles. On the morning of New Year’s Day 2020, Chris realised that he had been sober for 15 years but had not shared this information publicly. He quit drinking after it became a problem for him back in 2005 – wrecking his career path and marriage, but he kept it secret because he was ashamed that it had become an issue, and the world he lived in thrived on wining and dining, ostracising anyone ‘not playing ball’. Chris shares insight into how he navigated through his career without a drink in his hand, and how his sobriety was key to his success and happiness, leading him to discover his true purpose in life “to be of service to others”. Fast forward to 2020, Chris realised he could make a difference by speaking out about his sobriety, which prompted one of his fellow execs to ask him for help. Chris knew then that he had a new purpose and launched Sober Force, and his role as ‘The Sober Exec’, which sees him working as a motivational speaker and consultant for businesses who want guidance on how to structure their seasonal and social activities. Chris also observes how sobriety health is now good for business, using football as an example, where in rejecting the pub culture of the 70s, the modern Premiere League acts as proof that good health can maximise profits! Chris is also extremely passionate about his philanthropic work; holding advisory board roles for several non-profit organisations including Metallica’s All Within My Hands Foundation, and is an active mentor supporting US Navy SEALs transition into successful business roles. He talks us through how his work for them have both inspired his personal recovery and motivated his work with others. This episode explores the power of resilience, how to combat peer pressure at work, how to be prepared instead of reactive, what businesses can do to embrace EVERYONE in their team and why making healthy decisions don’t need an apology. His personal journey and professional insight make for inspirational listening, especially as we head into the Christmas season and the inevitable ‘social’ pressures this will bring. You can read Chris’s public LinkedIn statement about his sobriety, that sparked his new journey in life, here Show notes The Sober Exec – check out Chris’s work here Follow Chris on Instagram for daily inspirational posts! @Thesoberexec The Sales Enablement Podcast with Andy Paul LinkedIn - Sales Force - Chris appears on this podcast as a representative of The Sober Exec and not Sales Force, his opinions are his own, and not those of Sales Force. If you would like to know more about Sale Force, you can visit their site here, and connect with them on LinkedIn. Metallica’s All Within My Hands Foundation Los Angeles Forward Operating Base (FOB) for SEAL Future Foundation (SFF) Books: Atomic Habits – James Clear Psycho-Cybernetics – Maxwell Maltz Top tips - James and Mark summarise the chat: 56:03 – recognising in order to help others, look after yourself first 57:33 – never be afraid to ask for help! 59:00 – be ready, and practice/prepare for questions on a sober night out You can get in touch with James and Mark on podcast@larking-gowen.co.uk, we would love to hear your feedback on this, or any of our episodes!  (c) Larking Gowen LLP www.larking-gowen.co.uk/ibc    

This week, James and Mark discuss a recent UK survey which revealed that 50% of workers, from management to shop floor level are secretly hoping for a ‘fire-break’ lockdown over Christmas, as they are facing burn out. For many, 2021 feels like it’s been a longer, more stressful year than 2020, as there appears to be more work out there for businesses than expected. They are facing the perfect storm of high demand and a recruitment crisis, so it’s no wonder teams are feeling the pressure. It’s important for business leaders to understand that many people will be facing personal challenges alongside work pressure, and it’s key for continuing success that individual stress curves are not breached for too long. James and Mark come up with their top 3 tips that can help you to prioritise your team’s health without damaging profits. Summary Top tip 1: 03:30 Is the demand really there, or are your prices too low? Don’t cash in, but consider a review. Top tip 2: 08:30 Pareto Principle 80:20 rule. Can you afford to cut your client base to protect your teams? Top tip 3: 23:50 Be aware of your team members individual stress curves – have people been doing too much for too long? Show notes The Pareto 80:20 Principle-  Overview, and Richard Koch’s Book - The 80/20 Principle, Expanded and Updated: The Secret to Achieving More with Less Chris Mason interview: Business coach and founder of Mindshop– episode 20 of Impromptu Business Chat We would love to hear what you think about the podcast/ if you think you would be a great expert special guest/ topics you think we should cover - get in touch on www.podcasts@larking-gowen.co.uk (c) Larking Gowen LLP

What does sustainability REALLY mean in practical terms for business, and what does the future look like? Mark breaks down what is currently happening in big business, and what still needs to be done at both corporate and SME levels. He’s currently writing a paper on how his business (Larking Gowen!) needs to tackle sustainability, and his sources are steering away from the ‘trendy stuff’. His personal research aligns with the reports coming from COP26, that businesses play a key role in improving the environmental outlook. In making it his mission to improve practices in his own business, his eyes have been opened wider and his mindset has changed. How do businesses become more sustainable, when considering the energy they use each day, which includes transport, consumables and more? GDP and economic growth can be at odds with sustainability if we don’t think smarter. Mark offers some great insights into how sustainability and profitability can really work together. If you are an expert in sustainability and the environment, particularly for business or know someone who is, we’d love to hear from you, with a view to inviting you to be interviewed on a future special guest episode. Speaking of experts, Mark asked David Attenborough to special guest on this episode. Did he get a polite yet resounding ‘No’ or will Sir David provide this week’s top tips…listen in to find out! We would love to hear from you - you can get in touch with us on podcasts@larking-gowen.co.uk. If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe and whilst you are there, we would really appreciate a 5* review, as this helps other people find our podcast! Show notes Top tips • Energy use - 08:00 • Material efficiency - 16:13 • Accountability and B corporations - 22:00 Books Doughnut Economics – Seven ways to think like a 21st century economist Green Swans – The coming boom in regenerative capitalism The Ecology of Commerce Links Certified B Corporation – “Certified B Corporations are a new kind of business that balances purpose and profit. They are legally required to consider the impact of their decisions on their workers, customers, suppliers, community, and the environment” United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – “an urgent call for action by all countries - developed and developing - in a global partnership.” larking-gowen.co.uk - Marks business! James and Mark do accountancy stuff too... (c) Larking Gowen LLP