The Standing Out Podcast!

In Part 2 Janet Efere and I take a good long look at something that's critical to business and yet which many people shy away from.I'm talking about the scary 'S-Word'! All is revealed....And we also talk a bit about mindset.Janet has years of successful experience across both small businesses and corporates and is highly regarded in her field.If you want to know more about Janet and what she does you can find her contact details on the 'Interview Guests' page of the Standing Out website: CLICK HEREAnd if you didn't yet listen to Part 1, you can find it along with all the past episodes HERE and on popular podcast platforms.

This is Part 1 of a 2-part programme in which I talk to Janet Efere about a whole range of business topics.  Although the list below might suggest it's only useful for new businesses, there's a lot that could be a helpful refresher for established businesses and business people too, so do have a listen.Business success and always doing things right first timeThe risks and challenges facing business start-upsPricingApproaching starting a businessThe fear factors that can affect business peopleHow a new business can build credibilityCompeting when you're a start-upHow to promote yourselfOne of the main ways smaller businesses trip themselves upIdentifying clients and customersJanet has years of successful experience across both small businesses and corporates and is highly regarded (and award-winning) in her field.If you want to know more about Janet and what she does you can find her contact details on the 'Interview Guests' page of the Standing Out website: CLICK HEREAnd if you didn't yet listen to Part 2, you can find it along with all the past episodes HERE and on popular podcast platforms.

What would be the cost to you and your business if your computer suffered data loss, damage or unauthorised access?With our regular business focus, in this week’s show the Standing Out Podcast turns its attention to cybersecurity of all kinds. My expert guest, Daniel Bryk, shares advice, tips and anecdotes – in user-friendly language - across a wide range of computer security risks. Risks that could end up costing you dearly.  In the first half of 2020 alone, data breaches exposed 36 billion records, and businesses of all shapes and sizes paid the price for inadequate security for their systems and data. That includes home-based businesses.A record statistic you don't want to be part of. Among the many aspects of computer security Daniel talks wih me about include:Shutting down, sleeping or hibernating - what's safest?Physical data loss and using backupsCloud storageSoftware updatesWindows PCs, Macs and phonesData encryptionPasswords - good practiceInternet securityTwo-factor authenticationNetwork securityDomain securityHackingVirusesAnti-virus softwareFirewallsRansomwareSuspicious emailsTo contact Daniel, you can find his details on the 'Interview Guests' page of the website.

"Handle them carefully, for words have more power than atom bombs."This quote by Pearl Strachan Heard (1930s British politician) sets the scene for this Standing Out podcastWords are everywhere – including this LinkedIn post. Spoken, written, printed, online, offline – what would we do without them!More important is what we, business people and professionals of all kinds, do with them.Words are essential for getting our messages across, for informing and educating our target audience. But getting those words right, making them effective, attractive and compelling is a skill not all of us have.In this new episode, I’m in conversation with award-winning copywriter Melanie Silver. You’ll find lots of great advice that you can use to improve your own writing skills including:The difference between content writing and copywritingHow to use 'active voice'Why the quality of words mattersWhat type of language to aim forWhy readability is importantHow to use grammar sensiblyWhat is meant by 'voice'Why layout makes a differenceHow long is too longHeadlines that attractHow to approach a writing projectCalls to actionWith some 25 years of experience and a number of awards, Melanie certainly knows her way around words. You can find her contact details on the Podcast Guests page here on the website.

In this episode, my guest Arwyn Bailey tells the story of how a series of events knocked him sideways, affecting both his business and personal life.Part of our conversation is how he worked through it to come out the other side, but more than that.Arwyn shares some helpful advice from his own experience and practical things you can do to cope with the problems we all have to confront from time to time, both in business and life. At one point he mentions and recommends a book titled 'The 4 Money Mindsets' by Karen Sutton-Johal You can find it on Amazon HERE

In this episode, we look at a different kind of working life. For most of us, getting up in the morning, getting ready and then either travelling to work or working at home isn’t such a big deal. But what if you started feeling things, worryingly, weren’t right physically? You begin to experience unnatural fatigue; your balance is shaky; there are falls…My guest in this episode, Patrick Burke, literally found himself ‘falling down on the job’ some years ago. It ended up with him being medically retired and having to deal with a condition called Multiple Sclerosis. A condition that affects over 110,000 people in the UK, with some 5,200 new cases being diagnosed annually.However, Patrick is not someone you can keep down for long! In our conversation, you’ll discover how Patrick deals practically with the physical effects of MS, but more importantly how he has built an extremely active – if different - working life.It’s about attitude and determination and how to approach the sometimes major challenges that life can unexpectedly throw in our way.In the UK there are some 14.1 million disabled people and 19% of working age adults live with some kind of disability. There were more than 4.1 million disabled people in work before the pandemic started to affect the economy in 2020. 

The business-focused social networking platform LinkedIn currently had some 760 million users world-wide, of whom around 260 million are active monthly. Of these monthly active members about 40% log in daily.If you’re one of the 40% you may be among the many who are not getting much in the way of results or contribution to your business. Your posts may be getting limited views, few reactions and rare comments. Maybe you’re gamely plodding on, although frustrated and disappointed.I must confess that I was one of the ‘gamely plodding on’ – and then I was introduced to Mac Laubscher not long ago. Mac is unquestionably a professional expert on how to make LinkedIn work, with huge knowledge and experience.Mac’s initial advice to me revealed just how much I didn’t know that I didn’t know. Not only that, but by implementing just some of the practical things he told me, my results on LinkedIn were seriously transformed. That being the case I knew I just had to invite Mac to guest on the podcast and share some of what he knows. So here he is!In this episode some the things we cover include:What Mac did to become so knowledgeableHow LinkedIn fits in the world of social media for businessThe mistakes most people make – and what to do insteadThe most important things users need to doWhether it’s possible to stand out on LinkedInWhat’s important in your user profileWhen to post and how oftenLinkedIn’s chargeable options like LinkedIn Premium and LinkedIn Sales NavigatorGroups on LinkedInWhat the Linked in algorithm likes and doesn’t likeHow to deal with contact requestsHow to manage a lot of contactsHow Mac works as a professional LinkedIn educatorWhether you’ve been a user for some time or you’re new to LinkedIn you’ll find much of interest and practical value. Also, I’m sure you’ll enjoy Mac’s enthusiasm as well as his knowledge and advice. Be sure to have pen and paper ready to take notes!You can find Mac's contact details on the Interview Guests page of the https://StandingOutPodcast.com website and, of course, you can find Mac on LinkedIn.

Business debt has rocketed due to the pandemic - alongside personal and household debt. You or someone you know may be part of the troubling statistics that have led to businesses collapsing or heading for the cliff edge. And there's the human cost of stress and anxiety and the potentially devastating consequences of actually tipping over the edge.Top accountancy firm Ernst & Young forecast that business lending in 2020 will have grown by 14.4% compared with just 2% in 2019 and will grow further this year. For some, financial support for their businesses has been funded by personal borrowing or savings, contributing to the rise in personal debt. Between September and November last year, available figures show someone was declared insolvent or bankrupt every 4 minutes and 34 seconds.While being at the cliff edge of debt is a scary place to be, it doesn't have to be all doom and gloom. The chances are you don't know what you don't know about how debt issues can be resolved. There are practical solutions and important things to learn about how the world of debt really works - some of which will probably surprise you.Which is why I encourage you to listen to my guest in this week's podcast. He's an expert in the field of debt resolution and has helped many businesses and individuals deal who may have thought there was no way out. His extensive experience and knowledge of the finance industry is revealing, and I'm sure you'll discover and learn more than you might think.So join us on the podcast and discover....how to solve your debt problems without stress or worry....

We're back - and into the start of a year possibly unlike any that most of us in business or employment have seen before. We're still in the middle of the Covid pandemic and, here in the UK and other parts of the world, beset by government restrictions and regulations that have caused and continue to cause massive damage to the economy. And for the UK there's also been Brexit.  Business as usual it isn't - and what will emerge from all the damage in the future is probably going to look and feel rather different.   Into this changed and changing landscape we all step, whether we're owners of businesses that have survived or been brought down, self-employed, or unemployed (or soon to be).  Whether you're optimistic or pessimistic once thing we can be sure of is continuing uncertainty for quite a while. And that's a condition that can be a real inhibitor to making business decisions.  It's also predicted that there will be an increase in new business start-ups and self-employment. But what are the prerequisites for success - and how best to position yourself and your business or business idea to give yourself a good chance of making that happen?  In this new episode, kicking off 2021, we take a look at the changed landscape we need to navigate. We consider how existing businesses can move forward, discuss essential guidance for anyone thinking of starting something new, and the aspects of mindset and mental fitness that can help or hinder success - and more.To discuss these topics of real importance for the year ahead I'm joined by a special guest with an extensive business background. With past successful experience both as a business owner and senior corporate manager, today Olivier Carion is a leading coach and mentor internationally to many different business people, in a diversity of business types and from small to large.With his down-to-earth and practical approach born of experience, I'm sure you'll find a lot to interest you and much to think about.

Success in business (and life generally) is as much about how we get on with people as it is about the thing that we do or sell. Building relationships with our customers and clients – and our colleagues, staff and suppliers for that matter – is what can make all the difference – people like to do business with people they know, like and trust.In order to do that, we have to talk with each other and conversations are, of course, a two-way activity. What that means is that while one person is talking the other person is – supposed to be – listening. Really listening, not just aware that the other is speaking but actively hearing and understanding what is being said – and sometimes what is not being said.All too often that doesn’t happen and the listening isn’t done well, sometimes by one and sometimes by both. One consequence is that poor listening skills can get in the way of building relationships – and success in business.In this episode, I explore how to be a good listener, why it’s important, and the things that can get in the way and how to avoid them.

...and introverts can thrive in an extrovert business world   The western social and business models are largely oriented towards extrovert personality types, which means that it can present challenges to those who have a more introvert personality.   At the same time both terms, ‘introvert’ and ‘extrovert’ are often not properly understood and common stereotypes and assumptions are common. But this podcast is not just for ‘introverts’ – ‘extroverts' (and everyone in between) – can discover a lot that will be useful both in business and social life.   In business, misunderstanding introverts often leads to what my guest, Jon Baker, terms the ‘introvert productivity gap’ – which is not good for business or individuals. Whether you’re a business owner, a manager, an employee or self-employed, an introvert or an extrovert, understanding each other and ourselves better can lead to much happier and more positive outcomes. And better business.   In this fascinating and informative episode, we explore a wide range of topics including:Understanding what really characterises ‘introvert’ and ‘extrovert’ personality typesMyths and misunderstandings about introvert personalitiesStrengths of introvert personalities (extroverts don't have it all!)How our society and many working environments are designed for extroverts and why that mattersWhat the ‘introvert productivity gap’ isHow company cultures can make it more difficult for introverts to play an effective partHow introvert employees can cope in an extrovert working environmentWays in which an extrovert manager can support an introvert employee's confidence and productivitySocial media and introvertsBusiness networking and introverts…and more besides   So whether you’re an introvert, an extrovert, somewhere in between or not sure, you can be sure to discover much that will be of interest and value in this episode.    If you want to contact Jon you can find his details on the StandingOut website via this link:                             https://www.standingoutpodcast.com/interview-guests 

If you’re in business, I’m pretty certain you’ll have a website. It’s fair to say that some website work better than others and in this episode we explore some of the ‘tricks of the trade’ that can help you stand out on your own website.Our guest is Richard Ambrose, designer and website developer who has been crafting business websites for some 20 years, so he certainly knows what he’s talking about.Some of the topics we cover include:A nostalgic look back at the ‘dotcom boom’Why have a websiteWebsite graphic design and layoutThe challenge of contentUse of imagesWhat helps or hinders a website's effectivenessAdvice on acquiring domain namesHow important is SEO?Do you need analytics?Website security and cyber-crimeWith an estimated 400 million active websites out there, you need to make sure that yours does the best possible job for you. If you want to contact Richard you can find his details on the StandingOut website via this link: https://www.standingoutpodcast.com/interview-guests 

It’s been said that 90% of success comes from just showing up but, more than that, it’s how we show up and how well we do it. So if we want to stand out in person and create a good and lasting impression there are things we can do, things we can avoid and techniques we can learn.In this episode, I interview someone who has been standing out well both professionally and personally for a long time. You may have seen Paul Ryan on TV or onstage or discovered his training workshops and coaching. In this interview he shares with us a great deal of advice and information, all laced with anecdotes and stories in Paul’s inimitable styleSome of the topics Paul covers are:The fear of public speakingHow to appear on a video call or meetingConfidenceOvercoming nervesHow to be preparedBeing interviewed for a jobOvercoming catastrophizingThat thing called ‘presence’Getting the best out of your voiceDoor-framing and more…If you would like to get in touch with Paul you can find his contact details [HERE]

Business networking, in all its various forms, is one of the most important development activities people in business can undertake. That well-known saying, "It's not what you know but who you know", comes to mind.Whether self-employed, a business owner, entrepreneur or employee, the network of contacts we develop and the relationships we form with other business people are vital on so many levels.In this episode our guest Stef Thomas, a leading authority on business networking, best-selling author and international speaker on the subject, discusses how to network effectively. Among the many things he covers are:Why networking is extremely important for employees too - particularly nowThe different forms of networkingThe difference between business networking and sellingHow to make networking events work betterThe differences in networking organisations and groupsThe importance of following upSocial media and networkingComing from his own 15-plus years of business networking, Stef share may useful insights, hints and tips to help you get more out of business networking - or get into it in the first place.Stef's contact details can be found on the Standing Out Podcast website>>> CLICK HERE

This time we feature an interview with John Kettley (johnfkettley.com). John has not only successfully started and run a number of smaller businesses but also coaches and mentors others to achieve their own success - with a very down-to-earth and practical approach. We talk not only about what can help or hinder that success but also look to the future as the worlds of business and employment change around us as the Covid crisis continues.

In this first full episode, Jon starts by explaining how the podcast came about and its purpose - and introduces himself for those who don't know him. The first main segment this week includesWhy being outstanding is NOT the same as Standing OutWhy a logo is not the same thing as a brandWhat a brand actually is, what it's used for and why it matters - for small businesses as well as big onesThat people have brands as well as businesses and productsWhat the process of branding is aboutBranding is not the same as marketingThe second main segment starts to explore video as a significant business tool including:What makes it so potentially powerfulThe current state of video marketing Future episodes will build on these themes and offer practical advice to help listeners stand out more....You can find out more about the podcast on the website at: https://standingoutpodcast.com

Welcome to this trailer introducing the new Standing Out podcast, for small businesses and organisations and solo business people and professionals, intended to give you an edge and help you stand out from the competition.

In this episode, Jon looks at some key factors that can get in the way of a businesses ability to stand out and develop the edge needed to attract the right potential customers and clients and stand out from the competition.It builds on the branding theme from the last episode and explores the practical things that need to be considered and put in place.In part two, Jon shares some hints and tips on how to get better images and sound when using your smartphone to make videos.