Byron Schramm left his chimney business in Colorado behind for six months - and set out for a European adventure.David catches up with him on the British leg of his tour to discuss chimneys, entrepreneurship and the work-life balance ‘myth’.Thi

#66 - We MUST Bridge The White-Blue Collar Divide - Interview with Daniel Ezzatvar

Jan 28th, 2024 1h

Marketing expert Daniel Ezzatvar researched the construction sector for his Masters Degree. He tells David how he’s now using that as a springboard to help bridge the white-blue collar divide across the sector.This episode is brought to you in

#65 - ‘It was the biggest SHOCK - I almost couldn’t cope’ - James Archer, of Clock Woodburners

Sep 3rd, 2023 1h 12m

James Archer went from one-man-in-his-shed to being the face of one of the UK’s best known stove brands.But as Clock Woodburners underwent a meteoric rise, James found it a challenge to adapt to these new pressures.In a frank interview with Dav

#64 - Franchisee To Franchisor: Liam Hobbs of More Than Loft Ladders

Aug 6th, 2023 57m 32s

“He liked it so much he bought the company!”In this episode, Liam Hobbs, of More Than Loft Ladders, tells David how he went from being a franchisee to buying the business outright.It’s a fascinating story from someone who has a real entrepreneu

#63 - How British Chimney Sweeps Can Learn From The USA - Interview with Joe Gomez

Jun 24th, 2023 51m 23s

Essex chimney sweep Joe Gomez sat the US chimney sweep exams - and passed. He now wants to help improve standards here in the UK. In this episode he talks to David about his experiences in America…

#62 - 'Chimney Sweep Associations Got It Wrong - Here's How To Fix It'

May 28th, 2023 1h 5m

Sixth-generation sweep Josh Firkins joins David for an indepth discussion about the future of chimney sweeping, and how he feels trade associations have got it wrong...

#61 - Why I Made The Leap To Expand - Follow-Up Interview With Alastair Kemp

Apr 2nd, 2023 43m 57s

In a follow up to last year's interview about whether to grown his one-man band, Wilts chimney sweep Alastair Kemp returns to the show to reflect on what he did next...

#60 - Taxing Times: Why Some Businesses Are Stalling

Mar 19th, 2023 19m 4s

With a sluggish economy, the UK needs small businesses to drive growth. So why are some unable to meet even their own aspirations? In this episode, David reveals a key issue which the Government needs to sort out ASAP...

#59 - Why I Started This Podcast, Became A Business Mentor & Now Champion Fellow Tradespeople

Mar 12th, 2023 22m 2s

Focusing solely on your business means potentially missing out on opportunities. In this episode, David outlines how 'outside' interests beyond your day-to-day work can help you and your business...

#58 - Banishing Seasonality: How To Create All-Year-Round Business

Mar 5th, 2023 19m 33s

Cashflow can be tricky in a seasonal business. But there are some steps you can take to counteract that, as David discusses in this episode...

#57 - The Mindset Which RUINS Business Growth...

Feb 26th, 2023 22m 51s

Expanding your business can be challenging, but having a scarcity mindset can strangle any idea at birth. In this episode, David looks at how overcoming this is vital if you want to grow...

#56 - Five Tips For GROWTH In A Recession

Feb 19th, 2023 20m 43s

It's clear we're in choppy financial waters - and adapting to survive can be a necessity. In this episode, David looks at how you can grow even when the economy is shrinking...

#55 - Why FAILURE Definitely *Is* An Option

Feb 12th, 2023 23m 31s

Too many people are scared of failure. But it's actually an essential ingredient to any success story. In this episode, David explains why we need to redefine our relationship with it...

#54 - Lessons From 'The Founder' - aka McDonald's The Movie

Feb 5th, 2023 17m 33s

When Ray Kroc travelled to a small restaurant in California, little did he know it would be the first step towards creating a global brand. This week, David reveals why you too should watch 'The Founder' - the story of McDonald's

#53 - Why Consistency REALLY Matters in Business

Jan 29th, 2023 22m 52s

It's tempting to let routines slide, but the key to success often relies on the repetition of tasks which, ultimately, lead you towards your goals...

#52 - Why Tradespeople FAIL To Grow Their Business

Jan 22nd, 2023 22m 49s

Many want to expand, but when it comes to the crunch. many tradespeople just can't do it. Is it down to circumstances, or is there something else at play? In this episode, David looks at the 5 reasons why many one-person bands remain stuck...

#51 - Stop BORING Your Customers: 5 Things They Really Don't Care About

Jan 15th, 2023 22m 9s

As business owners, it's easy to believe customers care about the same things you do. It's rarely the case. In this episode, David reveals the 5 things customers really couldn't care less about...

#50 - The FIVE Lessons From My Own Business Start-Up

Jan 8th, 2023 26m 24s

January is a peak time for people taking the plunge and setting up a new business. In this episode, David discusses the five lessons he took from his own business start-up...

#49 - Christmas: A Time For Reflection & Planning Ahead

Dec 18th, 2022 19m 16s

In his final podcast of 2022, David explains why Christmas and New Year provides a welcome opportunity to both look forward and back...

#48 - Entrepreneurship While Still 'On The Tools'

Dec 11th, 2022 21m 42s

For those who aren't yet 'off the tools', this can be the hardest part of the entrepreneurial journey. In this episode, David talks about his own experiences about working both 'in' and 'on' the business at the same time...

#47 - Don't Let Perfect Be The Enemy of The Good

Dec 4th, 2022 23m 11s

Too many great ideas never see the light of day - because people are scared they're 'not ready'. In this episode, David discusses why no idea is ever perfect...

#46 - Why I'm Expanding My Business Further

Nov 27th, 2022 24m 18s

After starting his growth journey in early 2021, David is now ready to take it to the next level in 2023...

#45 - When Professionals Act Unprofessionally...

Nov 20th, 2022 21m 53s

The term is widely recognised, but rarely understood. In this episode, David examines how you need to guard against so many things which could undermine you and your professionalism in the eyes of customers.

#44 - Everyone Is NOT Your Customer - Smart Social Media with Brianna Harvey

Nov 13th, 2022 43m 33s

David returns to Ashton Old Baths in Tameside, Manchester, to chat with Brianna Harvey, of Digital Flamingo. They discuss why scattergun social media marketing doesn't work, and why you need to know your target customer

#43 - Celebrating Entrepreneurs: What Britain Can Learn From America

Nov 6th, 2022 30m 57s

In this week's episode, David is joined by US-born Brianna Harvey, owner of Manchester social media marketing company Digital Flamingo, to discuss the differing attitudes towards entrepreneurship in the UK and the USA. They also discuss how en