Podcast
The Woodville Start Up Business Podcast
Hosted by Michael Godsmark · EN
Helping new and existing business owners improve their businesses by interviewing those who've done it.
We will pull out ideas, tips and thoughts to help your business thrive.
4episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Steff & Michael - Woodville Accountancy
Feb 17, 202001:19:52Tap to summarizeMichael Godsmark is the Managing Director of Woodville Accountancy, an accountancy business in Chorley. Topics for today's episode include: [00:01:21] Michael's brief overview of his history, including his experience as a superstar DJ and working at nightclubs, and what he has learned from this stint[00:10:30] Working at Woodville Accountancy and what our focus is[00:12:08] The start of Michael's entrepreneurial journey[00:16:33] How Michael realised he needed a bit more “help”[00:18:45] Moving into an office, the rebranding process, and growing Woodville Accountancy's team[00:19:51] Working with Woodville Accountancy's customers[00:20:52] How no one teaches a person how to be a leader/manager and why having a set of values in creating a work culture is important[00:22:26] Advice he would give to someone who has not yet made the step to employ someone[00:24:49] Having procedures for everything and setting up values[00:25:58] Lee Houghton's podcast interviewing Damian Hughes[00:27:04] Difficult situations Michael's had to overcome throughout his entrepreneurial journey – working with customers (and all the problems they bring)[00:32:08] Why you should review stuff and change something that is not working[00:33:21] Advice Michael would give to a smart college student starting out in the real world – getting as much experience as you can[00:39:30] Pricing structure to make a business work[00:45:37] Why being frugal is crucial to workflow [00:46:52] Advice Michael would give to someone changing their business' pricing structure[00:49:47] Boosting your team's morale drives everything forward[00:50:57] What Michael would do differently if he could start over again[00:53:27] Advertising and referrals [00:56:42] Looking at what the big boys are doing[00:57:37] Trialling new tech (cloud bookkeeping software, QuickBooks)[01:05:33] What Michael's plans for the future are[01:05:45] Celia Gaze's talk at the Entrepreneurs Circle[01:09:58] “The Barcelona Way”[01:11:28] Michael's personal goals[01:14:48] Being careful about setting goals[01:18:36] What separates the entrepreneurs[01:19:27] Tim Ferriss' TED Talk on defining your fears
Transcribe →Jack Barron - Invoke Media
Feb 3, 202001:23:16Tap to summarizeJack Barron is from Invoke Media, a digital marketing agency based in Manchester.In this episode we talk about:How Jack started Invoke Media and what got him into this businessJack's background as a DJ and putting up eventsJoining the ArmyHow he got interested in an events management course and then went on to set up warehouse parties The stress of putting up events including marketing and planning Becoming a director in a marketing agency and working with a teamUtilizing your existing network as much as possible when starting a business – referrals are freeWhat Jack would have done differently in his businessGoing back to “bread and butter”Not needing massive numbers to break evenListening to what other people say is importantWhat made him go on his own and not work for anybody else What he would say to his younger selfWorking while at uniBuilding and growing up a networkFeeling overwhelmed and regaining focusMaximising efficiency“Power naps” and using sleep as a toolMichael Sealey's guided hypnosisGetting caffeine boosts and why it is a massive helpArianna Huffington (from Thrive Global) on circadian rhythms Not expanding too much and streamlining the businessWhy you should set up your day to become more productiveNot having fixed work hours Jack's actual recruitment process – using social mediaSoft skills and aligning your team's way of thinkingTaking clients on and “scoring” them – working with the right peopleStrategies for pricing services and scaling up Jack's initial pricing model and his micro-realisations along the wayTips for anyone starting at the bottomGetting the right initial clients and doing good work to develop your networkWhat Jack's catalyst for recruiting employees wasKeeping things simple as a core valueJack's advertising advice to someone starting up a business with a small budgetUnderstanding your customersLooking at objectivesLooking at pain pointsLooking at your customer's sources of informationBuilding a core audience of peopleJack's advice to someone about to enter the real world – get as much life experience as you canExpanding hospitality and recruitment at Invoke MediaOffering personal coaching to small businesses to help business owners grow
Transcribe →Simon Denham - Ebuild Joinery
Jan 20, 202002:00:21Tap to summarizeSimon Denham is the founder of eBuild Joinery, a Chorley-based joinery and building contractor covering the Northwest. In this episode we talk about: [00:00:46] Simon Denham's job history and how he built eBuild Joinery[00:04:17] How old Simon was when he started his apprenticeship[00:05:16] Employment skills that you cannot learn in college and starting at an old age[00:08:26] Customer service and interaction[00:12:15] Top tips Simon would give to someone who has not had experience and is starting up a new business [00:12:38] Networking events and the first one he went to on his own[00:15:13] Chorley networking events and how much he made[00:18:02] Tips to break the ice for people going to events as a newbie[00:21:23] Setting yourself apart from others and asking them what they do[00:22:51] Remembering little things and associating people with them manufactures history[00:23:27] The book “How to Win Friends and Influence People”[00:26:26] Getting over the presumed “embarrassment” when meeting people[00:29:05] Dealing with mental health issues head on and taking a positive approach[00:40:37] The pressure and attention people demand from you as a business owner[00:42:07] Dealing with emails (having an auto-responder, having a different email address, and getting someone to manage your inbox)[00:44:07] Doing CBT[00:48:39] How sometimes being open can get support[00:49:54] On how CBT helps people who are feeling down; using antidepressants[00:58:40] The Chorley Sheds Project and what it's about[01:05:20] Similar trajectories newbie business owners can get into [01:12:39] Overworking [01:13:59] The book “It Doesn't Have to Be Crazy at Work”[01:16:35] Initial strategies for pricing services[01:19:07] What Simon would have done differently on pricing at the start of his journey[01:23:26] The amount of time he would spend on making quotes, being a “salesman”, and the question he always asks[01:32:01] The people you work with and being careful who you recommend[01:36:00] Advice he would give to someone who has left his/her job and is starting to pick up new business [01:38:21] Why you should sometimes say “no” to customers[01:43:50] Setting up structures (hours you will work, getting files in order, etc.) if you are going self-employed or starting your own business [01:47:36] Tips he would give to people dealing with conflict in business, difference in opinion, and stressful situations at work[01:55:31] Why having a template makes a business scaleable [01:58:42] Where you can find out more about Simon Denham
Transcribe →Hamad from Unbranded Manchester
Oct 29, 201901:34:54Tap to summarizeHamad owns digital agency Unbranded Manchester - https://www.unbrandedmanchester.comWe discuss various things, including -How not previously working in an industry can give you an advantage. By looking at the problem with fresh eyes, you can see it differently and create new routes to market and products.Ask yourself - what does my customer actually want or need? It's often not what they're asking for.Pricing evolutionSaying yes and learning lots by going above and beyond and treating everybody fairlyOver promise and then over deliver to win work!Overcoming being a victim of circumstance - addressing toxic things in your businessBreaking the ceiling to power on to the next levelFocusing on what you're good atImproving communication in your teamBreaking down the sales processSaving time in the future - using your emails to create a FAQ guideFocusing on the business rather than in the business. 30 mins - How to make it work with your spouse in the business. Pricing again - starting from free & website for £95 to Media City & £25k websites! Splitting out the full timeline of building out a websiteCustomer experience & guaranteesWorking out the unmet need - making money for our clientsEmotion of pricingHow money frees up time. Employing people – what the catalyst wasTaking the fear out of employing peopleHow employing people frees up your time to focus on working on the businessHow 60 minutes of public speaking can build a huge businessBuilding a network – getting rapport and getting going – being brutally honestDoing a great job from the get go(1 hour 21minutes) Advice for starting up in 2019. What would Hamad do with 2 hours per week to market his business?Mindset – putting the graft inAdvice to your 20 year old self – work for Google 😊Making your business work for youLet us know what you find useful!
Transcribe →