Uncommon Sense

About Uncommon Sense

Uncommon Sense is a podcast for business leaders by business leaders. As the name suggests, Uncommon Sense features personal stories, real-world insight and straight-talking advice from business leaders that you definitely wouldn't find in a business textbook or get from prompting ChatGPT. In each episode, we speak to business owners and leaders about the challenges they're facing and the opportunities they're seizing, with advice for you to take into your own business and career.

Publisher

The Uncommon Practice

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

21 Apr 2023

Latest episode

5 Feb 2024

Latest episodes

12 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   5 Feb 2024

   11. Leadership, Life, Legacy and Culture: From the Shop Floor to the Boardroom with Craig Weeks

   Craig Weeks, Director of Operations at JCB Transmissions in Wrexham is our great guest on Episode 11 of Uncommon Sense. In December 2023, Craig Weeks became a Director at JCB. A significant achievement in itself, but even more remarkable when you consider that Craig started his journey to the boardroom working on the shop floor of JCB with his dad. In this podcast episode, Craig shares his inspiring journey and the leadership lessons he's learned on his way to the top. But as with many of our podcast episodes, it's the human story behind Craig's leadership journey that is particularly compelling and moving. In this podcast episode, Craig shares his personal story in raw and honest detail. In particular, Craig talks about: How he is determined to create "A culture to deliver excellence" at JCB and for Wrexham to become "The jewel in JCB's crown". How one defining moment made him realise he needed to turn his life around. The challenges he faced leaving his colleagues - and dad! - on the shop floor and becoming part of the management team. What makes a good leader and how to get people to follow you. How he succeeded despite not excelling in education. What he learned from his good managers and not so good managers. Why culture, values and behaviours are critical in all businesses - despite the scepticism. Why the critical role of a leader is to "Cast the right shadow" and to set the tone for their employees. The importance of leaving a positive legacy as a leader. Why "Everything is about people". How working on the shop floor gave him the empathy and resilience to be a good leader. Why he puts so much effort into promoting JCB as a business in the wider community. Why good leaders empower others, they don't manage them. Why imposter syndrome is a superpower. Why it's so important to have people in your team who can offer a different lens to the world. The importance of family, doing your family proud and managing work life balance. The crucial role of coaching and mentoring in business. The critical importance of good mental health in a workforce and the initiatives he's put in place to support his employees at JCB. How JCB is helping women to enter manufacturing and to smash the glass ceiling. And finally, Craig's Uncommon Sense: Have a good virtual boardroom with many different lenses on the world. "Make sure you've got people in your boardroom from different factories, different environments, and different lenses on the world. Don't think that your business is the best, because there will always be somebody you can learn from... there'll be a process there that you can pick up from, and they can learn from you. This podcast episode is essential listening for any company leader. But in particular, we hope that Craig's story will inspire those at all levels of a business who have ambitions to become leaders in the future.

2. 

   15 Dec 2023

   10. The Sweet Spot: Leadership Lessons from the CEO of The Ice Cream Farm with Jonathan Fell

   Jonathan Fell, CEO of The Ice Cream Farm joins us for a fascinating conversation on Episode 10 of Uncommon Sense. The Ice Cream Farm (www.theicecreamfarm.co.uk) is a very well-known and successful family attraction in Tattenhall, just outside Chester, in the North West of England. But less well known is the story behind this unique family business, shared in honest detail in this episode by CEO and Owner, Jonathan Fell... From how the Fell family diversified to produce ice cream in the mid-80s, to building the Ice Cream Farm attraction - with £5m investment - and being listed in the Guinness Book of Records as home to the largest ice cream farm shop in the world. From being the most visited free to enter rural attraction in the UK, welcoming over 830,000 visitors in 2017, to overcoming the challenges of the pandemic as a hospitality and leisure business, and coming out the other side with a new business model and the world's first ever "drive-in" ice cream attraction. Above all, you'll hear the story of a business owner who had a vision to transform his traditional family business, and despite many challenges and setbacks, made it a thriving reality... This new episode of Uncommon Sense covers many areas of interest to business owners, including: The history of The Ice Cream Farm. How the Fell family spotted an opportunity and diversified their traditional farming business in the 1980's Why you should be cautious of building a business around one large contract Spotting an opportunity, testing the idea and then seizing the opportunity The importance of creating your own marketplace - why you should trust your instinct, build it, and they will come! Raising finance to build your vision - with the largest unsecured loan that NatWest have ever done in the northwest of England. Why naivety is a superpower for a CEO - why you should back yourself and not overthink every decision The importance of having the right management team to support your growth and ambitions and knowing when to hand over the reins Dealing with the significant challenge of a global pandemic as a leisure and hospitality business How to turn a negative into a positive - how Jonathan used the hardship of the pandemic to revisit the business model and to create new opportunities - like the world's first "Drive-In" Ice Cream parlour Changing your business model - even if it's uncomfortable and different to what you've always done The importance of deeply understanding your customers The challenge of taking over a family business and then leading the family business Why it's very hard to work on the business not 'in' the business when it's your name above the door Why you should surround yourself with people who can do the job better than you The critical importance of brand, culture, values and a shared purpose - despite the reservations of many SME business owners How the Ice Cream Farm's purpose became "To Inspire and Preserve Happiness" and how this is embodied in their staff and everything they do Why your purpose influences your business strategy and the way all your employees behave at work Why imposter syndrome isn't something you should necessarily 'overcome' as a leader Maintaining a work-life balance and the importance of delegating so that the business can run when you're not there. And finally Jonathan's Uncommon Sense: "Define your purpose, ensure it's authentic, and instil it throughout your organisation... as uncomfortable as it might be to go through, you don't have to go through a whole brand strategy workshop, just asking yourself the questions is really helpful." The Ice Cream Farm is a really fantastic day out for families. More information can be found on their website: https://www.theicecreamfarm.co.uk, or on Instagram @theicecreamfarm To find out about The Uncommon Practice and how we're revolutionising the provision of accounting and advisory services to SMEs, visit: https://theuncommonpractice.com/

3. 

   30 Oct 2023

   9. The Road Dez Travelled: A Remarkable Untold Story of Business Success Against the Odds with Dez Derry

   For the first time ever, Dez Derry, Founder, CEO, Serial Entrepreneur and Investor, shares his remarkable, inspiring and previously untold story of business success against all the odds... Dez Derry is a very successful businessman. He is the Founder and CEO of Blume (https://blumegroup.co.uk/) - one of the UK’s leading customer acquisition specialists in the legal services space - a serial entrepreneur, investor and executive member. Dez was a finalist in the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2023 and recently became co-founder and investor of the travel business Travel Seen. In a short space of time, Dez has taken Blume from a fledgling start-up to a fast-growing, £25m turnover business, with over 150 law firm clients and more than 100 employees. And in 2022, Dez led Blume through two rounds of PE funding - something truly unprecedented in the private equity space. It is a true success story, but it could all have been so different… For the first time in this podcast episode, Dez shares his remarkable personal story... From abuse, in and out of foster care, failing in school, facing discrimination, being adopted, and ultimately, to making the most of every opportunity he was given to change his life. It is a powerful, inspiring and moving story of determination, drive, graft, and resilience from someone who had a dream and was determined to do whatever it took to succeed - sprinkled with the kindness and belief of family and colleagues who gave him a chance. In this episode, Dez talks about: How he overcame his tough start in life through sheer drive and a determination to change his life for the better His advice for anyone who might be failing in school, like he did How he convinced key people to give him a shot, even though he didn't have the experience they wanted on paper How he made his family proud by being the first person ever in his family to have a company car and to wear a suit How he would do absolutely anything to make the most of every opportunity he was given - which separated him from the rest How an ongoing fear of failure and his unique life experience became his superpower and drove him to success How he overcame Imposter Syndrome The importance of selling and why he believes selling is a fundamental skill for every founder Why and how he pivoted his business when he realised it wouldn't scale and give him the success he desired Why founders have to take a risk and not be afraid to change their approach if something isn't working His experience with private equity and why he was right not to listen to those who warned him against it The importance of visualising where you want to be and how you're going to get there What makes a good leader Why he hires for attitude, not aptitude, and why his background means he's always willing to give people a chance The importance of coaching, mentoring and sharing challenges with likeminded leaders The key role that fitness and Muay Thai has played in his life Why leaders need to set the tone for everyone else to follow And finally Dez's Uncommon Sense: The importance of visualisation and why everyone should create a vision board to guide them towards their life goals. This episode should be required listening for every business leader, but particularly those who want to learn from someone who has been there and done it, when all the odds were stacked against him. More information about Blume can be found here: https://blumegroup.co.uk/ More information about Travel Seen can be found here: https://travelseen.co.uk/ To find out about The Uncommon Practice and how we're revolutionising the provision of accounting and advisory services to SMEs, visit: https://theuncommonpractice.com/

4. 

   23 Oct 2023

   Wrexham Business Edition: The Resurgence of Wrexham Business with Cllr. Nigel Williams

   Councillor Nigel Williams is Wrexham Council's Lead Member for Economy, and is our guest on this special 'Wrexham Business Edition' of Uncommon Sense. Recently Nigel visited The Uncommon Practice's HQ in Wrexham, so we grabbed the opportunity to chat to him about his plans for local businesses and to get his thoughts on the current business climate in Wrexham. This short mini-episode of Uncommon Sense is important viewing/listening for any local business, but especially those based in and around Wrexham. While times are undoubtedly tough for many businesses, in recent times, there has been a business resurgence in Wrexham, no doubt helped by the feel good factor created by Wrexham Football Club ("the Rob and Ryan effect") and Wrexham being awarded city status in 2022. In this mini 'Wrexham Business Edition' of Uncommon Sense, Cllr Nigel speaks to The Uncommon Practice about the resurgence in Wrexham business and also about: His priorities and goals for local Wrexham businesses The main challenges and issues facing Wrexham businesses in 2023 and how he will help businesses to overcome these challenges What he thinks separates the top businesses from the rest The local business success stories he sees when visiting businesses in the region The projects and developments in the pipeline that will support businesses and innovation in the Wrexham region How Nigel plans to bring Wrexham businesses together Finally, Councillor Nigel shares the 'Uncommon Sense' that he would give to local businesses to succeed in 2023 and beyond: There's no such thing as a silly idea! If you have a business idea, there are people and resources out there to help you explore it further. Just have a chat because you never know where it could end up. There are many small businesses that actually started from a bedroom and now they turn over millions. Nigel Williams can be found on Twitter @NigelSouthsea and can be contacted by email: Nigel.Williams@wrexham.gov.uk For more information about the Accounting and Advisory services offered by The Uncommon Practice and how we're revolutionising the world of professional services, visit: https://www.theuncommonpractice.com

5. 

   13 Oct 2023

   8. Leadership & Legacy: Lessons from an award-winning family business with Caroline Platt

   Caroline Platt, Managing Director at Platts Agriculture (https://www.plattsagriculture.co.uk/) and Director at the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) is our guest on Episode 8 of Uncommon Sense. In 2022, Platts Agriculture was named "UK Family Business of the Year". And this year, the multigenerational family business is celebrating its 50th Anniversary! Caroline is one of the region's - and UK's - foremost female leaders and is a champion for small businesses in her role as a Board Member of the FSB. This episode touches on many key aspects of business, and particularly the unique challenges of leading, growing, and diversifying a family business. In particular, the episode covers: The secret to Platts' 50 years of longevity, entrepreneurship and growth, and how it became an award winning business The critical role of your people The importance of workplace culture, values and behaviours in a small business Why every negative is a positive Recruiting based on core values and behaviours Why Caroline chooses to hire based on attitude, not aptitude How to manage people who are not displaying your values and behaviours How Platts gained a royal warrant from Queen Elizabeth II Involving your people in succession planning The challenges of running a family business and particularly, dealing with conflict How to spot an opportunity and go for it! Leaving a legacy and passing the leadership baton down to the next generation Why you need to constantly evolve and change your business model if necessary The challenges of being a female leader in a traditionally male business environment and how Caroline overcame those challenges Diversification and spotting opportunities, especially when times are tough The pressure of running a family business when it’s your name above the door Recognising your skills and the talents in your team and bringing the best out of your team The role of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) to help and support small businesses, and to provide a collective voice How Platts came through the pandemic more resilient and stronger than before and how small businesses can also get through challenging times Why it’s critical that Directors understand their finances and KPIs and track these regularly. Networking and why it’s much easier to do when you see it as simply “helping others” The importance of environment sustainability in business and Platts’ award-winning sustainability initiatives How Platts became an international exporter with the support of the Welsh Government and the Chamber of Commerce Recognising the importance of good mental health and wellbeing as a Director and an employer Managing your work-life balance and wellbeing as a busy CEO of a family business And finally Caroline’s Uncommon Sense: “Surround yourself with like-minded people, because you can't know everything, and bring the people in with the right skills as part of your team, either internally or externally, because you can't do everything as you grow and become more and more successful.” This is a fascinating and insightful conversation and is essential listening/viewing for any small business directors, particularly those running family businesses.

6. 

   29 Sept 2023

   7. The Power of Love: Rethinking Leadership with Debbie Edwards

   Debbie Edwards, a High Performance and Transformation Coach is our guest on Episode 7 of Uncommon Sense. This podcast episode is important listening for any business leader as it touches on fundamental aspects of business including well-being, retention, mindfulness, high performance and self-leadership. But it will also be uncomfortable for many listeners because you will be challenged to think differently. As Debbie admits on the podcast, people who hear her often admit that they don't know whether to love her or hate her... Tina Turner once said: "What's love got to do with it?" And it's a question that many businesspeople listening to this episode will probably ask themselves. But as you'll see, Debbie believes that deep self-love and self-compassion should be at the heart of high performance and 21st century leadership. We know that this will be an uncommon view in many businesses - but we're not afraid of giving our listeners and viewers a different perspective to take into their own businesses. As Debbie says herself: "Some of you will feel like you want to run for the hills... Oh no, not another woo woo coach talking about self-love." And we recognise that there will inevitably be some business owners and directors who will switch off and run for the hills! But there will also be a lot of people who are curious and will be interested to understand what is meant by self-love and the role it plays in business. In our impactful conversation, Debbie talks about: How perfectionism and burnout led her to realise the importance of self-love in her own life Why we need to change the blueprint of what a leader looks like The impact that self-love has on leaders and how it helps them to walk differently and move differently in their own organisations The difference between 'selfishness' and 'self-love' How self-love can significantly improve your resilience Why we need to be kinder to ourselves Why people are burning out in work as they're constantly giving everything away to other people How we can stop people from falling out of love with work Why we need to recognise that we all have lives outside of work Why people - particularly leaders - should be able to show up as their true selves at work Why it's time to unlearn the old ways of leadership, and to create a conscious awareness of what modern leadership needs to look like How enabling and embodying self-love as a leader can lead to a high performing culture in your business The significant benefits of self-love to businesses. Better negotiations and resilience are great examples. The number one question to ask yourself to start thinking about self-love Why deep self-love gives you the confidence to stand up for yourself and what you believe in. Why politics, comparison, competitiveness, and relentless drive need to be challenged in the workplace Why it's time to redefine what high performance, success and growth looks like in business Why self-love is particularly critical for women in business. Why it's time for us - and our employers - to recognise the natural transitions that we go through in life, especially motherhood and the menopause. And finally Debbie's Uncommon Sense: "Be curious. No matter what stage you're at, it's never too late to consider that you might be able to do this differently. It's never too late to change. Just be curious." To find out more about Debbie's work, you can take part in her free 45 minute masterclass for authentic, ambitious coaches, leaders and entrepreneurs. (https://debbieedwards-the-great-pause-sessions.lpages.co/the-new-self-love-playbook-free-masterclass/) Debbie has recently launch a new group programme, Love Pioneer. To find out more, you can connect with her on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_debbieedwards_/ (https://www.instagram.com/_debbieedwards_/) and on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbie-edwards-fdisruptors/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbie-edwards-fdisruptors/)

7. 

   8 Sept 2023

   6. From The Boardroom to The Boss: The Rise of the Young Apprentice with Alex Finn

   Alex Finn, Founder of Shiftworks and Eastgate Living and former contestant on BBC's 'The Apprentice' is our guest on Episode 6 of "Uncommon Sense". In this fascinating episode, Alex (dubbed "The Squirrel from The Wirral" by Sir Alan Sugar) who was one of the youngest ever contestants on "The Apprentice" shares some of the secrets of what really happens behind the scenes of the TV show and how he has become a successful entrepreneur since being fired ("With regret!") in 2018. Among the stories and advice shared on the podcast, Alex talks about: How he successfully auditioned to appear on "The Apprentice" What happens behind the scenes of the tasks and the boardroom, and what it was really like getting fired by Sir Alan Sugar The key role of selling if you want to be a successful entrepreneur The important business lessons he learned on The Apprentice and what he has taken into his career after the show Why naivety is a superpower for young entrepreneurs and startup founders How he struggled at school and why young people who are finding education tough should never give up - and might actually have more chance of success in business than those who are happy to conform Why it's critical to find a business you can scale How he was perfectly placed to understand his clients because his new business solved a problem he was facing himself His views on 'hybrid' working after the pandemic Why the key to success in business is to embrace failure Why you shouldn't always aim for perfection - just ship it! And finally, Alex's Uncommon Sense: JFDI! Stop procrastinating. Stop worrying. Stop making excuses. Just go out and mess up. Go out and make a massive error, and you'll learn something really important from it. Alex also talks about his business Shiftworks a business that offers Co-Working Space, Private Offices and Meeting Room Hire in the North-West of England, with plans to expand in the future. This episode is required listening for any young entrepreneur or any startup founder looking for inspiration as they set out on their journey. For more information about Shiftworks, visit: https://shift-works.co.uk/ To find out more about The Uncommon Practice and how we're revolutionising the provision of accountancy and consultancy to SME businesses, visit: https://theuncommonpractice.com/ And if you've enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to hear from more inspiring business leaders in future episodes. We've got some brilliant episodes recorded already which we'll be publishing in the next few weeks.

8. 

   3 Aug 2023

   5. Navigating Success: Leadership Lessons from a Travel CEO with Jennifer Atkinson

   Jennifer Atkinson, Co-Founder and Executive Chair of Travel Seen (https://www.travelseen.co.uk/), is our fantastic guest on Episode 5 of "Uncommon Sense". Jennifer is a very successful CEO and business leader, particularly well-known in the North of England for her time leading - and dramatically growing - the luxury travel business, ITC. Jennifer gained further national recognition after her appearances on the BBC series 'The Millionaires' Holiday Club'. But the story behind Jennifer's success - shared on this podcast in candid and honest detail - is pretty remarkable. Jennifer describes how, in 2009, aged 34, she approached the founder of ITC with a plan to save the struggling travel business with a business plan that she'd scribbled down on two sides of A4 paper. This plan would eventually take the travel company on a journey from loss-making to £100 million turnover in just a few years. Among the many leadership lessons and experiences shared on the podcast, Jennifer talks about: The importance of backing yourself and your decisions How courage and naivety can be a founder's superpower The opportunities and challenges of becoming a CEO from a marketing background How she dealt with burnout as a leader How Jennifer has succeeded, sometimes against the odds, as a woman in business Why it's not right that men are described as 'passionate' but women are 'emotional' The importance of workplace culture and building a team around you The challenges of maintaining a work-life balance as a leader and a mother The 'Confidence Gap' between men and women in business and how to overcome it Raising money through Private Equity: the good and the bad! How leaders of SMEs can get through the storm, like she did, when times are tough Why Human Experience is even more important than ever with the rise of AI, and how this has influenced her new business, Travel Seen Jennifer's 'Uncommon Sense' for business leaders: Why you should always trust yourself and your instincts. Jen also talks about her new venture, Travel Seen, which was launched in 2021 - "During a pandemic!" - as a 'mass luxury' travel agency, matching holidaymakers to destinations through social media influencer content. This episode is required listening for all business leaders and company founders - particularly those who want to learn from, and be inspired by, a woman who has travelled to the top in business, often against the odds. To discover Travel Seen for yourself, visit: https:// (https://www.travelseen.co.uk/)www.travelseen.co.uk/ or follow them on Instagram: https://instagram.com/travelseenofficial (https://instagram.com/travelseenofficial) To find out more about The Uncommon Practice and how we're revolutionising the provision of accountancy and consultancy to SMEs, visit: https://theuncommonpractice.com/ (https://theuncommonpractice.com/). And if you've enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to hear from more inspiring business leaders in future podcast episodes. We've got some brilliant names lined up!

9. 

   21 Jul 2023

   4. Marketplace Superheroes - A CEO's Origin Story with Stephen Somers

   Stephen Somers, CEO and Co-Founder of Marketplace Superheroes is our brilliant guest on Episode 4 of Uncommon Sense. Stephen's journey and experience as a CEO is required listening for every business owner and aspiring business leader, especially those working in eCommerce. Marketplace Superheroes is an 8-figure, online education and services business that has helped over 8,000 members based all over the world to sell hundreds of millions of dollars of products on Amazon to multiple countries. But as we all know, behind every great superhero is an epic origin story. In this podcast, Stephen shares his inspiring journey, and the lessons he learned on the way - from struggling musician, to warehouse apprentice, to successful business owner and CEO in only a few years. And as you'll also know, in every superhero origin story is a great mentor and Stephen's story is no exception. Stephen talks about the importance of mentorship and the key role his business partner, Robert Rickey, has played in his life and business journey and how they have jointly built an 8-figure global business. Among the other highlights of the podcast, Stephen talks about: Why it's critical to not just read about business success but to take action! The importance of mentorship and how to find a mentor Why it's critical to surround yourself with good people Why helping others is a superpower The myth of the 'single great idea' in business How people only learn when they want to change and when it means something to them Why your mission and vision should drive your business and your life What makes a good leader Why ideas are worthless if not matched by execution After listening to this episode, we've no doubt that you'll be inspired to take positive action in your business and in your life. You can find out more about Marketplace Superheroes on their website: https://home.marketplacesuperheroes.com/ and on their excellent YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@marketplacesuperheroes

10. 

    3 Jul 2023

    3. The Uncommon Accountant with Marlon Armstrong

    Marlon Armstrong, Director of The Uncommon Accountants is our guest on Episode 3 of the Uncommon Sense podcast. In 2021, Marlon Armstrong left his role as a Partner in a traditional accountancy firm with a mission to revolutionise the provision of accountancy services to clients. Marlon had become disillusioned with the way accountancy services were being offered to clients in the market - backwards-facing, dull, generic, reactive, not strategic, and focused entirely on compliance. So along with his business partner, Heather Cheetham, he founded a new accountancy firm: The Uncommon Accountants. In this episode, Marlon talks about his ambition to build a proactive, pragmatic, positive accountancy practice, with personality, where tech-savvy clients can get seamless advice across professional services boundaries. Marlon discusses his specialist work with ecommerce businesses, why businesses should embrace a 'continuous accounting' mindset, why it's ok for business owners to ask stupid questions and it's not a weakness to not know everything! To find out more about services offered by Marlon and The Uncommon Accountants, visit: https://theuncommonpractice.com/our-services/accountancy/ If you're an ecommerce business owner and you'd like to find out more about Marlon and his team's specialist ecommerce accountancy services, visit: https://theuncommonpractice.com/ecommerce-accountants/

11. 

    8 Jun 2023

    2. Becoming a Leader People Will Follow with Heather Cheetham

    In Episode 2 of Uncommon Sense, Heather Cheetham, nominee for Young Finance Director of the Year by Finance Awards Wales and Director of The Uncommon Accountants talks about how she has become a leader that people will follow at The Uncommon Practice. In this episode, Heather talks candidly about how she has overcome her 'Imposter Syndrome' as a new leader, how she has been able to grow a startup business while looking after a young family, the importance of real-time bookkeeping and cashflow to SME businesses, the 'Dangers' of email communication, and why she believes leadership is based on action - not age - and is something you do, not a job title. To find out more about the services offered by Heather and The Uncommon Accountants, visit: https://theuncommonpractice.com/our-services/accountancy/ Episode Chapters: 0:45 Behind the scenes 1:38 Introducing Heather Cheetham 5:54 Leading a Startup Business 7:52 Leading with a Family 12:21 The Dangers of Email Communication! 13:52 Dealing with Imposter Syndrome 17:10 Overcoming Imposter Syndrome 19:12 The Importance of Real-time Bookkeeping 22:13 Cashflow Forecasting 24:24 How your Brand Attracts Employees 28:23 Heather's Uncommon Sense: Leadership is based on your action, not your age

12. 

    21 Apr 2023

    1. Revolutionising Professional Services with Steve Harvey

    Welcome to the first ever episode of Uncommon Sense! A brand new podcast by The Uncommon Practice (www.theuncommonpractice.com). Our first episode features one of our Directors and Founder, Steve Harvey, who talks about his career, why he decided that SME businesses needed a revolutionary professional services firm like The Uncommon Practice, and how he helps his clients to grow and sell their businesses. To find out more about how Steve helps businesses to increase their value from day 1, visit: www.theuncommonpractice.com/our-services/consultancy/ (visit: www.theuncommonpractice.com/our-services/consultancy/) 0:00 Coming up on this episode 0:48 Behind the scenes 1:34 Welcome to Uncommon Sense! 3:05 Why professional services needed shaking up 6:13 What does 'Trusted Advisor' mean to you? 9:01 What makes you Uncommon? 10:45 The problem with the billable hour in professional services 12:03 What really makes you uncommon? 18:11 How do you increase the value of a client’s business from Day 1 23:30 Are Mission, Vision, Values and Behaviours just fluff? 27:33 How do you deal with Toxic Performers? 30:54 How do you win the game of Snakes and Ladders when selling your business? 33:35 Real world examples of Snakes and Ladders 35:40 Single Points of Failure in a business 36:53 Why SMEs should 'Build' even when times are tough 38:19 Steve’s Uncommon Sense...

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