Hey Renegades, The podcast is back. You can watch it below. Or simply type 'The Well Fed Business' into your favourite podcast provider. We've gone back to uploading it to Youtube, not in an attempt to be influenzers, but because apparently many of you enjoy seeing our mugs. And considering you lot love us enough to buy from us we thought we'd bang it in 'ere too. Listen to this one if you often find yourself struggling for direction in business. It's a plague amongst business owners new, and rich. We reveal the one question you should ask yourself now, at the start of the year, before you drift endlessly into mediocrity -- or worse -- into a business, and life, you hate. You can watch it on youtube here.Or simply type 'The Well Fed Business' into your favourite podcast provider. Warmly, - Connor P.S. If you are brave enough, comment your answer to 'The Miracle Question' below. Or simply leave your thoughts. Or don't.

Luckily the @Evil Bald Genius is a Stoic so he's immune to the sycophancy - even with his tongue and cheek self-aggrandising remarks... 😉 Yet here I am about to add to the cacophony... I think the book is truly fantastic and here is why: I'm not in business - yet. Nor have I been in the business world for very long. I went from Dietitian to Commando to Private Banking and so the sum total of my experience in the business world is the 2 Years I've worked in Banking. Thus I'm drinking from the hypothetical fire hose of learning. Here are my major takeaways that I have and will take forward into my career and business: 1. Clients are everything - shite ones are to be avoided at all costs. Despite the almost insatiable urge to accept business of any kind - be absolutely ruthless with your client avatar - accept no substitutes. 2. On the note of clients, I've completely re-thought how I would see clients - you have more people than you can sell to - so you might as well sell to the top X% of people who can afford premium and who are going to be the best type of clients. The benefits of this compound - you need less clients, therefore you have more time to provide a quality service etc 3. You have to be the best in the business and know your craft for this to work - you can't charge premium if you're second rate. 4. You can apply the principles of Jon and Connors model into so many areas of life - I'm still in the rat race, but to test the theory, I done some BASIC - truly basic cold out reach to potential employers and its already yielded surprising fruit. That's before I've even considered things like - dropping off the book I'm writing (when its done), writing a beautifully written letter to a CRO or hiring manager. The list is almost endless when you get creative with it. I will never again look for jobs conventionally when or if I want to move. I also intend to use this in consulting when the time comes. 5. If you're not getting paid you don't have a business - equally its not a zero sum game. Why would you be embarrassed asking to be paid? Or being paid upfront? 6. In that vein - I now fully understanding the flat consulting fee when people want a consultation (as Jon says the cost is almost immaterial). People who are serious about getting their problems fixed have ZERO issues about paying a few quid for your time - even if its just to find out that you won't be a good fit. 7. No is powerful - you can test this even outside of your business its so interesting to see how people react. 8. Stoicism was made for sales - detachment from the outcome, steadfast in your virtues, stop bemoaning the storm and learn to sail the raging sea - the list goes on. 9. Socratic questioning is fantastic in more ways than just sales - but it is a bit of an art you can come across like you're cross examining someone or being disingenuous when you ask so many questions. However if you do it with genuine curiosity, it's powerful. I've been using this on networking calls - people can't wait to catch up with you again, because who doesn't love talking about themselves... 10. All of this is pointless if you can't be comfortable being uncomfortable and take action. I also need to re-read the book for it all to sink in.

Aaaand the EBG and Connor are back this week for the Well-Fed Business Podcast! So tell us... What topics do you want to hear over the coming weeks? What are your biggest challenges and questions keeping you awake at night?

I received a call from a prospect about four months ago. I requested he complete our online form in full and I would get back to him later in the day when I could give the topic my full attention. He filled out the form and we arranged a site visit - no charge on this one, five minutes from my door and I appreciated his compliance and manner to this point. I was asked to repair existing joinery on an existing structure, we set a time frame and agreed rules within 15mins of my arrival. Cost plus basis on an assumed two week duration. - Well the existing porch was a disaster and was not for purpose once I had managed to peel away the layers of attempted repairs. My client requested that I design, build and install an oak frame porch in its place, requested a guide price to avoid any blunders or unexpected bills and embarrassment on either side. At the same time he asked about other issues in the property and has requested my services in restoration works throughout the property on an ongoing basis. The images below have black temporary panels and in the spring they will be rendered with lime. I have been asked to assist in this as it will not only help my client but he knows it will help toward my ongoing studies and experience in heritage building works. I was given a list of projects within the property before he had even seen the design for the porch let alone installed it. Now it is installed and functioning in time to stop the rain coming in through his front door this winter, he chases me to send a bill and we are working a program the rest of his home. He and his wife are ideal clients, no nonsense, no bullshit, they know I am increasing rates again and they call to ask if there is anything else they can do to make my life easier including the use of their workshop, lifting equipment and even providing additional labour if required. This is an example of a project I am interested in doing with people I like, on terms that suit us both for a rate I am happy with.

This just hammered it’s way through my letter box like a precision round from distance! Blew a hole through it - I think I’m going to need a new door! 💨🔥 Looking forward to M82 Question section lighting up! 😏