The Happy Entrepreneur

Whether it's problem-solving an issue, coming up with a new product, or making a mark on the world, our personal vision of success often needs new ideas. But what if you’re stuck in a rut?What if the usual ways of “shaking the snow globe” just won’t cut it any more?What if the way forward isn't the state of our business plan but the state of our consciousness?On this episode, Carlos and Laurence welcome Dr David Luke, Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Greenwich, for an enlightening conversation.He’s published over 100 academic papers, including ten books, and is also a co-founder and director of Breaking Convention: International Conference on Psychedelic Consciousness. His research includes altered states of consciousness, especially via psychedelics.Why? Because there’s an ever-increasing body of renewed research into the use of these substances to help nudge our brains out of our habitual thinking patterns.But you don't need to take drugs to access the states of mind they trigger.You can feel more creative, less inhibited, and more connected to yourself, others, and the natural world.You just need to know how your mind truly works.Discover how altered states can:Disrupt habitual thought patterns to spark innovative ideasIncrease neuroplasticity and open the door to personal growthFoster a deeper connection to yourself, others, and the natural worldLinksJoin the conversation liveBecome a member of the Happy Startup SchoolJoin the next Vision 20/20 cohort

Forget thinking about business in terms of B2B or B2C – It’s time to think H2H; human to human.As much as lawyers and accountants will tell you that businesses are independent legal entities, in the end, they’re a bunch of humans working together for some reason or other.Too many solopreneurs and founders hide behind the idea of being a “big business” when in fact they are human beings wanting to serve others.They forget that people want to connect with other people, and that connection can help them sustain their businesses financially and energetically.Human beings are hardwired to connect but we have too many barriers between us including screens, cultural biases, and our own limiting beliefs.In order to work well, we need to learn how to connect more.At the Happy Startup School, we believe in building a community around your business. But to build community you also need to build connections. And you can’t really connect with others when you can’t connect to yourself. It’s a journey from the inside out.In his book, The Connection Playbook: A Practical Guide to Building Deep, Meaningful, Harmonious Relationships, Andy Chaleff invites us to investigate how we think about connection and to work on ourselves as well as our relationships. He asks us to foster more empathy, compassion and non-attachment in order to deepen our connection with others.The more we’re able to stand on our own and not depend on others, the more we’re able to connect and be in deep relationships with them.It seems paradoxical, but by not holding tightly onto outcomes and content, and focusing more on being present and the process of connection, we’re more likely to bond with those before us, be they friends, family, romantic partners, or customers.Listen to this episode if you’re curious about feeling more connection in your life and building a business that gives you a deeper sense of meaning through a deeper connection with those you serve.LinksJoin the conversation liveBecome a member of the Happy Startup SchoolJoin the next Vision 20/20 cohort

In a world that wants to keep hustling and believing that “bigger is better”, we’ve always had a different measure of success.For Laurence and Carlos, it’s about forging deep friendships and relationships, getting out in nature, making things that give people delight, and making sure that those you love get more of you.To do this can mean simplifying our lives. It can mean focusing on what matters and recognising that there’s another way to be in the world - and in the business world.The Happy Startup way of thinking has been influenced by Small is Beautiful by the economist and environmentalist EF Schumacher. But they’re not the first to be influenced by this classic text.In 1991 Satish Kumar, a former Jain monk and activist, launched the ground-breaking Schumacher College near Totnes with a short course on Gaia Theory led by James Lovelock. In this episode, Laurence and Carlos talk with him about getting off the treadmill of endless competition and consumption, as discussed in his book Elegant Simplicity.They explore what it means to prioritise happiness, social equity, and a desire to tread lightly on the earth. Hear why we “need to go wild” and reconnect with our souls, the soil, and our society in a less complicated, less wasteful, way. Find out what it means to “live like a poet” and find purpose through relationships, contribution, and connection to the environment around us.LinksJoin the conversation liveBecome a member of the Happy Startup SchoolJoin the next Vision 20/20 cohort

On our previous episode, Laurence and Carlos spoke with John Parkin about big ideas: what they are; where they come from and how to spot them. He shared how big ideas can create real impact with minimum effort.The idea itself does the heavy lifting. However, what happens when you’re still searching for your big idea. How do you commit to action when it’s not clear?Say hello to our new friend – the minimum loveable big idea. "Big enough to create impact, small enough to try, authentic enough to be loved." It's an idea that aligns with your hopes, dreams and intentions. It sparks curiosity and excitement, and ideally one that you're willing to commit even though it isn’t 100% clear. The feeling is strong even if the plan is patchy.Maybe you have a minimum lovable big idea waiting to be birthed? One that has the potential to make a difference, but personal enough to be close to your heart.Each guest for this episode has a story to tell about their own minimum loveable big ideas:Erin McCormack from Boston, USA – The school for inspiring leadersMatthieu Dardaillon from France – Effortless entrepreneurshipKatherine Horsham from the UK – Adventures in nature for womenBeth Derry from the UK – Teenage self-harmLinksJoin the next Vision 20/20 cohortJoin the conversation liveBecome a member of the Happy Startup School

John Parkin knows a good idea when he sees one. As a formed Creative Director of one of the most innovative and exciting advertising agencies of the 1990s, he knows a thing or two about coming up with ideas. He's helped create big ideas for big brands, and he's also had one big idea of his own that has transformed his world.His big idea? F**k It. It led to John leaving his job, Him and his wife Gaia running countless F**k It retreats, and more than 1 million books sold.The happy startup is Carlos and Laurence’s big idea. 10 years ago many people didn't get it or thought they were weird. But people remember it, and all around the world it seems to make sense.They’ve had people run various happy startup meetups in North and South America, Australia and New Zealand, the middle east and all over Europe.If you haven't yet hit on your big idea, this episode with John explores the power of a big idea, How you can spot one, and how to have one of your own.LinksJoin the conversation liveBecome a member of the Happy Startup SchoolJoin the next Vision 20/20 cohort

When Laurence started out in business, he was a company of one. For 5 years he found his own clients, did sales and marketing, managed his finances. It didn’t even occur to him to ask for help.Then one day he realised it wasn’t much fun anymore, and he could only go so far with his own skillset.Thankfully a project came in that meant he had to ask for help if he was to take it on. He could either stay solo and play it small, or start thinking bigger. As luck would have it, Carlos was looking for new opportunities having landed in the same industry not long before.The rest is history.The challenge is not everyone has the fortune to find a business partner where things click so easily. Most of the people in the Happy Startup School community are companies of one, sole founders, solopreneurs, AKA lone wolves.When you don't have a cofounder or no longer have colleagues, a community is your lifeline to connection, which is why in this episode, Carlos and Laurence explore how to find deep, lasting connections when you no longer work for a company (or have one of your own).Long-time friends and facilitators Line Morkbak and Andrea Strohmayr share how to build nourishing, long lasting relationships in business. Line and Andrea have known each other for years. They are not business partners, yet help each other with their businesses. They are not colleagues, yet sometimes collaborate on projects. They met through business circles but yet help each other out with personal challenges.The trouble is we don't yet have a vocabulary for these kind of relationships. Accountability buddies? Business friends? Colleagues?What is clear is this is a conversation that needs to happen more openly. We see these relationships happen in the cohorts brought together on Vision 20/20 and more widely in the online community and from our events. However Line and Andrea are curious about how these relationships can blossom when no-one else is facilitating that connection as part of a committed course or event.They share more about how their relationship came to evolve, give examples of the importance of these colleagueships, and dive into how we get to this level of comfort, vulnerability and trust with one another, where the commitment isn’t transactional, but rather grows out of curiosity, chemistry, and a genuine interest in one another.LinksJoin the conversation liveBecome a member of the Happy Startup SchoolJoin the next Vision 20/20 cohort

Vanessa Bell discusses the importance of authenticity and belonging in the workplace. By embracing self and celebrating differences, we can create a sense of community. Inclusivity and empathy are key to fostering genuine connections for success in business.

Our previous episode covered the theory along with Laurence, Carlos and Lana’s own stories of change, both small and large. On this episode, we invite some of our now 120-strong Vision 20/20 alumni – aka the Vision Tribe – to share their stories.These 3 amazing humans have been living their excite strategy by working out loud. Others have connected with their story, and helped them to reach their own goals.Ray Martin is an author, coach and explorer who just just published a book – Life Without a Tie – about this 13 year (yes thirteen) adventure around the worldBeccie D'Cunha is the founder of Courage Lab, a mediator and coach who launched her Courageous Leaders group coaching program after graduating from the programSerena Savini is a beautiful soul who has turned adversity (a life changing illness) into her superpower, creating I'm Back: a podcast and community of people that have also experienced challenges going back to work after such an experienceLinksJoin the conversation liveBecome a member of the Happy Startup SchoolJoin the next Vision 20/20 cohort

The master storyteller. One of the most valuable things we’ve learned from him is about stories of change and how stories can motivate our own action and mobilise others.Story of Self, Story of Us, Story of Now.This approach to stories is a way to activate change in the world that is aligned to who we (entrepreneurial changemakers) are and what we need.In the world of business we can spend too much time and energy talking about what we do and how we do it, and don’t give enough thought to who we really want to serve and why it’s important to us.Crafting great stories helps us refocus on what matters. And it's always best done in community.By telling our stories and hearing the stories of others we gently discover our place in this world and create connections with people who can support us.Powerful stories, well told, define purpose, inspire possibility and nurture deep relationships. They invite people to imagine and to contribute, and they offer a sense of belonging to a bigger narrative of change.What story are you telling yourself, and what story will you be telling the world? And how will these stories benefit your work... and your life?On this episode, Laurence and Carlos are joined by Lana Jelenjev, to share their Story of Change Canvas. It's a tool they’ve developed for their Vision 20/20 programme to help participants get more clarity and confidence about the directions they're embarking on.Hopefully it will inspire you to bring more storytelling into your life so that you can connect more with yourself, with others and with the purpose you've been in search of.LinksDownload the Story of Change CanvasJoin the conversation liveBecome a member of the Happy Startup SchoolJoin the next Vision 20/20 cohort

Discussing the importance of creative destruction in innovation, the speakers share their journey of ending one venture to focus on another. They reflect on personal transformation, embracing new beginnings, and the challenges of transitioning to a new business model. The podcast explores the mindset shift needed for self-employment, simplification, and the value of a supportive community in motivating change.