Business Problems Solved Podcast

This week's Real Story comes from Stuart Boocock, the man who's guided many a young soul into the world of sport and fitness through coaching and junior football, and who's here to discuss why sport can be the key to instilling discipline while also providing a sense of fun, camaraderie and motivation. KEY TAKEAWAYS If children are interested in playing football, it's always best to get them started on that road as early as possible, Developing skills and talents can be begun before the age of ten years old and can give them an advantage later on down the road. Sport and training can act as a structure around which we can grow and develop. The central thesis of physical training is betterment, with each discipline adding to wellbeing, including that of self-awareness and mental growth. We are always learning - this is the key to mastery. When you seek out knowledge and development, and learn from mistakes, you become the best at your chosen pursuit. BEST MOMENTS 'No one in the world hands you anything. You have to go out and fight for it' 'Looking back, I didn't even know what a career was at that age' 'If your heart's set on it, then you'll always find a way to get what you want' 'You've got to keep going at it. You've got to keep learning' VALUABLE RESOURCES Business Problems Solved Podcast        ABOUT THE HOST For the last 15 years, I have been a multi-sector internal or external business improvement consultant, building the improved capability of individuals, teams and businesses. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my two young children Jack & India. I also enjoy listening to and reading business & personal development material. Lee Houghton is “THE Business Problem Solver”, a Management Consultant, CX Specialist and Keynote Speaker. CONTACT METHOD You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 Lee@leehoughton.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/lhoughton/

This week, the real story comes from Dave Scholes, the founder of Mindsight, and a man who has navigated a journey of grief, loss, and most importantly connection, in order to connect people and encourage healing conversations. Dave talks to Lee about the power you can find in connecting with others, and how his personal journey has made him into the person he is today. KEY TAKEAWAYS When we overcome challenge, we learn more about ourselves, but we also fortify our resilience and increase our solution toolbox. This can then be used to help others to overcome their own challenges. Listening is only part of what makes a connection. By talking, and relating our stories to others, we grant the agency required for them to offer their own stories. Connection is a simple concept but can be difficult to master. When we create new connections we must come from a genuine place of understanding. BEST MOMENTS 'I spent many years navigating a personal journey' 'If anybody came into my world and had something going on, I can point them in the direction of a potential solution' 'As soon as you start telling a story, it gives other people licence to tell theirs' 'Connection is key' VALUABLE RESOURCES Business Problems Solved Podcast        Dave Scholes LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/scholsey77/?originalSubdomain=uk Mindsight - https://selnet-uk.com/mindsight/ ABOUT THE HOST For the last 15 years, I have been a multi-sector internal or external business improvement consultant, building the improved capability of individuals, teams and businesses. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my two young children Jack & India. I also enjoy listening to and reading business & personal development material. Lee Houghton is “THE Business Problem Solver”, a Management Consultant, CX Specialist and Keynote Speaker. CONTACT METHOD You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 Lee@leehoughton.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/lhoughton/

Hailed as the first full-time female firefighter in the UK, Britain, Jo joined Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service in 1982 at just 17. With the world watching, she was determined never to be the weakest link. Using determination and inner strength to overcome prejudice, she proved that women could make great firefighters. Jo joins Lee this week to talk about her groundbreaking, empowering story, and what we can all learn about breaking barriers in order to achieve more and change the world for the better. KEY TAKEAWAYS Sometimes, when the things we want aren't available, we must look elsewhere for opportunities, even though these opportunities may sound wild at the time. When you start a job or new branch of your career, all we really want is not to stand out. Trailblazers like Jo stand out naturally, which increases the pressure immeasurably. When we stand out from the pack in obvious ways, the best thing to do is to set an example and get through the work, showing that we are capable, despite people's preconceptions. Belief in ourselves comes through proving to ourselves that we can be more than we think. Remove doubts and look ahead. BEST MOMENTS 'I didn't know what I was getting into, to be honest' 'I'm an independently-minded girl' 'I was wearing a man's outfit, which was a lovely look for a 17 year-old' 'I don't fear anything' VALUABLE RESOURCES Business Problems Solved Podcast        Jo Reynolds - https://www.josephine-reynolds.com Jo Reynolds Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SamuiJoReynolds/ https://www.facebook.com/FireWomanJo1 Jo Reynolds Twitter - https://twitter.com/FireWomanJo1 Jo Reynolds Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/fire_woman_josephine/ Jo Reynolds LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/atzeropercent/ Email - josephinereynolds815@gmail.com Unique design Rebel Slogan T's - https://firewoman.teemill.com/ Signed Author Copies of Fire Woman - https://fire-woman.sumup.link/ ABOUT THE HOST For the last 15 years, I have been a multi-sector internal or external business improvement consultant, building the improved capability of individuals, teams and businesses. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my two young children Jack & India. I also enjoy listening to and reading business & personal development material. Lee Houghton is “THE Business Problem Solver”, a Management Consultant, CX Specialist and Keynote Speaker. CONTACT METHOD You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 Lee@leehoughton.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/lhoughton/

Paul Dunlop is a lean consultant, dedicated to continuous improvement, whose career has taken him through many sectors and endowed him with a wealth of business experience. Paul talks to Lee today about the ways he has persistently looked for opportunities for growth, how to get the best out of people, and his personal definition of what lean really means. KEY TAKEAWAYS Learnings sometimes come through failure, but the lessons gained through doing so can end up being more valuable in the long run. Lean is fundamentally about people, and centres around engaging with, and providing growth and development for people. True servant leadership starts with respect for people, humility, and vulnerability. They are sometimes easier said than done, but it is always a journey of growth. BEST MOMENTS 'I've developed a passion for continuous improvement' 'Sometimes it's a bit of a now or never thing' 'Often there's layers that you have to break through to start the conversation' 'It's about hearts and minds. It's about fundamentally respecting people' VALUABLE RESOURCES Business Problems Solved Podcast        Dunlop Consultants - https://www.dunlopconsultants.com.au/about/about-paul ABOUT THE HOST For the last 15 years, I have been a multi-sector internal or external business improvement consultant, building the improved capability of individuals, teams and businesses. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my two young children Jack & India. I also enjoy listening to and reading business & personal development material. Lee Houghton is “THE Business Problem Solver”, a Management Consultant, CX Specialist and Keynote Speaker CONTACT METHOD You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 Lee@leehoughton.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/lhoughton/

Andy Henderson is the founder of Forward Thinking Ltd, and Your Affordable Board, helping business leaders to guide their teams to success. Andy joins Lee to talk about the importance of serving people and making a difference, what it takes to be a successful leader of people, and how by engaging with our workers we can create positive business impact. KEY TAKEAWAYS Being a boss is about more than just telling people what to do. We cannot hope to win the respect of people if we treat them as mere machines. Leading people is about inspiring people, and ourself. It is not enough for the leaders in a business to know about the direction being planned. We must effectively communicate it to everyone in order to align the vision across the board. Employee engagement feeds customer satisfaction, Customer satisfaction feeds the business itself. It all begins by inspiring our people. BEST MOMENTS 'I fight to be the opposite person that I used to be' 'Inside I felt hollow. A Void. It was a lack of community' 'Success is about slowing down but having a greater output' 'We need to create businesses that have meaning' VALUABLE RESOURCES Business Problems Solved Podcast        Forward Thinking Ltd - https://forwardthinking.ltd Andy Henderson LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/andyjhenderson/?originalSubdomain=uk ABOUT THE HOST For the last 15 years, I have been a multi-sector internal or external business improvement consultant, building the improved capability of individuals, teams and businesses. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my two young children Jack & India. I also enjoy listening to and reading business & personal development material. Lee Houghton is “THE Business Problem Solver”, a Management Consultant, CX Specialist and Keynote Speaker. CONTACT METHOD You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 Lee@leehoughton.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/lhoughton/

This week, the real value comes from the story of Lili Boyanova, about her incredible journey, in which she has found herself reinventing what life looks like, and finding time to add true value to the world at every opportunity. KEY TAKEAWAYS The story we build in life can take us on some unexpected diversions. When challenges arise, we overcome and begin a whole new direction. Life changes dramatically when we become parents. Finding the balance between personal and business life is suddenly very different. The people we meet add to the value we are able to create. They provide inspiration and support, and can greatly affect the direction we take. The pandemic has shown us that actually we can survive in the world with less than we thought. We are able to realistically question the need for "more" BEST MOMENTS 'I came to this country and decided to create value in the world' 'It got me to question how to face the stigma, and how I will cope with it' 'It was a big, big cultural shock' VALUABLE RESOURCES Business Problems Solved Podcast        Lili Boyanova LInkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/liliboyanova/?originalSubdomain=uk ABOUT THE HOST For the last 15 years, I have been a multi-sector internal or external business improvement consultant, building the improved capability of individuals, teams and businesses. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my two young children Jack & India. I also enjoy listening to and reading business & personal development material. Lee Houghton is “THE Business Problem Solver”, a Management Consultant, CX Specialist and Keynote Speaker. CONTACT METHOD You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 Lee@leehoughton.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/lhoughton/

This week, Lee talks to life coach, Gloria Milner, whose fascinating life began in advertising, where she built a reputation through her wisdom, acumen and ability to sell media spots on television. Since then, Gloria's journey has been a diverse one, and in this episode, she talks to Lee about the path that brought her to her true calling as a life coach. KEY TAKEAWAYS Gloria generation was one that had very different societal expectations of what women should be. Her determination to do better for herself was a driving factor in breaking the mold. Levelling the playing field in our minds is the art of remembering that people are people. No one is better than another person. Coaching and mentorship have not always been a resource. Today's world is extraordinarily lucky to be able to learn from the paths and lessons of others. BEST MOMENTS 'I was from a generation where women were expected to teach' 'There was a sense that I could so it, and I wanted to succeed where others had not' 'Women want to advance in their careers' 'There's a lot of opportunity to help people' VALUABLE RESOURCES Business Problems Solved Podcast        Gloria Milner LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/gloriamilnercoaching/ Gloria Milner - https://www.gloriamilner.com ABOUT THE HOST For the last 15 years, I have been a multi-sector internal or external business improvement consultant, building the improved capability of individuals, teams and businesses. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my two young children Jack & India. I also enjoy listening to and reading business & personal development material. Lee Houghton is “THE Business Problem Solver”, a Management Consultant, CX Specialist and Keynote Speaker. CONTACT METHOD You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 Lee@leehoughton.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/lhoughton/

This week, Lee talks to Herb Morrick, whose fascinating true life story has taken him from South Africa to South Wales, and which has seen him experience much that the twentieth century has had to offer. Herb talks about the power of choice, why culture and values shoud be at the forefront of every business, and how best to create trust. KEY TAKEAWAYS Building relationships and delivering on what we promise allows us to create trust and enrich life and business at every turn. When we put our core values at the forefront of business, we create trust and a sense of safety. Our clients become connected to our story. Different opinions and different skill sets are not necessarily a weakness when it comes to partnerships. Opposing perspectives and skills actually end up complimenting the other, and thereby strengthening us. BEST MOMENTS 'Life in my family has made me sensitive to how other people feel' 'We were four guys who absolutely believed in making a difference' 'Just remember that you're going to have differences' VALUABLE RESOURCES Business Problems Solved Podcast       ABOUT THE HOST For the last 15 years, I have been a multi-sector internal or external business improvement consultant, building the improved capability of individuals, teams and businesses. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my two young children Jack & India. I also enjoy listening to and reading business & personal development material. Lee Houghton is “THE Business Problem Solver”, a Management Consultant, CX Specialist and Keynote Speaker. CONTACT METHOD You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 Lee@leehoughton.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/lhoughton/

This week, Lee talks to business coach, Harry Armistead, about the ways in which he coaches others to achieve the mind-set that allows them to succeed in business, and how to dismantle the limiting beliefs that may be holding us back. KEY TAKEAWAYS If you don't start with adjusting the mindset, then nothing else matters. Mindset is the foundational key to success upon which all other factors are based. We cannot help who we are on the inside, and nor should we try to alter who we are in order to fit in. We cannot live life to suit others. If we apply ourselves to a task and are determined to see it through, then half the battle is won already. Most things can be overcome if we believe that they can be. BEST MOMENTS 'People want something more than mediocrity' 'It took me time to own it' 'There is a way forward. There is a plan. There needs to be a plan' VALUABLE RESOURCES Business Problems Solved Podcast       Harry Armistead LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/harryarmistead/?originalSubdomain=uk Harry Armistead - https://harryarmistead.com ABOUT THE HOST For the last 15 years, I have been a multi-sector internal or external business improvement consultant, building the improved capability of individuals, teams and businesses. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my two young children Jack & India. I also enjoy listening to and reading business & personal development material. Lee Houghton is “THE Business Problem Solver”, a Management Consultant, CX Specialist and Keynote Speaker. CONTACT METHOD You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 Lee@leehoughton.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/lhoughton/

In the fifth part of his new mini-series, focussing upon real people with real stories that give real value, Lee talks to Sally Chapman of Shine Coaching, about the journey she's taken through life so far, and how she helps people to rediscover the sparkle they thought may have been lost, and help them to shine at whatever they do. KEY TAKEAWAYS We all face challenges in life, and barriers and obstacles that bring us down. What matters is how we deal with them, and the direction we choose afterwards. We can transform any situation by maintaining a positive outlook and attitude. It can be the deciding factor in whether a challenge derails us or not. When we have clearly defined goals in business and life, it makes the pathway more easier to traverse. We must focus on the point ahead that we want to reach and keep moving forward BEST MOMENTS 'Something's going to happen to you, whether it's good or bad' 'I've always had a drive to do things, and do them to the best of my ability' 'There's got to be more...' VALUABLE RESOURCES Business Problems Solved Podcast       Sally Chapman LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sally-chapman-shine-coaching/?originalSubdomain=uk Shine Coaching - https://shinecoaching.org.uk/a-little-about-me   ABOUT THE HOST For the last 15 years, I have been a multi-sector internal or external business improvement consultant, building the improved capability of individuals, teams and businesses. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my two young children Jack & India. I also enjoy listening to and reading business & personal development material. Lee Houghton is “THE Business Problem Solver”, a Management Consultant, CX Specialist and Keynote Speaker. CONTACT METHOD You can contact Lee Houghton on 07813342194 Lee@leehoughton.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/lhoughton/