Ideas Club

This week on Ideas Club, we’re joined by Sophie O’Brien, founder of Pollen, a recruitment platform that flips the hiring process on its head—putting people, purpose, and potential at the heart of every application.After experiencing the frustration of applying to hundreds of jobs without meaningful feedback, Sophie set out to fix what she saw as a broken system. Pollen now connects young talent with small businesses through fair, transparent, and values-driven recruitment methods—helping candidates discover roles where they truly belong, while giving employers confidence they’re hiring the right people.In this episode, Sophie talks about:What’s wrong with traditional recruitment—and how Pollen is changing itWhy employer brand and candidate experience matter more than everThe power of values, competencies, and chemistry in building great teamsLessons on leadership, fundraising, and growing a purpose-led companyLinks & Resources:Visit Pollen Careers to sign up as a job seeker or employer - pollencareers.co.ukWatch the Best Boss in Britain video - https://youtu.be/leaPm61pD7E?feature=sharedFollow Pollen on TikTok for career tips and updates - www.tiktok.com/@pollencareers

Jamie & David chat with Ed Vickers, the brains and brawn behind Sums (sumsclub.co.uk) and the original "Sock Man" from Jolly's! In this episode, Ed shares his eclectic career journey, from his early days building the socially conscious sock brand Jolly's to working with a brand agency and a real estate fund, and ultimately, his return to the world of entrepreneurship with Sums.Episode Highlights:The Wild West of Startup Life: Ed reflects on what drew him back to entrepreneurship after exploring different career paths, emphasizing the passion and unique feeling of bringing an idea to life.The Jolly's Story: Discover the origins of Jolly's, a sock brand with a mission to donate winter warming socks to shelters for every pair sold. Ed shares his early experiences with product development, finding joy in the customer's purchase, and the valuable lessons learned from embracing personality and taking risks in branding.The Brand Builder's Journey: Ed discusses his time at Multiple, a brand consultancy, where he learned from experts about the intersection of brand, culture, and growth, working with high-growth venture-backed businesses. He then shares insights from his experience at Kinrise, a real estate investment fund, and how he applied brand and storytelling to bring historic buildings back to life.The Birth of Sums: Hear the inspiring story behind Sums, Ed's new running sock brand. From his personal running journey and the desire to create the "Patagonia of running," to the challenges of developing high-performance, sustainable running socks.Community and Cause: Ed elaborates on Sums' unique give-back system, integrating customer running data through Strava to contribute to a communal pot for running charities. He explains how Sums aims to help runners help runners, focusing on the collective spirit of the running community.The Power of Subculture: Ed discusses the importance of building a brand rooted in a specific subculture, drawing parallels with Patagonia and Apple's early days. He shares how Sums is connecting with elite trail runners and everyday enthusiasts alike.The Offline Magic: Ed highlights the importance of offline, analog experiences in the running world, despite Sums being a D2C online business. He shares recent examples of pop-ups and running events where the brand fosters genuine connections with customers.Brand Building Wisdom: Ed offers valuable insights into building great brands, emphasizing the need for bravery, conviction, and focus, and the risks of being bland. He also shares advice on selecting and working with agencies for rebrands, stressing the importance of trust and allowing creative freedom.The Future of Sums: Ed gives a glimpse into the future of Sums, including product diversification beyond socks and the dream of building a wicked in-house culture.Inspiring Brands: Ed shares a brand that inspires him, Peak Divide, highlighting their authenticity and genuine love for running culture and community.Connect with Ed Vickers and Sums:Sums Website: sumsclub.co.ukEd on LinkedInMaverick Race: https://www.maverick-race.com/Peak Divide: https://www.peakdivide.com/Ideas Club NewsletterSign up to the ideas club newsletter every two weeks for ideas and a dose of creative inspiration - https://good.space/ideas-club

Will James, a leadership and team coach passionate about unlocking creativity in individuals, shares insights on coaching's transformative power. He discusses the shift from traditional management to a coaching-focused approach, emphasizing the importance of autonomy, mastery, and purpose for motivation. Will introduces his coaching model, highlighting the value of asking insightful questions to foster deeper understanding. The conversation also touches on overcoming limiting beliefs and building trust to cultivate creativity and ownership within teams.

In this episode, David and Jamie explore the often-dreaded world of meetings, asking the critical question: "Could this meeting have been an email?" Provoked by Elon Musk's perspective on meeting efficiency, your hosts delve into why so many meetings are unproductive and how to transform them into valuable, energizing sessions.Discover our meeting rhythms and cadences, designed for our own indie creative business. We break down our weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual meeting structures, including:Snippets (Not a Meeting!): How a Slack channel can replace your Monday morning huddle and clarify thinking.Level 10s: An in-depth look at this powerful, action-oriented meeting framework from the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), designed to achieve 10/10 productivity. Learn why time limits and clear agendas are game-changers.Friday Huddle: The cultural cornerstone of the week, focusing on team connection, learning, and mutual encouragement.Monthly Commercial Review: Essential for staying on top of key performance indicators.Zoom Out Sessions: One-on-one meetings focused on team member coaching, professional development (including unique "learning" and "risk" goals), and fostering psychological safety.Quarterly Rocks Meeting: Setting the 90-day trajectory with "big rocks" that move the needle, and introducing the concept of a quarterly theme (like "Expose Yourself!").Annual Goal Setting & Reviews: High-level strategy and personal development discussions.We share our evolving blueprint for effective communication in a hybrid work environment, offering tangible takeaways and inviting listeners to share their own meeting strategies.Links & Resources:Learn more about Good Space: good.spaceSign up for the Ideas Club newsletter: good.space/ideas-clubBook: Traction by Gino WickmanBook: Unreasonable Hospitality by Will GuidaraNotion article on Level 10 Meetings: https://www.notion.com/blog/level-10-meeting-why-should-startups-use-itGood Space Level 10 Meeting Template: Level 10 Meeting AgendaLet us know in the comments: What are your meeting best practices? How do you keep your hybrid or remote team connected and productive?

David and Jamie reflect on their experiences with closing two venues, discussing the lessons learned from failure, the importance of strategy, community dynamics, and the challenges of product market fit. They emphasise the need for genuine connections within teams and the significance of aligning business strategies with operational realities. The discussion serves as a therapeutic exploration of their journey, highlighting the value of learning through adversity and the importance of maintaining brand integrity.Chapters00:00 Introduction and Context05:57 Strategic Reflections11:51 Community and Team Dynamics18:00 The Importance of Brand Integrity23:48 The Role of Optimism and Realism

SummaryIn this conversation, David Brown and Jamie discuss the significance of values in business, emphasizing that the core of any organization should be its values rather than just its products or services. They explore how shared values among team members can energize the workplace, guide decision-making, and shape the company's identity. The discussion also covers the importance of hiring individuals who align with these values and how to create a culture that reflects them authentically. Through personal anecdotes and insights, they illustrate the transformative power of values in building a successful and meaningful organisation.TakeawaysThe most important aspect of a business is the shared values of the team.Values should come before mission and strategy in a company.Authenticity in business stems from aligning actions with core values.Hiring should focus on cultural fit and alignment with values.Values can energise a team and guide decision-making processes.It's essential to define and codify values that resonate with the team.Feedback becomes clearer when values are well-defined.Saying no to misaligned opportunities can lead to more powerful yeses.Values should be genuinely reflective of the team, not just the founder's vision.Intentionality in defining values can lead to a more authentic business strategy.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Values in Business02:49 The Importance of Team Values05:58 Identifying Authentic Values09:07 Hiring for Cultural Fit12:12 Building a Values-Driven Organization15:11 Aligning Activities with Values18:14 The Process of Defining Values20:46 Making Decisions Based on Values23:59 The Role of Values in Business Strategy26:54 Conclusion: Living Your ValuesJamie's 'Paperclips' article:https://www.linkedin.com/posts/jamiedundas_teamswin-activity-7297207121744416768-wsfn?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAATdDpABYdW1FdrdDz5-BF-1gTOfIsRj07Q

Overcoming Creative Fear and Embracing ImperfectionIn this episode of the podcast, David and Jamie discuss the challenges of creative work, including the fears of exposure, self-promotion, and criticism. They share personal experiences and practical strategies for overcoming these obstacles, such as developing consistent creative habits and embracing imperfections. The conversation also highlights the importance of building a supportive community and the role of creativity as a muscle that needs regular exercise. Special segments include references to insights from Seth Godin, anecdotal experiences from Tolkien's creative process, and a focus on the value of shipping work consistently. Additionally, they introduce a tool created by their team to help track daily creative activities.00:00 Introduction and Setting the Mood00:26 Welcome to the Podcast00:53 Introducing GoodSpace01:44 The Fear of Shipping Creative Work04:51 Identifying Personal Barriers05:56 Overcoming Criticism and Self-Doubt11:04 The Importance of Consistent Practice16:48 Finding Your Voice Through Quantity19:01 Uncovering the Gold: Embracing Imperfection21:19 The Power of Creative Buddies23:03 Tolkien's Creative Journey and the Inklings26:18 Confidence Through Consistency29:07 The Importance of Self-Promotion34:25 Encouraging Creativity and Daily Goals37:27 Wrapping Up and Looking ForwardConsistency CalendarGood Space operates neighbourhood work clubs. They’re designed to help you escape the distractions of wfh and focus on doing your best ever work. Open 24/7 and fueled by delicious coffee.See more here: good.spaceSubscribe to Ideas Club newsletter: https://good.space/ideas-club