Send us a text Hello, and welcome back to the Bulletproof Entrepreneur podcast, the first of 2024. We’ve got something special for you to kick off the New Year! ‘Bitconned” is currently one of the top shows streaming on Netflix around the world is and it features my guest Ray Trapani. It tells the story of 3 young hustlers who get caught up in the murky world of crypto investing and ultimately create a criminal enterprise and make millions. There are so many twists and turns, and if it were a fi...
Jan 11, 2024•1 hr 15 min•Season 3Ep. 10
Send us a text Most business owners that I know aren't entirely focused on making money or on the financial rewards, but nevertheless, creating economic security for you and your family is a vital part of why you started your business in the first place. So whether you sell your business in the future or simply use it as a vehicle to build your personal wealth, having some deep insight into the world of money and financial success can never be underestimated. So, I couldn't think of anyone bette...
Dec 14, 2023•1 hr 31 min•Season 3Ep. 9
Send us a text I was in Cape Town a couple of months ago, speaking at a conference, and I was in the audience to witness one of the best keynote speeches I’ve ever seen, certainly the best keynote on the subject of entrepreneurship. The speaker was Bruce Whitfield, who is a big-name broadcaster in South Africa, hosts his own daily business show and is a writer, journalist, podcaster, and incredible storyteller. During his career, he’s met with, interviewed, and spent time with some of the best b...
Nov 30, 2023•1 hr 4 min•Season 3Ep. 8
Send us a text In my ‘day job’, when I speak with entrepreneurs and ask them what their single biggest financial concern is once they sold their business and received a capital sum, the answer is often ‘I don't want to lose it - I don’t want to mess this up!’ So I started this podcast as a resource for founders and business owners - those who’ve taken the leap, created a business and are now in the process of growing it or possibly already sold and exited. Anyone who’s started a business knows h...
Nov 16, 2023•1 hr 5 min•Season 3Ep. 7
Send us a text Since I began the podcast as a resource for business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs, I’ve aimed for a blend of real-life conversations with founders and owners as well as practical ideas and insights from the people who can help and support entrepreneurs, such as lawyers, accountants, wealth advisors, and bankers. But my favourite episodes are the entrepreneur stories. The real-life experiences of those who had a spark of an idea and began working on it to create something, to ...
Nov 02, 2023•1 hr 17 min•Season 3Ep. 6
Send us a text Have you ever had an idea for a business but thought there were too many challenges and barriers to getting started? Whether it's access to funding or more importantly, access to good quality business advice and mentoring, Or maybe you've been in business for a year or two and you’re facing some headwinds- the economy is challenging, getting access to capital is harder than ever, and finding reliable sources of high-quality impartial advice is difficult. Or it could even be that y...
Oct 19, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Season 3Ep. 5
Send us a text Lee Robertson is a serial entrepreneur, having founded no less than 3 companies to date. One didn’t work out and is no longer around; one became a huge success, and he sold it to his colleagues in a management buyout; and the third one is currently thriving and keeping him busy. Lee, who came from humble beginnings and spent his early career in the Royal Navy, entered the financial services industry as a direct salesman in his twenties. In the days before Google, he made cold call...
Oct 12, 2023•1 hr 14 min•Season 3Ep. 4
Send us a text Gurinder is the founder and CEO of Otto Car, the company that provides cars and finance to most Uber drivers in London. Currently, over 5,000 vehicles on the road are provided through the services of Otto. In the few years since the business was founded and they were operating out of offices in shipping containers in a West London car park, they’ve hit £50 million in annual revenue and are growing faster than ever - and they've done it all without having to give up any equity or s...
Oct 05, 2023•1 hr 29 min•Season 3Ep. 3
Send us a text This episode is a first. After 35 episodes of the Bulletproof Entrepreneur podcast, I thought it was time we explored the dynamics where a husband and wife set up in business and have to manage two different relationships - the business partners working together and the life partners raising a family and having a quality home life away from the business. Richard and Sonia Dixon met when they were young and started working together at a small travel agent in a less salubrious part ...
Sep 28, 2023•1 hr 18 min•Season 3Ep. 2
Send us a text Roheel Ahmad is the co-founder of Forsythe Barnes, a recruitment company, but not just any recruitment company. The business has been listed on the FT250 Fastest Growing Business list for three years running. In under 8 years, it’s grown from zero to almost £100m in revenue, has a team of 80 and has recently opened an office in New York with plans for LA and Dubai. And they’re just getting started. During the conversation, Roheel shared the 7 key ingredients that make up the secre...
Sep 21, 2023•1 hr 14 min•Season 3Ep. 1
Send us a text This is a special episode as it’s the last episode of Season 2 and so we’ve put together a compilation of the greatest hits covering some of the key ideas, insights, and themes that have emerged from the conversations I’ve had so far. This podcast is produced by GR Media Sponsored by Capital Asset Management...
Jul 13, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Season 2Ep. 16
Send us a text You probably know Piers Linney from the TV show Dragon’s Den, where he appeared for two seasons, giving advice and investing his own money in startup companies. Something of a reluctant celebrity, he left the Den and has gone on to start several other businesses in technology, media, and communications, including his latest venture, Implement AI. During our conversation, he explained The importance of storytelling when pitching your business to raise finance, find investors, or ju...
Jun 29, 2023•1 hr 23 min•Season 2Ep. 15
Send us a text Bob has enjoyed 100% launch success returning over $1 billion to his investors. He’s founded six companies, sold four and is still running two. He’s grown two startups to $100m and $156m in sales in 5 years and 3 years respectively. During our conversation, Bob explains The vital importance of having a crystal clear vision for your company and what the 11 elements of a successful vision are that comprise what he calls his Vision Pie. The main reasons that startups fail (the most i...
Jun 15, 2023•1 hr 22 min•Season 2Ep. 14
Send us a text Ian is an entrepreneur who built and, after 7 years, sold a highly successful marketing agency for £23 million. In this episode, he shares the lessons learned on his journey so far. Ian had a postcard on the wall beside his desk at his first job with 2 words on it - “ Question Everything” - and he’s lived his life by that mantra ever since. A deep thinking entrepreneur who has always challenged conventional thinking, and so I let the tape run as he was sharing so much wisdom. You’...
Jun 01, 2023•1 hr 32 min•Season 2Ep. 13
Send us a text My conversation this time is a little different and rather intriguing. Ruth Sturkey spent her career advising entrepreneurs and executives about their big life transitions, such as selling their businesses and retiring. And then was faced with planning her own business sale and retirement - or at least the next chapter of her life. By her admission, and despite having advised clients for years, she admits she felt somewhat unprepared and is now happy to share her experiences so th...
May 18, 2023•1 hr 11 min•Season 2Ep. 12
Send us a text Unless you’ve been living in a cave for the last year, you’ll be all too aware of something called artificial intelligence. AI’s not new, it’s been around for years, and you've probably been using applications like Alexa and Siri to tell you what the weather’s like, turn on your music, or even order a pizza. But all of a sudden, the speed of innovation seems to have changed, and it's become a lot more serious and relevant to business owners. I first heard of an application called ...
May 11, 2023•42 min•Season 2Ep. 11
Send us a text Today's guest is Jeremy Tobias Tarsh who is one of the original inspirations behind my launching this podcast. Jeremy is happy to share that he’s been a client of our firm for many years and it was during one of our many deep-dive conversations about the complex challenges faced by him and other entrepreneurs that I thought I should launch something. I told him that I would have loved to have recorded the long chats we had so others could benefit from his unique experiences. Well,...
May 04, 2023•1 hr 25 min•Season 2Ep. 10
Send us a text Jodie and Jenny are cofounders of a hugely successful agency called The Marketing Pod, and 11 years ago they decided to tread that well-known entrepreneurial path, took a big risk and walked away from a comfortable corporate life to start their business. Why? Because, as is often the case, they were frustrated that what they were looking for didn't exist, and they knew there was a demand. They also wanted to create something that was more in line with their own lifestyles and that...
Apr 20, 2023•1 hr 8 min•Season 2Ep. 9
Send us a text To celebrate the landmark 25th episode of the podcast, I was delighted to be able to speak with the Co-Founder and CEO of BrewDog, James Watt. BrewDog is valued at over $1,500,000,000 and is one of the UK’s leading Unicorn companies... However, it’s been far from a smooth ride. Having decided that a career as a lawyer ‘in a cheap suit doing glorified admin’ wasn't for him, he spent several years working on a North Atlantic fishing boat and that’s where a lot of his business resili...
Apr 06, 2023•56 min•Season 2Ep. 8
Send us a text Henry is the co-founder of the fast-food restaurant chain Leon with the unforgettable strapline ‘If God did fast food..’ From humble beginnings, with one small shop in Carnaby Street in London to a national and international brand which eventually sold for a reported £100 million Henry is undoubtedly a bulletproof entrepreneur. During our conversation, he explained: How they came up with the memorable name Leon and the vital importance of getting your business name right from the ...
Mar 23, 2023•1 hr 6 min•Season 2Ep. 7
Send us a text One of the original ideas behind the podcast was to create a repository of essential insights, experiences, and information. A knowledge hub that you can dip in and out of whenever you needed to be reminded of key issues throughout your business journey. One thing is certain and that is that you’ll need to work with a lawyer at some point, and judging from conversations I’ve had with previous guests, understanding the role of a corporate lawyer, and finding a good one is a vital p...
Mar 10, 2023•1 hr 40 min•Season 2Ep. 6
Send us a text I’ve been following an anonymous account on Twitter for some time, and I’ve really enjoyed a lot of the content and thoughts shared on some of my favourite topics such as entrepreneurship, mergers & acquisitions, and intelligent investing. The Twitter handle is an anonymous one - The Secret Accountant, but I can now officially reveal the identity of this mysterious business expert as being none other than Mr Craig Richardson. There’s a good reason for the nom de plume which he...
Feb 23, 2023•1 hr 16 min•Season 2Ep. 5
Send us a text You've heard of a ‘horse whisperer’, perhaps a ‘dog whisperer’, but you’ve probably never heard of a ‘seller whisperer’ - but that’s exactly what Denise has become known as. With a background as a mental health professional turned lawyer who went on to build her own legal practice, she then sold her business. Rather unsuccessfully, in her own words. During this time, she learned a lot of lessons and has now carved out a role as a specialist adviser, coach, consultant, speaker, and...
Feb 09, 2023•1 hr 12 min•Season 2Ep. 4
Send us a text Alan Smith www.capital.co.uk www.bulletproofentrepreneur.net https://www.linkedin.com/in/alancapital Twitter @alanjlsmith This podcast is produced by GR Media Sponsored by Capital Asset Management...
Jan 26, 2023•9 min
Send us a text As we kick off Season 2 of the podcast, I’m taking the opportunity to share a little of my own journey, both personal and professional. For most of us, our childhood experiences shape our thoughts and actions as we get older and I’m no exception. A happy childhood in Scotland was interrupted by some personal and family challenges that have been influential on me and the decisions I’ve taken. A very average student who dropped out of college attracted to the bright lights and big c...
Jan 26, 2023•33 min•Season 2Ep. 1
Send us a text Robin is a journalist at the Financial Times and is the editor of the popular column Alphaville. He’s also the author of a fabulous new book called Trillions. As a business owner, one thing is certain - you’re going to leave your business one day. Whether that’s through a sale of the company or through retirement and you’re going to need to know how to best invest your capital to provide for your family’s long-term future. This conversation with Robin will provide you with clear d...
Jan 26, 2023•1 hr 8 min•Season 2Ep. 3
Send us a text I’ve described this podcast as being ‘ inspired conversations at the intersection of money, business, family, and life’ and none better sum up that complex blend than the one I had recently with Brian Portnoy. Brian is a coach, consultant, entrepreneur, and author of one of the best books I’ve ever read on all things financial and our behaviour around money. - The Geometry of Wealth. A recent study confirmed that 73% of people say money is the most stressful factor in life - more ...
Jan 26, 2023•1 hr 18 min•Season 2Ep. 2
Send us a text This is a special episode as it’s the last episode of Season 1 and so we’ve put together a compilation of the greatest hits covering some of the key ideas, insights, and themes that have emerged from the 15 conversations I’ve had so far. In this episode, you’ll find the best comments, quotes and thoughts from the world-class entrepreneurs and experts I’ve spoken with over the last 6 months. The subtitle of the podcast is "Inspired Conversations" and obviously, I'm biased, but as I...
Dec 22, 2022•51 min•Season 1Ep. 16
Send us a text Let me start by sharing a statistic that’s quite shocking- less than 2% of Venture Capital funding goes to all female founder teams. So those female founders who’ve managed to get started, and raise some capital are rare in the extreme. Those who’ve done it multiple times and had successful exits are even rarer - so Louise really is something special. A born entrepreneur who started working in her father’s store as a schoolgirl and then after college started her own business using...
Dec 01, 2022•1 hr 10 min•Season 1Ep. 15
Send us a text I attended a conference run by a friend of mine Andy Hart called Humans Under Management - it focuses on the behavioural side of wealth and is one of the best financial or business conferences out there. I did a little fireside chat thing on stage but while I was at the event, I had quite a few people who came up to me and told me that they enjoyed the podcast and I even had one guy explain that it had helped him with a client who was currently going through a £10m exit. We all en...
Nov 17, 2022•1 hr 10 min•Season 1Ep. 14
