In this episode, Mike continues his conversation with Kate Bell, founder of Zip Us In and inventor of the Jacket Expansion Panel for pregnancy and maternity. After identifying the problem of not being able to comfortably and safely carry her newborn wearing her winter jacket, she went to find a solution. She designed a prototype and just 5 years on and the award winning Zip Us In Jacket Expander panels are available world wide and an industry-leading product. This is a two-part conversation with...
Nov 15, 2021•16 min•Ep. 41
In this episode, Mike is joined by Kate Bell, founder of Zip Us In and inventor of the Jacket Expansion Panel for pregnancy and maternity. After identifying the problem of not being able to comfortably and safely carry her newborn wearing her winter jacket, she went to find a solution. She designed a prototype and just 5 years on and the award winning Zip Us In Jacket Expander panels are available world wide and an industry-leading product. This is a two-part conversation with Kate to hear her s...
Nov 08, 2021•13 min•Ep. 40
In this episode, Mike shares his 12 ways to generate leads for your business, 6 online, and 6 offline. Connect with Mike Foster, The Entrepreneurs Mentors Website: entrepreneursmentor.co.uk YouTube: youtube.com/c/MikeFosterOxford LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mikefosteroxford Twitter: twitter.com/mikefozoxford Instagram: instagram.com/mikefozoxford Facebook: facebook.com/TheEntrepreneursMentor Recorded and Produced by Story Ninety-Four at Oxford's Podcast Studio...
Nov 01, 2021•19 min•Ep. 39
In this episode, Mike is joined by Daren Elsley, founder of Bollox, a mens underwear brand Daren founded after losing one of his friends to cancer. Daren shares his motivations, successes and mistakes in this candid interview. Bollox - mybollox.co.uk Connect with Mike Foster, The Entrepreneurs Mentors Website: entrepreneursmentor.co.uk YouTube: youtube.com/c/MikeFosterOxford LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mikefosteroxford Twitter: twitter.com/mikefozoxford Instagram: instagram.com/mikefozoxford Faceb...
Oct 25, 2021•15 min•Ep. 38
In this episode, Mike is joined by Dan Greenall from Oxford Vapours, which he launched in 2012 aged just 17 years old. Dan shares his story of smoking, dropping out of a post-school business course, the challenges of recruitment as his business grew, and new ventures. Another entrepreneurs journey. Oxford Vapours - oxfordvapours.com Connect with Mike Foster, The Entrepreneurs Mentors Website: entrepreneursmentor.co.uk YouTube: youtube.com/c/MikeFosterOxford LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mikefosterox...
Oct 18, 2021•24 min•Ep. 37
In this episode, Mike is joined by Nick Hughes from Dynamic Coach Group, for a 2 part conversation into sales. They discuss how to maximise conversions, advice on hiring your first sales person, whether or not sales is a skill that can be learned, and the relationship between sales and marketing. This is part 2 of the conversation. Dynamic Coach Group - dynamiccoachgroup.co.uk Connect with Mike Foster, The Entrepreneurs Mentors Website: entrepreneursmentor.co.uk YouTube: youtube.com/c/MikeFoster...
Oct 11, 2021•18 min•Ep. 36
In this solo episode, Mike shares his 7 steps to success when creating your marketing plan. He covers key details including understanding your objectives, knowing your audience, why you should measure activity not outcomes, and more. Connect with Mike Foster, The Entrepreneurs Mentors Website: entrepreneursmentor.co.uk YouTube: youtube.com/c/MikeFosterOxford LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mikefosteroxford Twitter: twitter.com/mikefozoxford Instagram: instagram.com/mikefozoxford Facebook: facebook.com...
Oct 04, 2021•15 min•Ep. 35
In this episode, Mike is joined by Nick Hughes from Dynamic Coach Group, for a 2 part conversation into sales. They discuss how sales has changed over the past 2 years, sales pipelines, and advice to businesses struggling with sales. This is part 1 of the conversation. Dynamic Coach Group - dynamiccoachgroup.co.uk Connect with Mike Foster, The Entrepreneurs Mentors Website: entrepreneursmentor.co.uk YouTube: youtube.com/c/MikeFosterOxford LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mikefosteroxford Twitter: twitt...
Sep 27, 2021•18 min•Ep. 34
In this episode, Mike shares his thoughts and experience on scaling businesses. He talks about being clear on your purpose for scaling, predicting the future of your business and the market, and ensuring it's the right time for your business. Connect with Mike Foster, The Entrepreneurs Mentors Website: entrepreneursmentor.co.uk YouTube: youtube.com/c/MikeFosterOxford LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mikefosteroxford Twitter: twitter.com/mikefozoxford Instagram: instagram.com/mikefozoxford Facebook: fac...
Sep 20, 2021•11 min•Ep. 33
In this episode, Mike is joined by Matt Eastland-Jones, filmmaker and podcast producer (producer of this podcast) and founder of Story Ninety-Four. Matt shares his entrepreneurs journey from university drop-out, to freelance filmmaker, to business-owner, the lessons he learnt a long the way, and the importance of teaching ourselves new skills to grow and succeed in business. Story Ninety-Four - storyninetyfour.com Connect with Mike Foster, The Entrepreneurs Mentors Website: entrepreneursmentor.c...
Sep 13, 2021•18 min•Ep. 32
In this episode, Mike is joined by Sam Birkett and Sally Green from the Marketing Meanders Podcast, who take a deep dive into all things marketing and content, covering topics such as marketing strategy, content marketing, and lessons we learnt from the pandemic. This is Part 2 of the conversation. Amiable Marketing - amiablemarketing.co.uk Sally G Marketing - sallygreen.org Marketing Meanders Podcast - anchor.fm/marketingmeanders Connect with Mike Foster, The Entrepreneurs Mentors Website: entr...
Sep 06, 2021•22 min•Ep. 31
In this episode, Mike shares his 10 steps on how to simplify and streamline your business to help you reach your desired outcomes. He also discusses the compounding effect of making marginal gains to different parts of your business. Connect with Mike Foster, The Entrepreneurs Mentors Website: entrepreneursmentor.co.uk YouTube: youtube.com/c/MikeFosterOxford LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mikefosteroxford Twitter: twitter.com/mikefozoxford Instagram: instagram.com/mikefozoxford Facebook: facebook.com...
Aug 30, 2021•16 min•Ep. 30
In this episode, Mike is joined by Sam Birkett and Sally Green from the Marketing Meanders Podcast, who take a deep dive into all things marketing and content, covering topics such as marketing strategy, measuring success and analytics, and the effect of the pandemic on businesses and their marketing. This is Part 1 of the conversation. Amiable Marketing - amiablemarketing.co.uk Sally G Marketing - sallygreen.org Marketing Meanders Podcast - anchor.fm/marketingmeanders Connect with Mike Foster, ...
Aug 23, 2021•23 min•Ep. 29
In this episode, Mike is joined by Salim Benadel, founder of Storm Internet, and they discuss the that they key to personal growth is to follow you passions, escape the comfort zone, and fight the fear. Storm Internet - storminternet.co.uk Connect with Mike Foster, The Entrepreneurs Mentors Website: entrepreneursmentor.co.uk YouTube: youtube.com/c/MikeFosterOxford LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mikefosteroxford Twitter: twitter.com/mikefozoxford Instagram: instagram.com/mikefozoxford Facebook: facebo...
Aug 16, 2021•22 min•Ep. 28
In this episode, Mike is joined by Vicki Strachan, Patent Attorney and CEO at Strachan IP, who talks about the different forms of IP protection and explains why every business business should consider IP protection. Strachan IP - strachanip.co.uk Connect with Mike Foster, The Entrepreneurs Mentors Website: entrepreneursmentor.co.uk YouTube: youtube.com/c/MikeFosterOxford LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mikefosteroxford Twitter: twitter.com/mikefozoxford Instagram: instagram.com/mikefozoxford Facebook:...
Aug 09, 2021•17 min•Ep. 27
In this episode, Mike talks about effective planning to ensure the success of your vision. He discusses how he creates a one-page plan with his clients to identify the high pay-off activities required to reach their goal, and the importance of systemisation. Connect with Mike Foster, The Entrepreneurs Mentors Website: entrepreneursmentor.co.uk YouTube: youtube.com/c/MikeFosterOxford LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mikefosteroxford Twitter: twitter.com/mikefozoxford Instagram: instagram.com/mikefozoxfo...
Aug 02, 2021•11 min•Ep. 26
In this episode, Mike is joined by Salim Benadel, founder of Storm Internet, who talks about his story setting up his business, learning from past mistakes, and why following your passion is key to building a successful business. Storm Internet - storminternet.co.uk Connect with Mike Foster, The Entrepreneurs Mentors Website: entrepreneursmentor.co.uk YouTube: youtube.com/c/MikeFosterOxford LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mikefosteroxford Twitter: twitter.com/mikefozoxford Instagram: instagram.com/mik...
Jul 26, 2021•20 min•Ep. 25
In this episode, Mike is joined by Lou Webster founder of The Coffee Consultancy, who talks about the business of coffee, how she supports her clients, the impact of the pandemic on hospitality, and why coffee is an undervalued product. The Coffee Consultancy - thecoffeeconsultancy.com Connect with Mike Foster, The Entrepreneurs Mentors Website: entrepreneursmentor.co.uk YouTube: youtube.com/c/MikeFosterOxford LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mikefosteroxford Twitter: twitter.com/mikefozoxford Instagra...
Jul 19, 2021•17 min•Ep. 24
In this episode, Mike is joined by Aaron Rudman-Hawkins, Managing Director and Founder of The Evergreen Agency, who talks about his journey from freelancer to award-winning SEO agency owner. The Evergreen Agency - theevergreenagency.co.uk Connect with Mike Foster, The Entrepreneurs Mentors Website: entrepreneursmentor.co.uk YouTube: youtube.com/c/MikeFosterOxford LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mikefosteroxford Twitter: twitter.com/mikefozoxford Instagram: instagram.com/mikefozoxford Facebook: faceboo...
Jul 12, 2021•20 min•Ep. 23
In this episode, Mike shares his expertise, from over 25 years of networking, on how to effectively network and grow your business by building lasting relationships. Connect with Mike Foster, The Entrepreneurs Mentors Website: entrepreneursmentor.co.uk YouTube: youtube.com/c/MikeFosterOxford LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mikefosteroxford Twitter: twitter.com/mikefozoxford Instagram: instagram.com/mikefozoxford Facebook: facebook.com/TheEntrepreneursMentor Recorded and Produced by Story Ninety-Four a...
Jul 05, 2021•16 min•Ep. 22
In this episode, Mike is joined by Lou Webster, Founder of The Coffee Consultancy, a self-confessed "Costa Girl" turned coffee expert after her love for coffee blossomed during a working holiday in Canada. She returned and after working for Soho Farmhouse as Head Barista, decided to launch her own coffee consultancy business in 2019. The Coffee Consultancy - thecoffeeconsultancy.com Connect with Mike Foster, The Entrepreneurs Mentors Website: entrepreneursmentor.co.uk YouTube: youtube.com/c/Mike...
Jun 28, 2021•17 min•Ep. 21
In this episode, Mike is joined by Rebecca Cheetham, Founder of Siendo, to discuss why she launched Siendo and why it's important to give people the knowledge, tools and confidence they need to support their own wellbeing, at every stage of their lives. 00:00 - Introduction 01:58 - Defining wellbeing 03:34 - Working with change in a positive way 04:52 - Understanding oneself 06:20 - Embracing change 08:05 - Mental Health training 11:55 - Changing the perception of Mental Health 14:10 - 4 parts o...
Jun 21, 2021•20 min•Ep. 20
In this episode, Mike is joined by Aaron Rudman-Hawkins, Managing Director and Founder of The Evergreen Agency, to discuss the importance of increasing your businesses visibility online, and how he helps his clients using SEO and PPC. 00:00 - Introduction 00:55 - Demystifying SEO 03:16 - Identify your goals first, digital marketing second 05:20 - Approaching digital marketing logically 07:50 - Outsourcing to experts 10:15 - Share your expertise to add value 13:30 - Importance of local 15:10 - Aa...
Jun 14, 2021•17 min•Ep. 19
In this episode, Mike discusses how to run a business with control, confidence, and consistency by focusing on 6 key areas of your business. They are Vision, People, Data, Traction, Systems & Processes, and Obstacles. 00:00 - Introduction 01:10 - Business Model Canvas overview (Episode 5) 02:45 - Vision 05:02 - People 07:40 - Data 10:00 - Traction 12:15 - Systems & Processes 14:35 - Obstacles Connect with Mike Foster, The Entrepreneurs Mentors Website: entrepreneursmentor.co.uk YouTube: ...
Jun 07, 2021•17 min•Ep. 18
In this episode, Mike discusses creativity with Andrew Hancock, of BrandAsylum, how everyone is creative, and the importance of standing out from the crowd when it comes to your business. 00:00 - Introduction 00:45 - BrandAsylum 01:15 - No idea is a bad idea 02:15 - Everybody is creative 02:30 - Importance of messaging 03:30 - Taking a step back from your business 05:00 - Working with difficult clients 06:05 - Holistic approach to creativity 08:08 - Standing out from the crowd 09:25 - FedEx case...
May 31, 2021•18 min•Ep. 17
In this episode, Mike explores the journey of two entrepreneurs, Kellie Peters and Regina Lally, who joined forces to set up Databasix UK. Connect with Databasix - dbxuk.com Connect with Mike Foster, The Entrepreneurs Mentors Website: entrepreneursmentor.co.uk YouTube: youtube.com/c/MikeFosterOxford LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mikefosteroxford Twitter: twitter.com/mikefozoxford Instagram: instagram.com/mikefozoxford Facebook: facebook.com/TheEntrepreneursMentor...
May 24, 2021•22 min•Ep. 16
In this episode, Mike Foster, The Entrepreneurs Mentor, shares his thoughts about how your sales process should consider and map the customer's journey. 00:00 - Introduction 01:10 - Key steps of the customer journey 02:00 - The extended customer journey 02:31 - Finding failures in your sales process 03:30 - Identifying touchpoints 05:30 - Customer's emotions 06:50 - Communication between marketing and sales 07:36 - Finding the best solution Connect with Mike Foster, The Entrepreneurs Mentors Web...
May 17, 2021•10 min•Ep. 15
In this episode, Mike is joined by Andrew Hancock, from Brand Asylum, to discuss his journey from working in a large creative agency in London to launching his own creative business. 00:00 - Introduction 01:00 - Finding a passion for business 02:05 - Working up the ranks 02:50 - Do for yourself, what you do for your clients 03:40 - You can't do it all yourself 04:37 - It's all about people 05:05 - The biggest challenge for entrepreneurs is not letting go 06:15 - Landing new projects 07:08 - Go f...
May 10, 2021•11 min•Ep. 14
In this episode, Mike is joined by Kellie Peters and Regina Lally, from Databasix UK, to discuss practical data protection and the importance of compliant data management by businesses. 00:00 - Introduction 00:38 - Data drives your entire life 02:00 - What is practical data protection? 03:45 - Data training for everyone 06:22 - Data protection isn't just a tickbox 08:30 - Managing data when working from home 10:15 - Avoid templates for privacy policies 15:12 - GDPR Toolbox 18:30 - The importance...
May 03, 2021•26 min•Ep. 13
In this episode, Mike is joined by James White, Sales Mentor, and founder of the Sales Success Academy. James shares his expertise on overcoming the fear of selling, common sales mistakes to avoid, and tips on developing a sales pipeline for your business. 00:00 - Introduction 01:35 - James' passion for small business 02:28 - The fear of selling 03:50 - Common sales mistakes 05:40 - Sales is like dating 06:30 - Overcoming sales objections 07:30 - How to build a sales pipeline 09:00 - Selling val...
Apr 26, 2021•20 min•Ep. 12
