Ambitious Lifestyle Business podcast

"I've edited more than 250 books.. and now written my own!"

Jill French is a book coach and editor, who has edited more than 250 books, for fiction, creative nonfiction, and memoirs. And now she's written her own book too - a book that languished at the bottom of her to-do list for years - until she joined the One Percent Club [https://www.bigidea.co.uk/one-percent-club], and made it happen. Jill leaned into the One Percent Club [https://www.bigidea.co.uk/one-percent-club] to help make this process easier - she used weekly accountability calls to maintain constant, never-ending progress towards the huge goal, and deal with any road blocks that stood in her way. She attended regular Coaching Calls - and always found a nugget or two to implement (and/or add to her Could Do List - to stay on track and avoid overwhelm!) She tapped into the One Percent Club community, to crowd source her book's cover, and hold herself publicly accountable for her 75-day challenge (to create a new client-relevant tip in evergreen format) - which again, she successfully completed. Oh, and Jill has done all this, while enjoying a long trip to Australia... And her reward? a holiday in Gran Canaria - which prompted her to ask the question on our recent One Percent Club Call, "Could I run my business from Gran Canaria?" If you're thinking of writing a book - or creating a business that you LOVE (and could do forever), this episode is for YOU. The Ambitious Lifestyle Business podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts...

"I thought getting customers was everything - I was WRONG..."

A few years ago, John Lamerton was caught up in the relentless pursuit of new customers, constantly refilling a leaky bucket - promising the world but losing clients just as quickly as he gained them. Frustrated by the constant chase, he had a lightbulb moment: focusing on retention and obsessing over existing customers was the real key to unlocking sustainable growth - and profits. He shifted his mindset from acquisition to lifelong value, investing in his current clients and rethinking what business success really means. This intense focus transformed his business, boosting profits by turning a 5% increase in retention into up to 95% growth in profits. Read how you can do the same in John's new book Retention First, which is OUT NOW: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0G7JNQ85H [https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0G7JNQ85H] In this episode, John explains why retention is highly leveraged, and that genuine obsession over your customers can revolutionise your business's future (and therefore, your lifestyle). If you're fed up of always refilling a bucket full of holes in your business, this episode is for YOU. The Ambitious Lifestyle Business podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts...

"I use HUMOUR to make me a better coach..."

Meet Dr David Lowe. David had it all figured out - working a 5-day month, earning great money, enjoying a fantastic work/life balance, doing meaningful work for clients he loved. There was just one problem. His business model relied entirely on in-person training. And it was 2019. You and I know what's coming... But David didn't. He spent the next two years frantically scrabbling to "pivot" (is there a more 2020 word?) and keep paying the bills. Meanwhile, his kids remember "the Covid years" as a time when they finished their school work by lunchtime, and spent the afternoons building memories with Mum and Dad. That taught David a lot about the ambitious/lifestyle business pendulum. David joined the One Percent Club [https://www.bigidea.co.uk/one-percent-club] in 2023, and has spent the past few years working on a doctorate - looking at how humour can be used in coaching.. something that leans into our core values of FUN and constant, never-ending improvement really well. If you'd like to join Dr. Lowe in the One Percent Club [https://www.bigidea.co.uk/one-percent-club] (and experience some of that coaching for yourself), the doors for our March intake will open very soon. ps. Here's David's favourite joke: Did you hear about the inventor of the knock-knock joke? He was awarded the No-Bell prize. 🤦 If you want to be a better coach and/or have more fun, this episode is for YOU. The Ambitious Lifestyle Business podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts... Links: • Webinar series: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidjlowe/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidjlowe/] • Explanation of the thesis: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/davidjlowe_my-doctoral-findings-boiled-down-to-one-activity-7401195081862578176-epYD [https://www.linkedin.com/posts/davidjlowe_my-doctoral-findings-boiled-down-to-one-activity-7401195081862578176-epYD] • Questionnaire https://forms.gle/tawvHWSNG9JHuBSL7 [https://forms.gle/tawvHWSNG9JHuBSL7]"

"I was stuck - then DOUBLED my income..."

If you're feeling stuck in your business (and/or your life), this episode is for YOU. Three years ago, Mel Statner was working 12 hours a day (and sometimes 16!), finding herself exhausted, doing work that drained her energy. In a nutshell, Mel was stuck. Fast forward to today, and Mel works a 3 day week, having also doubled her income. Not by working harder, but because she found some instruction manuals for her operating system (her brain). Mel changed how she thinks... how she makes decisions... and how she leads her life. She's no longer stuck - she's thriving. Jason and I have worked with Mel for several years now in the One Percent Club [https://www.bigidea.co.uk/one-percent-club], and recently sat down with her to discuss her transformational journey.

"My business has felt like a JOB this year..."

It's beginning to look a lot like.. last year! The Ambitious Lifestyle Business podcast 2025 Christmas special is here - and as usual, John and Jason are putting the world to rights (without getting political - honest!), summing up what's it been like running an ambitious lifestyle business for the past twelve months. Cost of living crisis? ✅ High inflation a worry? ✅ Bad news coming in the Budget? ✅ Yep, the big themes this year are VERY similar to the big themes of 2024 - the "doom and gloom" isn't going away (other than on the ALB podcast, where, just like Morecambe and Wise, we aim to "bring you sunshine"! Running a small business in the UK is tough right now. There's no getting away from it - unless you're looking to emigrate, of course - we talk about that once again in this episode, along with the power of surrounding yourself with positive, can-do people - something that we've done throughout the year, including our very first "Flamingos on Tour" event, in sunny Alicante in October. As usual, we discuss our Book of the Year, and sum up our hopes and dreams for 2026 in ONE word. The Ambitious Lifestyle Business podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts...