Progress in Practice Podcast

Season 1: Trust Your Gut, Follow Your Love: Building a Luxury Interior Design Business the Unconventional Way with Annie Allison

In this episode of Progress in Practice, Charlie Reading is joined by Annie Allison, founder of Allison & Co — a luxury interior design studio working on high-end residential projects across the UK and Europe. Annie's path into interior design wasn't traditional — it grew organically from creativity, curiosity, and a willingness to follow what she loved. In this warm and honest conversation, she shares the story behind a landmark project in the south of France, the importance of not being afraid to fail, and why planning has become the unexpected cornerstone of her growing business. This is a conversation for any creative founder who's built something beautiful from an unconventional starting point — and is now figuring out how to grow it with the right people and structures around them. Key Talking Points * Who Annie serves: clients seeking luxury, highly personal interior design for residential projects in the UK and Europe * How Allison & Co delivered a seven-bedroom property in the south of France in under a year — saving the client over a million euros in the process * Why Annie and her husband became the "guardians of the project" — bridging clients, builders, and contractors across borders * The creative journey that led Annie to interior design: drawing with her daughter, designing wallpapers and fabrics, and growing from small projects upward * What Annie would tell her younger self: don't be afraid of failure, and always trust your gut * Why the unconventional route into a career is often a strength, not a weakness * The advice Annie would pass on to her daughters: don't feel you have to follow a well-travelled path to success * Annie's biggest obstacle: time and people — and the challenge of focusing on what truly counts * How taking the leap to employ Freya was terrifying — and one of the best decisions she ever made * Why planning has been a game-changer for a self-described creative who previously kept everything in her head * How The Trusted Team's leadership and delegation frameworks have helped Annie build structure into her business * Why people buy from people — and why a phone call still beats a website or Instagram About the Guest Annie Allison is the founder of Allison & Co, a UK-based luxury interior design studio working on high-end residential projects in the UK and abroad, with an increasing focus on the south of France. Known for a deeply personal, collaborative approach, Annie and her team work closely with clients to create beautiful spaces that reflect individual style, function, and architecture. With a background that spans creative design, project management, and property development, Annie brings a uniquely holistic perspective to every project she takes on. Find Out More * Website: https://www.allisonandco.com [https://www.allisonandco.com] * LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annie-allison-2719173b [https://www.linkedin.com/in/annie-allison-2719173b/] Resources & Links Mentioned * The Trusted Team membership and community: https://thetrusted.team [https://thetrusted.team] * The Time Poor Entrepreneur event — The Trusted Team: https://thetrusted.team/upcoming-workshops/ [https://thetrusted.team/upcoming-workshops/]  About the Podcast Progress in Practice is brought to you by The Trusted Team — helping professional service business owners build scalable, saleable businesses while working less and enjoying more. Find out more: https://thetrusted.team [https://thetrusted.team]

Season 1: Doing It Right Since 1998: Fee-Based Financial Planning, Cash Flow Modelling, and the Power of Doing What You Love with Paul Spires

In this episode of Progress in Practice, Charlie Reading is joined by Paul Spires, founder of Sound Financial Planning — a firm he built from the ground up in 1998 with a clear mission: to give clients proper, fee-based financial planning at a time when the rest of the industry was still focused on flogging products. Paul brings 36 years of experience to a conversation that is warm, wise, and packed with practical insight. He talks about the courage it takes to charge what you're worth, the transformative power of lifetime cash flow forecasting for business owners, and why doing the work you love — and delegating everything else — is the foundation of both a great business and a great life. This is a conversation for anyone who wants to build a business that genuinely serves their clients, their team, and themselves. Key Talking Points * Who Paul serves: business owners who want fee-based financial planning built around their life, not around products * Why Paul and his business partner set up Sound Financial Planning in 1998 — and why fee-based advice was radical at the time * The doctor analogy: why commission-based advice was fundamentally misaligned with clients' interests * The influence of Paul Etheridge and Prestwood on the fee-based financial planning movement * What Paul would tell his younger self: be more courageous about your value and what you charge * How confidence grows through doing things that take you outside your comfort zone, consistently * The wisdom Paul would pass on to the next generation: do what you love, do what you're good at, and let go of the rest * Why lifetime cash flow forecasting is one of the most powerful tools a business owner can use * How Sound Financial Planning helps business owner clients understand what their business needs to be worth — and plan accordingly * The biggest challenge Paul faces: attracting more of the right clients * How The Trusted Team's Automated Marketing Machine is helping Sound Financial Planning grow smarter * Why reading is essential — but implementation is everything * Personal development inspiration: Jim Rohn and his timeless wisdom on growth About the Guest Paul Spires is the founder of Sound Financial Planning, a fee-based financial planning firm he established in 1998. With over 36 years in financial services, Paul has built a business around deep, meaningful conversations with clients about money and what it means in their lives — using lifetime cash flow modelling to help business owners and individuals plan with clarity and confidence. Sound Financial Planning now serves a close-knit client base of predominantly business owners, with a team of ten, built on referrals, relationships, and a reputation for doing things properly. Find Out More * Website: https://www.soundfp.co.uk [https://www.soundfp.co.uk] * LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/soundfpgpaulspires [https://www.linkedin.com/in/soundfpgpaulspires/] Resources & Links Mentioned * Jim Rohn — personal development talks and books * Paul Etheridge and Prestwood cash flow modelling software * Charlie's Automated Marketing Machine workshop: https://youtu.be/k7aeKszYvbY [https://youtu.be/k7aeKszYvbY]  About the Podcast Progress in Practice is brought to you by The Trusted Team — helping professional service business owners build scalable, saleable businesses while working less and enjoying more. Find out more: https://thetrusted.team [https://thetrusted.team] Enjoying the Show? If this episode resonated, make sure you follow the podcast and leave a rating and review. It helps more founders discover these conversations and allows us to bring you even better guests. Until next time, keep making progress in practice.

Season 1: From Human Robot to AI Pioneer: Cutting Through the Noise on Vertical AI with Chetan Joshi

In this episode of Progress in Practice, Charlie sits down with Chetan Joshi, founder of coglateral.ai, a specialist firm helping business owners, entrepreneurs and financial services firms move from AI experimentation to real-world execution. Chetan unpacks the difference between generative AI and vertical AI, explains why most organisations are paralysed by choice rather than by a lack of technology, and shares the seven-step vertical AI A.U.T.O.B.O.T. framework he built to help businesses go from zero to hero on their AI journey. He talks candidly about spending years as a "human robot" in banking, why the smartest thing you can do is build systems that make you redundant, and why the next generation needs to build skills that compound rather than just chase status and money. Key Talking Points * Who Chetan serves: financial services firms and entrepreneurs moving from AI experimentation to execution * The difference between generative AI (horizontal) and vertical AI (narrow) — explained simply * Why vertical AI gives businesses far greater accuracy, control, and data security than general AI tools * How Chetan spent his early career as a "human robot" in banking — and why that drove his mission * The power of building systems that work without you: making yourself redundant as a route to a scaleable business * A real-world example: how an AI agent reduced a team's inbox from 200 daily emails to zero in 15 minutes * Why the biggest obstacle to AI adoption isn't the technology — it's organisational hesitation and paralysis by choice * The build vs buy vs partner debate: why partnering is often the smartest move * Chetan's autobot framework: seven steps from identifying automation opportunities to operating AI agents at scale * Practical advice for one-person businesses and small firms on where to start with AI * Why the next generation must build skills that compound, not just chase money or status * The ACI framework: Automation, Control, and Intelligence * Book recommendation: Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki * The Intellimation.ai framework and how it shaped Chetan's thinking About the Guest Chetan Joshi is the founder of Coglateral AI, working with financial services organisations and entrepreneurs to solve complex business problems using vertical AI. With a career spanning banking operations, technology, and trading, Chetan brings deep practical experience to AI implementation, helping businesses move beyond experimentation to build AI agents that are trained on their own data, integrated into their workflows, and delivering real results. He is also the creator of the Autobot framework, a seven-step methodology for building vertical AI solutions from scratch. To learn more about Chetan and coglateral.ai, visit: www.coglateral.ai [https://www.coglateral.ai/] To connect with Chetan visit: www.linkedin.com/in/chetannjoshi/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/chetannjoshi/] Cogateral AI: www.coglateral.ai Intellimation.ai — ACI framework Rich Dad Poor Dad — Robert Kiyosaki Charlie's AI Masterclass: https://thetrusted.team/the-ai-advance-masterclass/ [https://thetrusted.team/the-ai-advance-masterclass/]  Ningi CRM — AI-powered financial services CRM: https://ningi.co.uk/ [https://ningi.co.uk/]    About the Podcast Progress in Practice is brought to you by The Trusted Team — helping professional service business owners build scalable, saleable businesses while working less and enjoying more. Find out more: https://thetrusted.team Enjoying the Show? If this episode resonated, make sure you follow the podcast and leave a rating and review. It helps more founders discover these conversations and allows us to bring you even better&

Season 1: Stop Settling, Start Leading: Championing the People Who Run Businesses from the Inside with Michelle Hoskin

In this episode of Progress in Practice, Charlie Reading is joined by Michelle Hoskin, founder of Standards International and the Business and Operations Management Network, known as BOMS Michelle shares how nearly three decades of working with business owners led her to a bold pivot: walking away from coaching business owners to champion the operations managers, practice managers, and business managers who are the unsung backbone of professional service firms. This is an energetic, honest, and often hilarious conversation about following your gut, finding your people, building a community from scratch, and why the ops manager is simultaneously the most valuable and most neglected person in most businesses. If you run a business with a team, or you are the person holding that business together from behind the scenes, this episode will resonate deeply. Key Talking Points * Who Michelle serves: operations managers, practice managers, and business managers in professional service firms * Why she pivoted away from coaching business owners and why it took her 20 years longer than it should have * How the Business and Operations Management Network (BOMS) went from idea to 700 members in under a year * Why ops managers are the biggest flight risk in most businesses and what owners can do about it * The personal advice Michelle would give her younger self: find a partner who has your back, and stop dimming your light * Why confidence and refusing to settle are the two greatest gifts she'd pass on to her daughter * The biggest obstacle facing Michelle right now: getting business owners to invest in their ops people * Why writing a 20-page business case for a £175 conference ticket is the reality for many ops managers * How Charlie's Learning Library concept connects to Michelle's community model * The power of growing together: why BOMS is built on shared learning, not exclusivity * Book recommendations: Necessary Endings, Essentialism, and Passion to Profit by Andy Harrington * Why it's easier to find 100 ideas that make 1% difference than one idea that makes 100% difference About the Guest Michelle Hoskin is the founder of Standards International and creator of the Business and Operations Management Network (BOMS)- a fast-growing community dedicated to the people who run professional service businesses from the inside. With nearly 30 years of experience working with business owners, Michelle made a bold pivot to champion operations managers, practice managers, and general managers who are too often overlooked, undervalued, and unsupported. Her community has grown to over 700 members and runs events, retreats, a membership platform, and an annual conference. Find Out More * Website: https://leadersinbusinessoperations.com [https://leadersinbusinessoperations.com] * LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/standardsexpert [https://www.linkedin.com/in/standardsexpert/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3BOvWB2zl2QO%2BifSshXNI9FA%3D%3D] Resources & Links Mentioned * Necessary Endings — Henry Cloud * Essentialism — Greg McKeown * Passion to Profit — Andy Harrington * The Business and Operations Management Network on LinkedIn: Business and Operations Management Network * Charlie's Learning Library concept: https://thetrusted.team/learning-library/ [https://thetrusted.team/learning-library/]  About the Podcast Progress in Practice is brought to you by The Trusted Team- helping professional service business owners build scalable, saleable businesses while working less and enjoying more. Find out more: https://thetrusted.team [https://thetrusted.team]

Season 1: Turning Complex Cases into Yeses: Building a Specialist Mortgage Business with Ross Jones

In this episode of Progress in Practice, Charlie Reading is joined by Ross Jones, founder of Home Financial and Evolve Commercial Finance. Ross shares how his business was born out of adversity, why he is passionate about helping clients whose income does not fit the standard box, and how specialising in more complex mortgage scenarios has allowed his firm to create real value. This is a candid conversation about entrepreneurship, mistakes, patience, bravery, and the reality that in most businesses, the biggest bottleneck is often the founder themselves. If you are building a business, navigating growth, or trying to create more freedom on your own terms, this episode is packed with practical lessons and honest reflections.   Key Talking Points * Who Ross helps: clients with non-standard or non-permanent income  * Supporting limited company directors, contractors, sports professionals, and others with more complex borrowing needs  * Why Ross focuses on turning difficult cases into yeses  * How niche expertise can create strong referral momentum and organic growth  * The adversity that led Ross to start his own business  * Moving from the military into mortgage advice and then into entrepreneurship  * How a family health crisis reshaped Ross’s priorities and desire for autonomy  * The reality that starting a business does not instantly create freedom: first you have to build it  * The advice Ross would give his younger self: be patient, be brave, and make mistakes faster  * Why failure is not the opposite of success, but part of the path to it  * The legacy lesson Ross would pass on: don’t leave crumbs  * Why integrity matters when making difficult decisions  * Ross’s biggest business obstacle: recognising that he is the bottleneck  * The importance of empowering others, delegating better, and getting out of your own way  * Two standout book recommendations: Legacy and 24 Assets  * Why values and assets, not just leads, should shape the way you build a business    About the Guest Ross Jones is the founder of Home Financial and Evolve Commercial Finance, helping clients secure lending where income or circumstances do not fit standard mortgage criteria. Ross specialises in supporting people with more complex income structures, including limited company directors, contractors, and sports professionals. His businesses are built around creating solutions where others may struggle, helping clients navigate specialist lending with greater confidence and clarity.   Find Out More * Website: http://www.homefinancialnw.co.uk [http://www.homefinancialnw.co.uk]  * Linked In: linkedin.com/in/ross-jones-3688584b    🚀 Resources & Links Mentioned * Legacy by James Kerr  * 24 Assets by Daniel Priestley  * Charlie Reading’s workshop on building a saleable and scalable business:  https://youtu.be/pFigtSmHqTY [https://youtu.be/pFigtSmHqTY]  About the Podcast Progress in Practice is brought to you by The Trusted Team- helping professional service business owners build scalable, saleable businesses while working less and enjoying more. Find out more: https://thetrusted.team  Enjoying the Show? If this episode resonated, make sure you follow the podcast and leave a rating and review. It helps more founders discover these conversations and allows us to bring you even better guests.