Adam (Active Internet Marketing) and Jon (Octopus Computers) chat with Michael Parry, co-founder of Frank Modern, about building a modern estate agency in the Peterborough and Rutland market. Michael breaks down what’s really happening right now, why getting the setup, pricing and marketing right from day one is everything, and how listening properly has led to a big rise in off-market sales. He also shares what he’d do differently if he started again, how networking and visibility helped them grow fast, and why “old school” lead gen like direct mail is working again. We also get into the story behind the Frank Modern name, what it’s like running the business with his wife Morgan, and the next chapter. launching a new prestige-focused sister brand, Parry & Grace, for Rutland’s unique and exceptional homes.

Main takeaways from our chat with Michael:

- In a competitive market, visibility and strong marketing from day one matters.

- Get the pricing right early and you give yourself the best chance of success.

- Off-market deals come from understanding buyers properly and matching them well.

- Process and communication after the sale can be the real differentiator.

- You can’t be everything to everyone, sometimes you need to split the brand.

Subscribe, like, and comment. We’d love to hear what part of Michael’s story or approach stood out most!

#BusinessGrowthShow #Entrepreneurship #Property #EstateAgency #Marketing #Sales #Peterborough #Rutland #Stamford #SmallBusiness #Leadership

Adam (Active Internet Marketing) and Jon (Octopus Computers) chat with Toby Thomas, founder of Love Stamford. After moving from London to Stamford just before the pandemic, Toby went from online business training to a hyper-local project designed to connect residents, visitors, and businesses. He shares lessons from past ventures, including speed dating, domain hoarding, and a short-lived spinning tops empire, and how failure shaped his approach. We cover community pride, local growth challenges, and how Love Stamford aims to be an inclusive, collaborative hub. Plus: why cutting costs can matter more than sales, and why AI is a “sports hall-sized brain” for entrepreneurs.

Main takeaways from our chat with Toby:

• Failure teaches as much as success: know when to cut losses.
• WordPress was a game-changer for making business training accessible.
• COVID showed Zoom’s potential, but also the loneliness of remote-only work.
• Love Stamford is built on inclusivity, collaboration, and no paywall gatekeeping.
• AI is like a free super-team: learn to use it as a business partner.

Toby shares how he built Love Stamford through entrepreneurship, resilience, and community. Discover the failure lessons that shaped his journey and the power of building with purpose.

Subscribe, like, and comment - we’d love to hear what part of Toby’s story inspired you most!

#Entrepreneurship #FailureLessons #CommunityBuilding #BusinessGrowth #LoveStamford #Leadership #TheBlondeBeat #BusinessGrowthShow

Adam (Active Internet Marketing) and John (Octopus Computers) sit down with Andy Nisevic, founder of One Degree and leadership coach. Andy shares his journey from property investment into people development, and why he believes that small, intentional shifts can create extraordinary results in business and leadership. We dig into the power of DISC reports for building self-awareness, how COVID reshaped the way leaders need to show up, and why culture and accountability drive performance more than strategy alone. If you’re leading a team or scaling a business, this conversation is a playbook for unlocking potential without losing sight of people.

Key takeaways from our talk with Andy:

• Leadership isn’t about titles, it’s about creating space for others to succeed.
• Most companies underinvest in people, even though culture drives results.
• COVID accelerated empathetic and adaptable leadership models.
• Small, consistent “one degree” shifts compound into major growth.
• Coaching provides accountability and perspective leaders can’t always find themselves.
• Self-awareness, powered by tools like DISC reports, is the foundation for lasting development.

Discover how Andy helps leaders transform their teams and businesses through culture, coaching, and the power of small shifts.

If you’re interested in leadership growth, DISC reports, or strategies for building stronger teams, this episode is packed with insights and inspiration.

Subscribe, like, and comment - we’d love to know which part of Andy’s journey inspired you most!

#Leadership #BusinessGrowth #DISCReports #OneDegree #Coaching #Culture #TheBlondeBeat #BusinessGrowthShow

Adam (Active Internet Marketing) and Jon (Octopus Computers) sit down with Simon Morris, entrepreneur, M&A operator, and coach. Simon shares his journey across sales, mail order, coffee, and buy and build, and why simple, people first moves often beat shiny tactics. We dig into how to make a business “buyable,” the Virtual Territory Management model that helped major brands cover more accounts, and the small customer journey tweaks that lift sales in days. We also unpack the CREAM framework for planning by reverse engineering, why hiring for attitude wins, and how first party data can turn into real revenue.

Key takeaways from our talk with Simon:

- Buy and build works when management can run the show without the owner.

- Exit value rises with clear numbers, clean data, and a strong leadership bench.

- Hire for attitude, train for skill, protect culture, communicate clearly.

- Selling more to existing customers is the fastest path to growth.

- CREAM framework, get clear, reverse engineer, act, monitor.

- Virtual Territory Management covers second tier accounts at lower cost.

- NLP tools help leaders improve communication and decision making.

On a quick side note, Simon is our guest speaker at this month's Lunch and Learn networking event in Stamford, on 20th November. Tickets can be purchased at: https://bit.ly/4hOUEnU

If you care about exits, acquisitions, team culture, or practical sales plays you can use this week, this episode is a toolkit you will come back to.

Subscribe, like, and comment - tell us which tactic you will try first!

#BusinessGrowth #MergersAndAcquisitions #BuyAndBuild #Sales #CustomerJourney #DataStrategy #NLP #Leadership #Culture #LunchAndLearn #BusinessGrowthShow

Adam (Active Internet Marketing) and Jon (Octopus Computers) sit down with leadership coach and motivational speaker Pete Rushmore from Flagship Partners. Pete shares how he helps business owners and senior leaders unlock performance through clarity, confidence, and accountability. He explains why great leadership comes down to direction, skills, and energy - and how understanding your people through motivation mapping can transform culture and results. Pete also talks about burnout, delegation, and how his own journey from corporate life to running a successful training and consultancy business shaped his leadership philosophy. He gives a sneak peek into Director’s Edge 2026, a one-day event designed to help directors lead with purpose, confidence, and energy.

Director's Edge event details:

📅 21st November 2025

📍 Crown Lodge, Downham Road, Outwell, Wisbech PE14 8SE

🕤 9:30 – 16:35

🔗 Book your place: https://www.inslatt.co.uk/booking-form/

Key points from the episode:

- Why leadership success depends on direction, skills, and energy.

- How motivation mapping helps teams stay engaged and fulfilled.

- Lessons from scaling a family business with structure and communication.

- The HERO framework for developing confident, high-performing leaders.

- Why burnout is often a symptom of unclear purpose, not workload.

If you’re a business owner or director looking to strengthen your leadership, energise your team, and lead with greater purpose, this episode is packed with actionable insights and real-world advice.

Make sure to subscribe for more conversations on leadership, culture, and business growth. Hit like if you found Pete’s story inspiring, and drop a comment to share your biggest leadership takeaway.

#Leadership #BusinessGrowth #MotivationMapping #TeamEngagement #Entrepreneurship #DirectorDevelopment #BusinessPodcast #TheBlondeBeat #BusinessGrowthShow

Adam (Active Internet Marketing) and John (Octopus Computers) welcome James Belderbos, founder of Belderbos Solicitors. James shares how he launched his firm mid-lockdown in 2020 after a career spanning criminal advocacy, litigation, and family law. We dive into challenges of location, why community presence trumps footfall, and how mediation and collaborative law keep families intact through separation. James discusses recruiting the right personalities, adapting to video hearings post-COVID, the impact of AI, and why bravery matters when starting a business. He also highlights family law reform, modern family dynamics, and how niche practices grow on reputation and empathy.

Key points from the episode:

• No “average case” in family law - every family’s situation is unique.
• Mediation and collaborative law keep families intact through separation.
• AI helps with documents but can’t replace active listening in mediation.
• Reputation and bravery are key growth drivers for niche firms.
• Reform is overdue for cohabitation law, the system lags modern family life.

If you’re looking for insights on family law, how mediation shapes modern legal practices, or strategies to build a community-driven and purpose-led business, this episode has plenty of inspiration and practical advice.

Make sure to subscribe for more stories on law firm success and business growth, hit like if you enjoyed the conversation, and drop a comment to share which part of James’s journey inspired you most.

#FamilyLaw #Mediation #LawFirmGrowth #LawFirmSuccess #PurposeDrivenBusiness #CommunityBuilding #Entrepreneurship #TheBlondeBeat #BusinessGrowthShow

Adam (Active Internet Marketing) and John (Octopus Computers) sit down with Kevin, founder of Landmark IFA and chair of Landmark Financial Group. He shares why he left large institutions, opened the doors with staff but no clients, and scaled to 37 advisers and 65 staff through smart hiring, acquisitions, and an employee ownership trust. We dig into culture (“ego-less,” team first, DYP (deliver your promise) and how Landmark handles regulation, training, and AI as a force-multiplier, not a headcount reducer. If you’re growing a professional services firm, this is a blueprint for sustainable scale without losing your soul.

Key takeaways from our talk with Kevin:

• Employee ownership locks in independence and adviser confidence.
• Growth lever: acquire retiring books and use them to recruit rising advisers.
• AI is a tool to lift capacity, not replace people.
• Reputation is the moat. You only keep it by doing what you said you’d do.

Discover the story behind Landmark IFA’s impressive growth and how an employee-owned business model helped scale the firm to 65 staff. In this episode, Kevin shares practical insights on building a thriving financial services business with a purpose-driven culture.

If you’re interested in IFA growth, employee-owned businesses, or strategies for scaling with strong leadership and values, this conversation is full of inspiration and takeaways.

Subscribe, like, and comment - we’d love to know which part of Kevin's journey inspired you most!

#EmployeeOwnership #IFAGrowth #BusinessGrowth #PurposeDrivenLeadership #CompanyCulture #FinancialServices #TheBlondeBeat #BusinessGrowthShow

Welcome to The Business Growth Show with Jo from The Blonde Beet, Stamford’s first and only plant-based café, bistro, and community space.

Join Adam and Jon as they explore Jo’s fascinating pivot from sustainability work and student behaviour change to launching a thriving, welcoming café right in the heart of Rutland. Jo walks us through her journey, from cozy supper clubs and lockdown takeaways to acquiring a charming, slightly hidden premises and transforming it into a vibrant, inclusive space.

Discover how Jo built a café that caters to everyone:

• Thoughtful, seasonal, zero-waste menus that appeal beyond the vegan niche.
• The creative use of textural delights like toasted seeds and nuts to elevate dishes.
• Community-driven programming, from art displays and book clubs to workshops and supper clubs.
• The power of collaboration and intentional choices, including local refill partnerships and sustainable sourcing.
• The ongoing challenge and joy of staying true to mission while managing growth.

Whether you're into hospitality, community-building, or purposeful entrepreneurship, this episode is full of feel-good inspiration and practical insights.

Subscribe, like, and comment - we’d love to know which part of Jo’s journey inspired you most!

#PlantBasedBusiness #CommunityCafe #SustainableGrowth #LocalEntrepreneurs #FoodAndCommunity #TheBlondeBeat #BusinessGrowthShow