Real World Entrepreneurship

Alan Clarke
Real World Entrepreneurship Podcast

In this podcast Alan and Bhairav talk about the real world issues that are faced by entrepreneurs and small business owners We have both run successful businesses, raised money, grown them globally and now we're giving practical advice to the next generation of entrepreneurs. We don't do platitudes. We also talk to entrepreneurs from across the world and get them to share their stories and challenges

  1. 2 JUL

    CPOP: The Four Pillars of Successful Project Management

    In this episode of the Real World Entrepreneurship Podcast, hosts Bhairav Patel and Alan Clarke dive deep into the reasons why projects often fail and share valuable insights on how to avoid common pitfalls. Drawing from their extensive experience in the business and technology worlds, they highlight the importance of the "CPOP" principles - Communication, People, Oversight, and Planning - in ensuring project success. Key topics covered in this episode include: 1. The critical role of thorough planning and requirements gathering at the outset of a project 2. The importance of maintaining open, honest communication between all stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle 3. The impact of having the right people involved who are invested in the project's success and empowered to make decisions 4. The need for regular oversight to track progress against milestones and course-correct as necessary 5. How the "CPOP" principles should be applied at every stage of a project, not just at the beginning Bhairav and Alan share real-world examples and anecdotes to illustrate these points, making the lessons both relatable and actionable for entrepreneurs and project managers alike. They also touch on the dangers of letting ego-driven agendas derail projects and emphasize the importance of staying focused on the ultimate goal. Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting out, this episode offers valuable wisdom on navigating the challenges of bringing a project to fruition. Tune in for some hard-won insights and practical tips on keeping your next project on track and avoiding the common reasons why projects fail. Follow the Real World Entrepreneurship Podcast for more no-nonsense advice and real talk on building and growing a successful business.

    25 min
  2. 18 JUN

    Navigating your business through chaotic times

    In this episode, Alan and Bhairav discuss strategies for guiding your business through periods of economic and political uncertainty. They share insights on how entrepreneurs and startup founders can mitigate risks, maintain financial discipline, and identify opportunities during chaotic times. Key Takeaways: 1. Embrace the chaos: Accept uncertainty as a constant in the business world and focus on what you can control. 2. Prioritize risk mitigation: Conduct a risk assessment of your business operations and make contingency plans. 3. Maintain financial discipline: Ensure proper cash flow management and work to establish a 6-18 month financial runway. 4. Invest in your team: Keep employee morale up and avoid giving them reasons to leave during uncertain times. 5. Look for opportunity: Diversify your offerings to solve emerging customer pain points and be ready to capture market share from failing competitors. 6. Steady, forward progress: Avoid overreacting to every new development and maintain persistent, level-headed forward momentum. Topics Covered: - Dealing with the compounded uncertainty of startup life and economic/political instability - Conducting a weighted risk assessment of your business - The importance of separating operating cash flow and funds held for liabilities - Scenario planning and adapting without overreacting - Identifying opportunities created by market disruptions - Maintaining mental wellbeing as a leader during stressful times Quotes: "It's always chaos. So I think, and I think we've talked about it many times, is that your business as a small business owner, all you ever think about is risk." - Bhairav Patel "Don't overreact, don't get too high, don't get too low, but keep moving forward, because if you don't keep moving forward, you'll run out of momentum and then you'll start going backwards." - Alan Clarke

    16 min

About

In this podcast Alan and Bhairav talk about the real world issues that are faced by entrepreneurs and small business owners We have both run successful businesses, raised money, grown them globally and now we're giving practical advice to the next generation of entrepreneurs. We don't do platitudes. We also talk to entrepreneurs from across the world and get them to share their stories and challenges

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