Working On It

Brad Staines

What if growing your business didn’t mean sacrificing your time, your health, or your freedom?  Working On It is the podcast for service-based founders who want to scale without burning out. Each episode brings you honest conversations with experts, operators, and mentors - the same kind of people who’ve helped shape successful businesses from the inside out. We dive into the systems, strategies, and habits that drive performance - and show you how to build a company that works without you always having to be there. It’s about clarity, leadership, and reclaiming control - of your time, your team, and your next chapter.  If you're focused on building a business that runs without you - and a life that works because of you - then you're in the right place

  1. The Secret to Radical Focus: Ditching Disparity for Discipline

    fa 5 dies

    The Secret to Radical Focus: Ditching Disparity for Discipline

    Business coach and fitness mentor Byron Munford breaks through the noise of modern distraction and convenience culture to uncover what it truly takes to optimise your physical performance and business growth.  He tackles the modern myth of being "too busy" for self-care, outlining why high-stakes performance requires rigorous internal boundaries. From uncovering the real impact of sleep cycles on body composition to a candid critique of popular medical shortcuts like Ozempic, this conversation offers a strict, no-nonsense diagnostic blueprint for individuals ready to reclaim their focus and operate at maximum capability. Key Takeaways True bodily alignment can be measured internally by waking up feeling Happy, Hungry, and Horny. The human brain does not create permanent physical changes through passive consumption; it changes strictly through creation and discomfort. True supplemental value comes from precise personal blood diagnostics, not mainstream wellness marketing trends. Rest and relaxation are far more rewarding and biochemically effective when hard-earned through intense daily discipline. Episode Quotes "You have to train your mind to be stronger than your feelings, otherwise you'll lose yourself." "Human brains learn via creation, not via consumption." "If you want to be a different person, you have to become that person before you are them." "If you haven't got your basic ducks in a row—sleep, clean eating, and training—you shouldn't even be looking at supplements." Would you like me to refine any specific aspect of these descriptions or titles to better match your distribution platform? VALUABLE RESOURCES ●      Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/byronperformancept/ HOST BIO Brad Staines is a founder in the thick of it - but by design, not by default. As the face of Aquamark Cleaning, he’s built a multi-million-pound operation with 30+ team members, strong systems, and a culture that gives people space to grow. He’s still involved in the business a couple of days a week - but only doing the parts he genuinely enjoys: building relationships, growing the brand, spending time with the team, and spotting new opportunities. The day-to-day grind? That’s been handed over to a structure that runs without constant firefighting. Brad’s also found his rhythm outside of business - with a deep commitment to physical and mental training. Whether it’s strength work, early morning runs, or cold plunges, he’s a believer that how you show up for yourself shapes how you show up as a leader. Working On It is where he brings it all together - growth, grit, and getting better every week.

    1 h 5 min
  2. The Instrument Of Leadership: How To Unlock Your Voice's Power - with Daidree Tofano

    17 de juny

    The Instrument Of Leadership: How To Unlock Your Voice's Power - with Daidree Tofano

    Behind every great leader is a powerful vision, but how do you ensure that your message actually lands when the stakes are at their highest?  In this episode, executive voice and presence coach Daidree Tofano dives deep into how leaders can master the tool they use every single day: their own voice. Drawing from her fascinating, non-linear career path, Daidree shares her unique inside-out philosophy for conquering high-pressure speaking moments. You'll learn how to shift your mindset, step away from your script, and actively use your body and breath to command authority and connect authentically with any audience. Key Takeaways True executive presence requires sharpening your physical instrument—your body, breath, and voice—rather than just focusing on your slide deck or written content. Managing high-stakes speaking anxiety requires building deep physical awareness of your internal tension and your breath before you even open your mouth. Presenting effectively on camera is a distinct skill set from speaking in person, demanding fewer physical movements and a direct, consistent connection with the lens. Great speakers command authority not by rushing, but by intentionally embracing silence, pausing, and physically claiming their environment Episode Quotes "A lot of communications coaching is all around what you say, your content. I look at the instrument that delivers it: the how you say it." "I help leaders, specifically in really high-stakes moments, show up as the best version of themselves and the most persuasive version of themselves." "People don't want to take up space. They don't want to take up physical space, they don't want to take up vocal space... I think that is one of the biggest turnarounds that people can make." "We're all kind of like brains on a stick walking around, and we're in our heads and then we completely forget about the body." VALUABLE RESOURCES ●      LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/daidreetofano/ ●      Website www.impactvoicecoaching.com HOST BIO Brad Staines is a founder in the thick of it - but by design, not by default. As the face of Aquamark Cleaning, he’s built a multi-million-pound operation with 30+ team members, strong systems, and a culture that gives people space to grow. He’s still involved in the business a couple of days a week - but only doing the parts he genuinely enjoys: building relationships, growing the brand, spending time with the team, and spotting new opportunities. The day-to-day grind? That’s been handed over to a structure that runs without constant firefighting. Brad’s also found his rhythm outside of business - with a deep commitment to physical and mental training. Whether it’s strength work, early morning runs, or cold plunges, he’s a believer that how you show up for yourself shapes how you show up as a leader. Working On It is where he brings it all together - growth, grit, and getting better every week.

    1 h 4 min
  3. The Moving Middle: Debunking AI Hype with Applied Innovation

    10 de juny

    The Moving Middle: Debunking AI Hype with Applied Innovation

    In this episode, applied AI expert Lee Russell sits down with us to separate real-world utility from the loud extremes of Silicon Valley optimism and dystopian pessimism.  Steering clear of dense, speculative tech jargon, Lee breaks down how automated systems can drastically elevate trade and service-based businesses by automating the mundane and humanising the exceptional. From creating hyper-personalised customer proposal flows to structural team transformations, this conversation outlines an actionable blueprint for business owners to step away from repetitive day-to-day tasks, scale consistently, and leverage machine learning to become highly strategic orchestrators of their own success Key Takeaways Genuine ROI in business comes from practicing applied AI rather than getting caught up in the far-off "futurist" predictions of massive societal disruption. Successful AI integration is an engineering consistency problem rather than a capabilities problem, requiring strict guardrails, thorough context templates, and deliberate constraints to maximise results. The "10-80-10" model suggests that while AI can efficiently handle the middle 80% of repetitive data processing, human expertise must direct the initial 10% of context setting and refine the final 10% of output. Rather than causing mass job replacement, the emergence of AI allows high-performing teams to elevate their responsibilities, offload the mundane, and focus entirely on high-leverage human connection. Episode Quotes "It is the middle road... It's not going to be as amazing as everyone says, and it's not going to be as bad as everyone says. And that is generally how technology plays out." "When you're doing AI right, that's the signal we look for: Are you becoming a more human business? Are you spending more time with your clients? More face-to-face time?" "If you can think in your business: 'How do I get to try before I buy?' and 'I will pay you to interview with me' because I don't want to waste an hour of my time speaking to someone who's not going to get the job... it's been brilliant." "An AI will be confounded at its current level of a closed door or two sets of data that aren't connected... Humans are insane miracles of evolution. We can look at very strange scenarios that are not normal within your business and look at the context around that instantaneously." HOST BIO Brad Staines is a founder in the thick of it - but by design, not by default. As the face of Aquamark Cleaning, he’s built a multi-million-pound operation with 30+ team members, strong systems, and a culture that gives people space to grow. He’s still involved in the business a couple of days a week - but only doing the parts he genuinely enjoys: building relationships, growing the brand, spending time with the team, and spotting new opportunities. The day-to-day grind? That’s been handed over to a structure that runs without constant firefighting. Brad’s also found his rhythm outside of business - with a deep commitment to physical and mental training. Whether it’s strength work, early morning runs, or cold plunges, he’s a believer that how you show up for yourself shapes how you show up as a leader. Working On It is where he brings it all together - growth, grit, and getting better every week.

    1 h 28 min
  4. 27 de maig

    The Six Pillars of High Performance: Health, Mindset, and Resilience with Byron Munford

    Brad welcomes personal health and fitness expert Byron Munford, one of the UK's leading powerlifters and founder of Lifestyle Revolution, to discuss the critical connection between physical health and business success.  Byron shares his personal journey from aggressive child to black belt martial artist, crossfitter, and elite weightlifter, highlighting how physical challenges condition the mind to handle daily stress. The conversation delves into the similarities between elite athletes and corporate executives, exploring how both groups utilise a high tolerance for stress and an advanced perception of pain to maintain peak performance.  Byron also introduces his Six Pillars of Health exercise, nutrition/hydration, sleep, mindset, stress management, and circadian rhythm, explaining how mastering these elements can transform lives, recover lost time, and optimise both personal well-being and professional success. Key Takeaways An unhealthy individual is consumed by a single problem—their illness—while a healthy person has the freedom to face and manage the thousands of challenges that come with daily life. Elite performance in sports or business relies on conditioning the mind to view high levels of stress and discomfort as a normal, manageable part of the daily routine rather than a reason to stop. True well-being requires a balance of exercise, nutrition, sleep, mindset, stress management, and circadian rhythm, as an imbalance in even one pillar can completely disrupt the others. Lasting transformation comes from focusing on incremental, consistent improvements—like tracking and slowly increasing deep sleep—rather than trying to achieve a flawless standard immediately. Episode Quotes "A healthy man has a thousand problems, an unhealthy man has one problem." "If you look at the average person, they will only ever contract 30 to 40 percent of their max muscular units, but elite athletes can tap into a greater percentage where they're lifting or using 80, even 90 percent." "Learning how to manage stress is one of the best skills you can learn in life because it just buys you back time, buys you back freedom." "Go after what you really want, and not what your parents tell you to do, not what your mates tell you to do, not what the guy down the pub tells you to do. What do you really want without the external influence?" HOST BIO Brad Staines is a founder in the thick of it - but by design, not by default. As the face of Aquamark Cleaning, he’s built a multi-million-pound operation with 30+ team members, strong systems, and a culture that gives people space to grow. He’s still involved in the business a couple of days a week - but only doing the parts he genuinely enjoys: building relationships, growing the brand, spending time with the team, and spotting new opportunities. The day-to-day grind? That’s been handed over to a structure that runs without constant firefighting. Brad’s also found his rhythm outside of business - with a deep commitment to physical and mental training. Whether it’s strength work, early morning runs, or cold plunges, he’s a believer that how you show up for yourself shapes how you show up as a leader. Working On It is where he brings it all together - growth, grit, and getting better every week.

    39 min
  5. Understanding Autism and ADHD in the Trades Industry

    20 de maig

    Understanding Autism and ADHD in the Trades Industry

    Forget the traditional one-size-fits-all workplace; it's time to build an environment where every mind can thrive. We sit down with Melissa, a secondary school teacher, mum, and the driving force behind Neuro Inclusion UK. She shares her deeply personal journey of navigating autism and ADHD diagnoses for both her son and herself. Sparked by conversations with her dad in the trades, Melissa aims to bring foundational awareness of neurodivergence to the construction industry. We explore why genuine inclusion is far more than a tick-box exercise and how small, practical tweaks can massively boost team morale, safety, and productivity. Discover actionable coping mechanisms, understand the exhausting reality of masking, and learn how to foster a culture where everyone feels safe to bring their authentic selves to work. Key Takeaways True inclusion requires a foundational understanding across the whole team, rather than relying solely on human resources departments for compliance. Simple environmental tweaks, like providing written handouts or using visual status indicators, can significantly enhance focus and productivity. Masking neurodivergent traits is an exhausting daily process, and fostering a safe culture allows individuals to operate authentically. Neurodivergence brings distinct strengths to the workplace, such as exceptional attention to detail and creative problem-solving abilities. Early education is vital, as teaching neurodiversity in classrooms lays the groundwork for the inclusive leaders of tomorrow. Episode Quotes "It's never been wrong it's never been broken it's just different and it's um yeah so it's yeah there might be times where you think i wonder why that person does it that particular way." "We should be judging it based on the outcomes of what the job was rather than how we think it should be done." "If you want true inclusive culture then everyone should have a foundational knowledge of it to really truly be removing the barriers." "Putting on that mask it's exhausting it's unrelenting and it's you know just being your true self it's that's the bit that's liberating." "Every human on this planet has strengths and they have weaknesses or challenges and we all have to find what how do we get around our own challenge." HOST BIO Brad Staines is a founder in the thick of it - but by design, not by default. As the face of Aquamark Cleaning, he’s built a multi-million-pound operation with 30+ team members, strong systems, and a culture that gives people space to grow. He’s still involved in the business a couple of days a week - but only doing the parts he genuinely enjoys: building relationships, growing the brand, spending time with the team, and spotting new opportunities. The day-to-day grind? That’s been handed over to a structure that runs without constant firefighting. Brad’s also found his rhythm outside of business - with a deep commitment to physical and mental training. Whether it’s strength work, early morning runs, or cold plunges, he’s a believer that how you show up for yourself shapes how you show up as a leader. Working On It is where he brings it all together - growth, grit, and getting better every week.

    49 min
  6. The People's Poll: A Wake-Up Call for the UK

    13 de maig

    The People's Poll: A Wake-Up Call for the UK

    It is time to stop waiting for a silver bullet to solve your problems and start looking in the mirror to see the only person who can actually change your trajectory. Neil Tuson returns to the show to dive into the current state of the UK and why a culture of dependency is the silent killer of both national progress and personal growth. We explore the 25 levers that make a nation tick, the vital difference between $10 support tasks and $1,000 strategic moves, and why the most successful people are those who invest in their own skill sets rather than waiting for permission. Whether you are struggling to break a seven-figure ceiling or just trying to find clarity in the "noisy nonsense" of the modern world, this conversation provides a roadmap for reclaiming autonomy and building a legacy worth being remembered for. KEY TAKEAWAYS Growth begins only when you move from a dependent state to an independent mindset by accepting 100% responsibility for your outcomes. Business owners must differentiate between support, operational, and strategic tasks to avoid the trap of "peeling spuds" when they should be leading. Most criticism from others is actually a reflection of their own internal struggles, making it easier to ignore the noise and stay focused on your vision. Public speaking and sales are the two most critical skills for any young professional looking to fast-track their career in a digital-heavy world. Taking time for silence and internal reflection is often the missing ingredient in solving complex business and life problems. QUOTES The moment you take responsibility, things will happen; until you do, you are going to hide into nothing. Successful people become successful in the time that other people waste. If you start paying attention to the noise at the edges, it disperses the focus on the centre. You do not build relationships through screens; real relationships come from being face-to-face, eyeball to eyeball. Money is just an outcome of doing something that becomes successful. HOST BIO Brad Staines is a founder in the thick of it - but by design, not by default. As the face of Aquamark Cleaning, he’s built a multi-million-pound operation with 30+ team members, strong systems, and a culture that gives people space to grow. He’s still involved in the business a couple of days a week - but only doing the parts he genuinely enjoys: building relationships, growing the brand, spending time with the team, and spotting new opportunities. The day-to-day grind? That’s been handed over to a structure that runs without constant firefighting. Brad’s also found his rhythm outside of business - with a deep commitment to physical and mental training. Whether it’s strength work, early morning runs, or cold plunges, he’s a believer that how you show up for yourself shapes how you show up as a leader. Working On It is where he brings it all together - growth, grit, and getting better every week.

    1 h 10 min
  7. From a VW Polo to a £10M Electrical Empire

    6 de maig

    From a VW Polo to a £10M Electrical Empire

    Starting out with just a VW Polo and a few tools, Brad Jones didn’t have a business plan—he just had the "bottle" to go it alone when nobody else would hire a fresh apprentice. Today, he’s steering Imperium Group toward a £10M turnover, but the journey hasn’t been a smooth ride. We dive deep into the "scary as hell" moments, like the morning 99% of his revenue vanished and how he fought back through pure persistence. Brad shares the "ruthless" reality of building a team that actually cares, why he still jumps in the van to clear his head, and the exact steps needed to step off the tools and start acting like a businessman. If you’re feeling stuck in the day-to-day firefighting of your trade, this is the wake-up call you need to stop winging it and start scaling. Key Takeaways The Tools Bottleneck: You can’t grow a business while you’re wiring sockets all day; leveraging other people's time is the only way to break the ceiling. Speed Wins: Returning quotes in 10 minutes rather than 2 days is often the difference between winning a massive contract or losing it. Incentivize Results: Moving from hourly pay to pay-per-job creates engineers who treat the business like their own. Resilience is Non-Negotiable: When you lose your biggest client, you either shut the phone down or get on LinkedIn and hunt—there is no middle ground. Integrity Over Flash: Success isn't about Ferraris; it’s about being a man of your word and treating your team like family. Direct Quotes "You can wire a socket up, but apart from that, you ain't got a scooby." "I put four grand into this business... we probably hit 10 million this financial year." "There’s nothing better than proving someone wrong. It’s the greatest feeling ever." "I had two options: I could have turned around or I could say... I’m going to find a way." "If you haven't got the bottle to do that, you're going to be on the tools for the rest of your life." HOST BIO Brad Staines is a founder in the thick of it - but by design, not by default. As the face of Aquamark Cleaning, he’s built a multi-million-pound operation with 30+ team members, strong systems, and a culture that gives people space to grow. He’s still involved in the business a couple of days a week - but only doing the parts he genuinely enjoys: building relationships, growing the brand, spending time with the team, and spotting new opportunities. The day-to-day grind? That’s been handed over to a structure that runs without constant firefighting. Brad’s also found his rhythm outside of business - with a deep commitment to physical and mental training. Whether it’s strength work, early morning runs, or cold plunges, he’s a believer that how you show up for yourself shapes how you show up as a leader. Working On It is where he brings it all together - growth, grit, and getting better every week.

    1 h 7 min
  8. Perfect Teams: Decoding the Psychology of Success with Neil Tuson

    29 d’abr.

    Perfect Teams: Decoding the Psychology of Success with Neil Tuson

    In this episode, Brad sits down with Neil Tuson, the founder of Perfect Teams, a personality profiling system designed to optimize team dynamics. Neil shares his fascinating and non-linear career path, taking us from his early days as a marine engineer in the Navy to selling vacuum cleaners door-to-door in America, which eventually led him to discover a deep passion for personal development. KEY TAKEAWAYS Invest in your own development: Neil paid his own way through his initial Dale Carnegie public speaking courses. He emphasizes that true growth requires taking individual responsibility and investing your own resources rather than waiting for an employer to do it for you. Embrace the uncomfortable: A foundational mantra for Neil, borrowed from Albert Gray's The Common Denominator of Success, is that successful people willingly choose to do the things that failures dislike doing. Sales is a process of listening: Rather than simply pushing a product onto a prospect, effective selling is a questioning process designed to actively listen to the customer and elicit their true needs. Delegation is required for scale: To grow a business beyond a sole operator, founders must transition from working in the business to working on the business. This requires hiring strategic experts, delegating tasks, and trusting your team enough to let them safely fail and learn. Great teams require diverse skills: The three essential components of a highly successful team include an intuitive visionary, an organized process planner to execute the ideas, and an empathetic culture builder to maintain harmony. BEST MOMENTS "Successful people do the things that failures don't like to do." "Two parties come together, there's a sale going on. Either you sell them on listening to you, or they sell you on going away." "If you look at anything that's sustainable, it's got a great education policy behind it." "You've got to break this dependent cycle and get more people recognizing that if they take responsibility and invest in themselves, they will get the rewards." "I consider  to be my master's level intern that's sitting by my side answering all the questions that I can't answer." HOST BIO Brad Staines is a founder in the thick of it - but by design, not by default. As the face of Aquamark Cleaning, he’s built a multi-million-pound operation with 30+ team members, strong systems, and a culture that gives people space to grow. He’s still involved in the business a couple of days a week - but only doing the parts he genuinely enjoys: building relationships, growing the brand, spending time with the team, and spotting new opportunities. The day-to-day grind? That’s been handed over to a structure that runs without constant firefighting. Brad’s also found his rhythm outside of business - with a deep commitment to physical and mental training. Whether it’s strength work, early morning runs, or cold plunges, he’s a believer that how you show up for yourself shapes how you show up as a leader. Working On It is where he brings it all together - growth, grit, and getting better every week.

    32 min

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Informació

What if growing your business didn’t mean sacrificing your time, your health, or your freedom?  Working On It is the podcast for service-based founders who want to scale without burning out. Each episode brings you honest conversations with experts, operators, and mentors - the same kind of people who’ve helped shape successful businesses from the inside out. We dive into the systems, strategies, and habits that drive performance - and show you how to build a company that works without you always having to be there. It’s about clarity, leadership, and reclaiming control - of your time, your team, and your next chapter.  If you're focused on building a business that runs without you - and a life that works because of you - then you're in the right place

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