Business Growth Talks

Mark Hayward
  • 4.0 (10)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Weekly

Business Growth Talks is a show about what it really takes to build and grow a business. Hosted by Mark Hayward, each episode goes beyond the polished success story to explore the decisions, setbacks and turning points behind the results. Mark talks with founders, business leaders and experts about the challenges they have faced, what they learned and what they would do differently. From finding customers and leading people to adapting when a plan stops working, the conversations bring you ideas you can use in your own business.If you want honest business stories, useful lessons and questions that make you think differently about growth, you’re in the right place.Find more details about the podcast www.businessgrowthtalks.comJoin my community - https://www.patreon.com/BusinessgrowthtalksFind me onLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-hayward-163721a0/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/markjhayward​Twitter - https://twitter.com/markhayward169TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@mjh169183

  1. 1 day ago

    The AI Bubble Is 2008 All Over Again. Here's Your Plan

    Wall Street is buying insurance against AI companies going bust, the same move that made billions in The Big Short in 2008. In this episode I break down why the AI boom looks like the credit crunch, who really pays when it pops, and five things business owners can do this week to come out stronger. The cost of insuring CoreWeave’s debt has more than doubled in a year. Oracle is sitting on around $160bn of debt. And the five biggest tech companies are spending more on AI than they bring in, with the gap borrowed. If this goes bang, it won’t be the tech giants left holding the bill. It’ll be small businesses, through higher rates, tighter credit and squeezed customers. But a crash is also a reset. Airbnb, Uber and WhatsApp were all born in the last one. Here’s how to make sure you’re ready to build when it clears. In this episode: Why Wall Street is betting against AI, and what a credit default swap actually isWho paid in 2008, and why it’ll be the same this timeThe three ways the AI bubble lands on your deskFive things to do this week: stress-test your debt, build a cash buffer, don’t rely on one AI tool, get closer to your customers, and get ready to go shoppingChapters 0:00 Is AI the next 2008? 0:45 The Big Short is happening again 3:39 Who pays when the AI bubble bursts 6:20 How to protect your business from rising interest rates 9:01 Why a crash creates opportunity 9:32 Recap Every Friday I break down the five biggest business stories of the week in plain English. Subscribe so you don’t miss it. Do you think AI is a bubble? Tell me in the comments. I read every one. Support the show If you want to watch the full video of this episode go to: https://www.youtube.com/@markhayward-BizGrowthTalks Do you want to be a guest on multiple podcasts as a service go to: www.podcastintroduction.com Find more details about the podcast and my coaching business on: www.businessgrowthtalks.com Find me on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-hayw... Tik Tok - https://www.tiktok.com/@mjh169183 YouTube Shorts - https://www.youtube.com/@markhayward-BizGrowthTalks/shorts

    The AI Bubble Is 2008 All Over Again. Here's Your Plan

  2. 1 day ago

    Introducing the Jordan Harbinger Show

    In this enlightening mini episode of Business Growth Talks, host Mark Hayward shares The Jordan Harbinger Show - a podcast which listeners of Business Growth Talks should both enjoy and get massive value from.

  3. 3 days ago

    Short on Cash? You’re Fixing the Wrong Thing, with Ollie Austen

    Your business is short on cash, so you chase sales and cut costs. But what if cash was never the real problem? Ollie Austen ran Grosvenor Contracts London for 18 years, growing it from two people to around 60 before exiting in 2018. Today he's co-founder of Startup to Stand Up, a peer community for founders. Ollie explains why tight cash is usually a client relationship problem, and how visiting his top clients cut payment times from 60 days to 30. We also cover founder loneliness, bootstrapping vs raising money in 2026, what buyers look for when you sell, and how to tell real advisers from grifters. Connect with Ollie on LinkedIn (Ollie Austen) or at ollie@starttostandup.com. Get behind-the-scenes content at patreon.com/businessgrowthtalks. Enjoyed it? Follow the show and leave a five-star rating. It really helps. Support the show If you want to watch the full video of this episode go to: https://www.youtube.com/@markhayward-BizGrowthTalks Do you want to be a guest on multiple podcasts as a service go to: www.podcastintroduction.com Find more details about the podcast and my coaching business on: www.businessgrowthtalks.com Find me on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-hayw... Tik Tok - https://www.tiktok.com/@mjh169183 YouTube Shorts - https://www.youtube.com/@markhayward-BizGrowthTalks/shorts

    Short on Cash? You’re Fixing the Wrong Thing, with Ollie Austen

  4. 6 days ago

    Barclays Made £2.3BN, Then Cut 5,000 Jobs for AI

    Barclays just made £2.3 billion in three months – and it's cutting 5,000 jobs anyway, because of AI. Here's what that means for your business, plus four more stories every founder needs this week. I'm Mark Hayward, and every week on Business Growth Talks I break down the 5 business stories that matter if you run a business – in plain English, no jargon. This week: • Barclays cuts 5,000 jobs while profits rise 12% – and what smart founders are doing with AI instead • An urgent hacking alert for the code behind 7 in 10 websites – the one question to ask your web developer today • Elon Musk wants to merge Tesla and SpaceX – is combining your businesses ever a good idea? • Salesforce buys Braze for $5.7bn – the AI follow-up trick you can copy this afternoon • UK inflation jumps to 3.5% – how to raise your prices without losing customers • And finally… the dog news 🐾 Chapters 00:00 This week's biggest business stories 00:50 Barclays cuts 5,000 jobs because of AI 04:00 Website hacking alert: is your site at risk? 06:39 Elon Musk's Tesla–SpaceX merger 08:45 Salesforce buys Braze for $5.7bn: AI marketing 11:04 UK inflation hits 3.5%: will interest rates rise? 13:22 Dog news 14:13 Recap 💬 Would you use AI to replace a role in your business, or only to make your team better? Tell me in the comments. 🔔 Subscribe for the week in business, every Friday. 🎧 Listen to Business Growth Talks on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Support the show If you want to watch the full video of this episode go to: https://www.youtube.com/@markhayward-BizGrowthTalks Do you want to be a guest on multiple podcasts as a service go to: www.podcastintroduction.com Find more details about the podcast and my coaching business on: www.businessgrowthtalks.com Find me on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-hayw... Tik Tok - https://www.tiktok.com/@mjh169183 YouTube Shorts - https://www.youtube.com/@markhayward-BizGrowthTalks/shorts

    Barclays Made £2.3BN, Then Cut 5,000 Jobs for AI

  5. 21 Oct

    Why I Wasted Weeks Waiting for Permission (and How to Stop)

    The most expensive habit in business isn’t overspending. It’s waiting. When I left corporate, I finally had no boss, no sign-off, total freedom… and for weeks I did absolutely nothing. In this episode I share the three things I wish someone had told me back then, plus the five words that finally snapped me out of it. If you’ve been sitting on an idea, waiting for the right time, more money or to “feel ready”, this one’s for you. ⏱ Chapters  0:00 The most expensive habit in business  0:25 You’ve been trained to wait  2:28 The right time isn’t coming  4:17 Doing it badly beats not doing it  6:27 Three things to remember 💬 Tell me in the comments: what’s the one thing you’ve been waiting on the “right time” for? 📺 Every Friday I cover the five biggest business stories of the week. Subscribe so you don’t miss it. 🎙 Business Growth Talks: conversations and lessons for founders, CEOs and business owners. Support the show If you want to watch the full video of this episode go to: https://www.youtube.com/@markhayward-BizGrowthTalks Do you want to be a guest on multiple podcasts as a service go to: www.podcastintroduction.com Find more details about the podcast and my coaching business on: www.businessgrowthtalks.com Find me on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-hayw... Tik Tok - https://www.tiktok.com/@mjh169183 YouTube Shorts - https://www.youtube.com/@markhayward-BizGrowthTalks/shorts

    Why I Wasted Weeks Waiting for Permission (and How to Stop)

  6. 19 Oct

    He Built a Firm for 23 Years, Sold It, Then Watched It Collapse | Dr. Mark L. Vincent

    Mark L. Vincent spent 23 years building Design Group International. He was founder and CEO for almost 18 of those years, then chair, and then he sold his stake. A few years later, after a record year, the firm went into receivership. In this episode, Mark explains what went wrong after he left and why most founders’ businesses don’t outlive them. He also covers what you should be doing in the five years before you sell so yours does. We talk about: The 3 mistakes that sank the business after his exit: vision by committee, a slow response to margin compression, and no capital plan to buy out departing ownersThe clause in his buy-sell agreement that sent his IP back to him when the firm collapsed, and how he turned it into a new businessWhy an up-to-date balance sheet is the first thing he asks every owner forMoving from specialists to a true executive team, and avoiding fiefdomsWhy a mastermind group can beat a consultant or advisor on ROIHow the business nearly closed in 2008, and the one metric that saved it“Firm with process, soft with people”: how his leadership evolvedManaging helplessness, perspective after loss, and what legacy really meansIf you’re a founder, CEO or business owner thinking about succession, selling or stepping back, this one is for you. Find Mark: maestrolevelleaders.com | marklvincent.com If you got something from this conversation, hit subscribe and leave a 5-star rating on Apple or Spotify. It helps more people find the show. Support the show If you want to watch the full video of this episode go to: https://www.youtube.com/@markhayward-BizGrowthTalks Do you want to be a guest on multiple podcasts as a service go to: www.podcastintroduction.com Find more details about the podcast and my coaching business on: www.businessgrowthtalks.com Find me on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-hayw... Tik Tok - https://www.tiktok.com/@mjh169183 YouTube Shorts - https://www.youtube.com/@markhayward-BizGrowthTalks/shorts

    He Built a Firm for 23 Years, Sold It, Then Watched It Collapse | Dr. Mark L. Vincent

  7. 16 Oct

    Bumble Lost 90% of Its Value. Here's the Lesson for Your Business

    A dating app worth $14 billion just sold for $1.3 billion. In this week’s BGT Weekly News, Mark Hayward breaks down what went wrong at Bumble, and what every business owner can learn from it. Plus four more stories business owners in the US and UK need to know this week: JPMorgan boss Jamie Dimon’s warning about “rogue” AI agents, Bank of America’s $1.2 billion fine, the UK’s plan to make Amazon, eBay and Temu collect tax for their sellers, and why British companies are being bought up and heading for New York. Every story in plain English, with what it means for your business. ⏱️ CHAPTERS  0:00 $14 billion to $1.3 billion  0:30 Why Bumble collapsed  4:30 Jamie Dimon’s warning on AI agents  7:45 Bank of America’s $1.2 billion fine  11:00 Amazon and eBay tax crackdown  14:15 Why UK companies are being bought up  17:30 Dog news  18:30 This week’s takeaway Support the show If you want to watch the full video of this episode go to: https://www.youtube.com/@markhayward-BizGrowthTalks Do you want to be a guest on multiple podcasts as a service go to: www.podcastintroduction.com Find more details about the podcast and my coaching business on: www.businessgrowthtalks.com Find me on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-hayw... Tik Tok - https://www.tiktok.com/@mjh169183 YouTube Shorts - https://www.youtube.com/@markhayward-BizGrowthTalks/shorts

    Bumble Lost 90% of Its Value. Here's the Lesson for Your Business

  8. 12 Oct

    His First Idea Sold for 99 Cents. His Next One Did $100 Million – Steve Rolle

    In this compelling episode of Business Growth Talks, host Mark Hayward welcomes successful entrepreneur Steve Rolle, who shares his journey from the US Army to becoming a high-achieving businessman. Despite societal pressures to conform to traditional career paths, Steve followed his entrepreneurial instincts and built businesses that collectively generated over $100 million in sales. The conversation delves into the core question of whether individuals are truly living a life they have chosen or merely inheriting a path laid out by others. Steve emphasizes the importance of taking control of one's future, starting side hustles, and navigating the perceived safety of corporate jobs. Steve recounts the challenges and strategies he faced, including the decision to merge his company, One Shop, with Diversified Hospitality Solutions in 2022. He highlights the importance of diversification, founder dependency, motivation, and the role these factors play in achieving personal and financial freedom. Throughout the episode, Steve shares insights on how boring businesses can be lucrative opportunities, emphasizing the need for founder involvement to morph into systems-driven operations. He also discusses his book, "The Future You Choose," which serves as a blueprint for aspiring entrepreneurs to take agency over their life’s direction. SPONSOR Are you getting enough online visibility? If the answer is no then consider being a guest on podcasts to grow your business. Visit www.podcastintroduction.com and set up a call to talk to the team Key Takeaways: Entrepreneurial Journey: Steve Rolle conveys the significance of pursuing businesses in underexplored sectors and the transformative power of turning a side hustle into a full-fledged venture.Control and Freedom: The theme of living a life of choice versus inherited paths underscores the conversation, with Steve stressing control achieved through multiple income streams.Merger Strategy: Explores the strategic decision-making involved in the merger of One Shop with Diversified Hospitality Solutions, emphasizing cultural integration and value maximization.Motivation and Success: Discusses the profound impact of discovering personal motivation and learning through repetitive, low-stress experimentation.Building a Personal Brand: Highlights the long-term dedication required for personal brand development through platforms like podcasting and content creation.Resources: Steve Rolle's LinkedIn: Visit PageThe Future You Choose: Book by Steve Rolle (available on Amazon)Podcast: Role of Steve: Delving into business and motivation (No link provided in the transcript)Book: Who Not How by Dan Sullivan - Recommended by Steve as a transformative read.Podcast Introduction: WebsiteBy diving into this enlightening conversation, listeners can glean from Steve Rolle’s insights and learn how to strategically navigate their own career paths towards the life and success they truly desire. Tune in for more empowering content and transformational stories from Business Growth Talks. Support the show If you want to watch the full video of this episode go to: https://www.youtube.com/@markhayward-BizGrowthTalks Do you want to be a guest on multiple podcasts as a service go to: www.podcastintroduction.com Find more details about the podcast and my coaching business on: www.businessgrowthtalks.com Find me on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-hayw... Tik Tok - https://www.tiktok.com/@mjh169183 YouTube Shorts - https://www.youtube.com/@markhayward-BizGrowthTalks/shorts

    His First Idea Sold for 99 Cents. His Next One Did $100 Million – Steve Rolle
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About

Business Growth Talks is a show about what it really takes to build and grow a business. Hosted by Mark Hayward, each episode goes beyond the polished success story to explore the decisions, setbacks and turning points behind the results. Mark talks with founders, business leaders and experts about the challenges they have faced, what they learned and what they would do differently. From finding customers and leading people to adapting when a plan stops working, the conversations bring you ideas you can use in your own business.If you want honest business stories, useful lessons and questions that make you think differently about growth, you’re in the right place.Find more details about the podcast www.businessgrowthtalks.comJoin my community - https://www.patreon.com/BusinessgrowthtalksFind me onLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-hayward-163721a0/Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/markjhayward​Twitter - https://twitter.com/markhayward169TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@mjh169183

Information

  • Creator
    Mark Hayward
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    636
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Business Growth Talks
  • Show Website
    Business Growth Talks