Working On It

Brad Staines
  • 5.0 (8)
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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. Beyond the Buzzwords - Strategic Marketing that Drives Results

    13 HR AGO

    Beyond the Buzzwords - Strategic Marketing that Drives Results

    In this episode, Brad sits down with marketing strategist Chris Burton of ‘The Marketing Centre’ to pull back the curtain on what truly drives business growth in 2026. Moving far beyond the surface-level tactics of SEO and pay-per-click ads, Chris explains his ‘Marketing Orchestra’ philosophy, where technology, messaging, and people must be perfectly synchronised to create a high-impact brand. KEY TAKEAWAYS Successful marketing isn't about a single tool; it’s about the synergy between the ‘instruments’ (tools like Google Ads or AI), the ‘music’ (your messaging and tone), and the ‘conductor’ (strategy). Exceptional customer experience is defined by doing the unexpected. Small, innovative shifts in how you treat customers can lead to massive increases in referrals and lifetime value. Small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) have a distinct advantage in their ability to pivot quickly. By leveraging AI to accelerate research, they can outmaneuver slow-moving corporate competitors. A brand isn't just a logo; it’s the internal culture of the business. When employees are aligned with the brand's values, they naturally deliver the ‘operating standards’ that keep customers coming back. To avoid the ‘Red Ocean’ of cutthroat price wars, businesses must identify their ‘sweet spot’ - the intersection of what they do best and what the market uniquely needs. BEST MOMENTS "Marketing shouldn’t be a cost; it should be a profit driver, a growth driver, contributing actively in the fiscal year and beyond". "The instruments are the tools, the music you play is the messaging and the tonality of it all. I need to be the conductor, not the instrument player". "Customer experience is what your customers feel and actually experience. It’s not what you say; it’s how you say it. It’s not what you do; it’s how you do it". "Brand exists because what it does is it helps attract the right people to your business. That’s customers, but it’s also talent". "A customer that strongly recommends your business typically creates eight times their own lifetime value through recommendation". 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.

    1h 7m
  2. Unleashing the Digital Workforce with Dr. Alok

    4 FEB

    Unleashing the Digital Workforce with Dr. Alok

    In this high-energy conversation, Dr. Aalok from Implement AI joins the show to demystify the rapidly evolving landscape of Artificial Intelligence. Moving beyond the ‘Google search’ mentality, Alok explains how AI is a general-purpose technology, akin to electricity or fire, that can act as a ‘spectral night vision’ for business owners to see opportunities they previously missed. From automating mundane tasks to building full-scale digital colleagues like ‘Neo’ and ‘Morpheus’, the episode explores how curiosity-driven entrepreneurs can leverage AI to gain an unfair advantage. KEY TAKEAWAYS Don't view AI as a simple chatbot; view it as a tool that allows you to see data patterns, customer needs, and business inefficiencies that are invisible to the naked eye. Start by augmenting yourself (speeding up your own tasks), then augmenting your team (standardising processes), and finally reaching transformation (redefining revenue capacity and customer experience). To get the best results from AI, you must feed it your ‘company DNA’, your specific tone of voice, ethos, and unique industry insights, rather than asking for generic content. We all have a limited ‘budget’ of attention each day. Success comes from automating or avoiding distractions so you can apply your focus to high-impact, creative decisions. 2026 is a ‘compression year’ where technological advancement is moving at an unprecedented pace. Those who experiment and implement now will be ‘above the fog’ while others are left struggling to take off. BEST MOMENTS "Use AI like special glasses, spectral night vision, to see things that other people couldn't see before." "You're not limited by technology; you're limited by creativity." "If you're a free user, you're the product. When you pay, you're the partner." "It’s more elegant to avoid than to say no. Guard your attention; it’s your most valuable currency." "It’s not what you don't know that gets you; it’s what you think you know that isn't true." 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.

    1h 2m
  3. The Psychology of Branding: Why Personal Connection Wins in a Digital World

    28 JAN

    The Psychology of Branding: Why Personal Connection Wins in a Digital World

    In this episode, Brad dives deep into the fascinating intersection of psychology and branding with Claire Marshall, founder of Brand Mixology. Claire shares her unique journey from corporate recruitment to hypnotherapy, and ultimately, to helping founders build powerful personal brands. We explore why ‘yellow pages’ advertising is dead, how our primal need for human connection influences buying decisions, and why AI should enhance, not replace, your authentic voice.  KEY TAKEAWAYS Success comes from owning your unique blend of experiences, skills, and personality quirks.  In an era of AI-generated content and endless ads, consumers crave authentic human connection. Building trust through a personal brand is more effective than shouting the loudest. True accountability isn't about being told off; it's about having a support system or community that validates your progress and keeps you moving toward your goals when motivation wanes. Avoid ‘throwing spaghetti at the wall’. Use Claire's ‘Vivid Framework’ (Vision, Identity, Visibility, Innovation, Data) to ensure every marketing action aligns with your core business goals and customer needs. Don’t ignore the numbers. Regularly reviewing simple metrics, like engagement or consistency, can reveal what’s actually working, allowing you to pivot before you waste resources on ineffective strategies. BEST MOMENTS "You can only see the journey when you join the dots backwards." "Success comes from your own mix of experiences, of the trial and error, and also of what makes you unique." "You don't ask somebody to marry you on day one... [that's] probably not the most effective strategy." "All data is good data. I think sometimes people don't want to look at it because the data can be stuff you don't want to hear, but actually that's the good stuff to hear." "If you can really own who you are and what you want that life to be... take that stand aside from what is considered the 'safer route'." 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 hr
  4. Biohacking Your Bones: The Future of Strength & Longevity with Ryan Ashford-Smit

    21 JAN

    Biohacking Your Bones: The Future of Strength & Longevity with Ryan Ashford-Smit

    In this episode, Brad sits down with Ryan Ashford-Smit, the co-owner of the UK’s first OsteoStrong centre in Tunbridge Wells. Ryan shares his fascinating journey from a career in architecture and lighting design in South Africa to becoming a pioneer in the UK biohacking space. They dive deep into the science of ‘osteogenic loading’, a method of strengthening the skeletal system that takes just 15 minutes a week. Ryan explains how high-impact force is the missing key to longevity, how he reversed his own knee arthritis, and why we should all be training like athletes for our ‘Quantum Decade’, the last ten years of our lives. If you are interested in future-proofing your body, reversing aging, or simply understanding the hidden foundation of physical strength, this conversation is a must-listen. KEY TAKEAWAYS Bones are not just static structures; they are living, breathing organs similar to the heart and lungs. Just like muscles, they require specific stimuli to remain healthy and can decondition without it. There is a neurological connection between bone density and muscle strength. If your bones (the chassis) are weak, your central nervous system limits your muscle output to prevent self-injury. Strengthening the bone removes this governor, allowing for greater muscle gains. To trigger new bone growth, the skeletal system needs to experience forces of roughly 4x body weight. This is nearly impossible to do safely in a traditional gym, but is the core principle behind OsteoStrong’s robotic loading technology. The decisions you make regarding your health in your 40s and 50s dictate the quality of your life in your 70s and 80s. Training now is about ensuring you have the mobility to put your own luggage in the overhead locker during your final decade. Biohacking and training provide the stimulus for growth, but the actual repair happens during rest. Without adequate sleep and protein intake, the body cannot utilise the stimulus to build denser bone and stronger tissue. BEST MOMENTS "I learned that bones are living, breathing organs, like your heart or your lungs." "No trust, no transaction." "Thinking about the last 10 years of your life, we should all be training like athletes for that quantum decade." "No one plans to be in a mobility scooter. Some plan ‘not’ to be in one." "Your bone strength becomes your new limitation, athletes realise the only way they can break through that barrier is to improve their bone strength." 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.

    58 min
  5. Redefining Poker as a Tool for Corporate Team Building and Skills Development

    14 JAN

    Redefining Poker as a Tool for Corporate Team Building and Skills Development

    In this episode, Jo shares with Brad her remarkable journey from investment banking to founding Aces High, a corporate team-building initiative that reimagines poker as a skills-building experience without the gambling aspect. She discusses the profound personal challenges she faced, including the loss of loved ones, which prompted her to seek a more meaningful career. Jo highlights the parallels between poker and business strategy, emphasizing the importance of patience, discipline, and the ability to assess risks. KEY TAKEAWAYS Life's challenges, such as personal losses, can serve as catalysts for change. Embracing these moments can lead to significant personal and professional growth, encouraging individuals to pursue their passions and take calculated risks. Poker teaches valuable life skills such as patience, discipline, and strategic thinking. These skills can be applied in business settings, helping individuals navigate high-stakes situations and make informed decisions. Recognising when to cut losses is crucial in both poker and business. It's important to assess situations objectively and make decisions that minimise potential losses rather than stubbornly holding on to failing ventures. Maintaining a calm and composed mindset is essential for effective decision-making. Practicing mindfulness can help individuals respond thoughtfully rather than react impulsively, especially in high-pressure situations. Engaging in activities like poker can boost confidence and assertiveness, particularly among women. By creating inclusive environments and encouraging participation, individuals can develop skills that translate into professional success and personal growth. BEST MOMENTS "I think sometimes it's the cracks that let the light in, right? It's those moments where you think, well, actually, what is important to me?" "Poker teaches you about patience and discipline, statistics and picking your moments." "I realized I've got aces and there was no way I was folding." "It's about authenticity. I absolutely would have had that what if, and I probably wouldn't have forgiven myself." "You don't need to gamble to take the value from poker." 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.

    1h 1m
  6. From Stripper to Fitness Coach: Gav's Unconventional Journey into the Fat Loss Code

    7 JAN

    From Stripper to Fitness Coach: Gav's Unconventional Journey into the Fat Loss Code

    In this episode, Brad sits down with Gav, a fitness expert with a unique background in sports science and a 17-year career in male stripping. Gav shares his unconventional journey into the fitness industry, detailing how he transitioned from entertaining audiences to becoming a personal trainer and eventually moving his business online. They discuss the complexities of weight loss, emphasising the importance of understanding calories in versus calories out, and the psychological aspects of dieting. Gav highlights the significance of changing one's identity to achieve sustainable weight loss, discussing how mindset and discipline play crucial roles in long-term success. KEY TAKEAWAYS Achieving and maintaining weight loss requires a fundamental change in identity. Individuals must see themselves as someone who engages in healthy behaviours, such as exercising regularly and making mindful food choices. Weight management fundamentally revolves around the principle of calories in versus calories out. To lose weight, one must consume fewer calories than they burn, but this equation is influenced by various factors, including metabolism, activity level, and the thermic effect of food. High protein intake is crucial for weight loss and satiety. Increasing protein levels can help individuals feel fuller and more satisfied, making it easier to adhere to a calorie deficit. Motivation can get someone started on their fitness journey, but discipline is what sustains long-term success. Building discipline involves saying no to unhealthy choices and developing habits that align with one's health goals. Finding the right caloric intake for weight loss is often a process of trial and error. It's essential to monitor how one feels and responds to different calorie levels, adjusting as necessary to ensure sustainable progress. BEST MOMENTS "Calories in, calories out, is a very simplistic way of describing a quite complex equation that is always going on. But it is absolutely 100% true." "The perception of hunger is very different to one person to the next." "If you don't believe that I'm someone that gets 10,000 steps a day, or hits the gym three days a week, you'll never have that six-pack." "I like to be quite aggressive in the first two weeks. If we can get someone to lose five, six pounds in the first two or three weeks, their level of trust has just gone through the roof." 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

    45 min
  7. Building Cathedrals, Not Just Laying Bricks: The Importance of Vision in Life

    2 JAN

    Building Cathedrals, Not Just Laying Bricks: The Importance of Vision in Life

    To kick off the new year, Brad interviews mindset coach Paul, who shares his remarkable journey from a challenging childhood to becoming the youngest cruise director in the world. Paul reflects on how his early experiences in acting and a desire to escape his past shaped his mindset and fuelled his ambition. He discusses the transformative power of positive thinking and the importance of evolving one's mindset to achieve personal goals. KEY TAKEAWAYS The journey to becoming a mindset coach began with a desire to escape a challenging childhood. Engaging in acting provided an early outlet for self-expression and exploration, which later translated into a passion for helping others change their thinking. Exposure to books like "The Power of Positive Thinking" and "The Power of the Subconscious Mind" ignited a belief in the potential to control one's thoughts and emotions, leading to significant personal and professional achievements, including becoming the youngest cruise director in the world. The importance of experiences over material possessions is emphasised. True fulfillment comes from meaningful experiences and relationships rather than simply accumulating wealth or status. A structured approach called "Engage" was developed, consisting of six steps: Evolve, Nirvana, Grace, Action, Grit, and Education. This framework guides individuals in transforming their mindset and achieving their goals. Emphasising the need for resilience, the discussion highlights that challenges are a natural part of life. Viewing setbacks as feedback rather than failures is crucial for personal growth and maintaining a positive mindset. BEST MOMENTS "I came to the understanding that you can become anything you want if you can control your thinking and your emotions." "I decided to believe in myself, and it was the most apparent thing ever, because I made up in my head that I was going to prove him wrong." "If you're a miserable person, it doesn't matter where you go in the world; you can go to Mexico on holiday, and you'll still be miserable." "It's really funny that something when you're a child can shape the rest of your life." "The key to success is to live in what I call a state of grace and grace is the system to do this." 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.

    1h 29m
  8. How Vibe Agency is Automating NHS Processes

    17/12/2025

    How Vibe Agency is Automating NHS Processes

    In this episode, Taz shares his journey into the tech world, beginning with his childhood in Chelmsford and his early fascination with technology during the dial-up era. He recounts building his first website at 16 for his father's printing business, which sparked his interest in user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) design. Taz discusses his placement at IBM, where he honed his skills in marketing software, and how this experience fueled his entrepreneurial spirit, leading him to co-found Vibe Agency shortly after graduation. KEY TAKEAWAYS The journey into tech began in the teenage years, sparked by experiences with early internet technologies like dial-up and MSN Messenger, leading to the creation of a first website at age 16. The initial fascination with technology shifted from coding to understanding user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) design, emphasising the importance of improving user journeys and processes. After graduating, the decision was made to start a business immediately, driven by a desire for independence and entrepreneurship, leading to the founding of a web development agency with friends. The agency has worked with the NHS for over a decade, focusing on automating manual processes to improve efficiency, such as developing booking platforms and reporting tools for training hubs. BEST MOMENTS "I remember at the age of 16, I built my first website. What fascinated me was actually not the code, it was actually the experience." "When one door closes, another one opens. I always kind of look at it in the sense that when one door closes, another one opens." "If we can automate that, can we make more space for the human element to grow?" "The reality is that the bits that are being automated are the bits that are taking the admin and heavy processes that are causing the pain for the businesses." "We went in and we said, look, why does it have to be done manually? Like you're a small team. Capacity is massively a big problem in the NHS." 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.

    1h 3m
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About

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

Information

  • Creator
    Brad Staines
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    22
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Show Website
    Working On It