Working On It

Brad Staines
  • 5.0 (8)
  • CAREERS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

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 80/20 Rule: Balancing Science, Drive, and Personal Growth

    3 DAYS AGO

    The 80/20 Rule: Balancing Science, Drive, and Personal Growth

    Today, Brad interviews Christina Robinson, who shares her extraordinary journey of self-reinvention, beginning with her transition from redundancy to becoming a successful business owner in the marketing industry. Christina discusses the pivotal role social media played in her career and how she eventually orchestrated a management buyout to own her agency. However, the narrative takes a profound turn as Christina recounts a life-altering medical emergency in 2025 that challenged her physical abilities but strengthened her mental resolve.  KEY TAKEAWAYS Christina highlights that life often requires us to recreate ourselves multiple times, and dropping out of traditional paths (like university) can lead to discovering true passions, such as social media and marketing. Christina introduces her ‘COGH’ model for overcoming adversity:  Community (having the right people around you) Vision (owning where you want to go) Reality (understanding your current situation) Happy (finding joy in the journey). True success in business and personal branding comes from removing the ‘mask’ and being the same person in every environment, from a boardroom pitch to a 2 AM reflection in the mirror. In marketing, focus 80% on educational, inspirational, and motivational content, and only 20% on direct sales to build a loyal audience. When faced with a prognosis that she might never walk again, Christina focused on the ‘possible’ rather than the ‘unlikely’, using the same mental tools that helped her succeed in business to navigate her physical recovery. BEST MOMENTS "You get to a point in life and you realise that you've recreated yourself way too many times." "Success to me is the freedom to be who I am every hour of the day." "The mind only knows what you tell it." "Unlikely means it’s possible, and I’m going to focus there." "Everything happens for you, not to you." 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.

    1hr 30min
  2. Leading from the Front: Navigating the Jump from Site Work to Leadership

    25 MAR

    Leading from the Front: Navigating the Jump from Site Work to Leadership

    In this episode, Brad sits down with Dan Gurney to discuss his unique career trajectory, transitioning from the host's personal trainer to ascending the ranks as Operations Manager at Aquamark. Dan shares the challenges of moving from hands-on site work to managing a growing team, emphasizing the critical importance of maintaining strict standards, leaning on the "teacup method" to stay calm under pressure, and always leading by example.  KEY TAKEAWAYS Lead from the Front: Transitioning into management requires setting the standard and maintaining clear expectations across the board. The Power of Discipline: Motivation is fleeting, but discipline is what gets the job done on tough days. Sticking to non-negotiables and pushing through difficult moments ultimately generates the motivation needed to keep moving forward. Always Have a Backup Plan: In operations, unexpected challenges are inevitable. Staying calm under pressure and ensuring you always have a Plan B and Plan C allows the team to pivot smoothly without panicking. Embrace Accountability: A blame culture is toxic to any growing business. Fostering an environment where team members own up to mistakes and use them as active learning opportunities is vital for long-term organizational success. Prioritize Your Own Well-being: You cannot effectively lead a team or support your family if you are burnt out. Committing to your own health and happiness acts like putting on your own oxygen mask first, equipping you to be a stronger, more present leader and parent. BEST MOMENTS "Leaders have to lead. As in, whether I'm in the office or on the field, I've always led from the front." "Discipline creates motivation when all motivation isn't there... once you've done what you should be doing, that motivates you to continue." "If you make a mistake, be accountable for it. I think in order for you to grow, you have to understand where you made the mistake and be accountable for it." "I didn't start as a window cleaner, I started actually as a personal trainer... but I think definitely those fundamentals and the foundations that I learned, work ethic, the simple things I learned in the gym, definitely shaped the way I was going to go about window cleaning." "I just want to inspire people. I think that's a major thing for me this year is like, be like an inspiration if you can." 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
  3. Trade Growth Club – Unleashing Your Business Potential

    18 MAR

    Trade Growth Club – Unleashing Your Business Potential

    Today, Chris and Brad take a look at the challenges and triumphs of building a successful business in the trade and construction industry. They share personal anecdotes, discuss the importance of a supportive community, and unveil the ‘Magic Seven’ pillars for sustainable growth. From mastering financial management to cultivating a strong brand vision, this episode is a treasure trove of insights for ambitious business owners. KEY TAKEAWAYS Surrounding yourself with like-minded individuals who understand the unique challenges of the trade industry is crucial for growth and emotional support. Success in the trade business hinges on seven key areas: vision, marketing, sales, operations, finance, team building, and scaling up. Understanding and regularly monitoring your P&L, cash flow, and balance sheets is the lifeblood of any successful company. It’s essential to move beyond simply paying bills and focus on producing profit after all expenses and stakeholders are paid. While information is readily available, the key to success lies in taking deliberate, strategic action and having accountability for those actions. BEST MOMENTS "Running a business can get lonely. Sometimes you don't need more hustle, you need more clarity, structure, and the right people around you." "The number one rule or the number one purpose of a business is to make money and produce profit." "The finances are the blood of the company. You have to get that first—for investment, for paying bills, for growing." "Build your business to sell, whether you're going to sell or not, because then it gives you options." "Action is literally the enemy of procrastination, and it will move you forward." 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.

    47 min
  4. Beyond Social Media: Creating a Memorable Personal Brand

    11 MAR

    Beyond Social Media: Creating a Memorable Personal Brand

    In this episode, entrepreneur and personal branding expert Kelly Lundberg shares her journey from a cabin crew member in Dubai to becoming an authority on personal branding. Kelly shares the defining moments that led her to recognise the importance of personal branding, particularly her experience with luxury retailer Harvey Nichols. She breaks down her ‘Seven Pillars of Personal Branding’ and explores the power of storytelling and consistency across multiple platforms. Kelly also shares her insights on professional growth, the impact of environment, and how personal branding is about evolving into the version of yourself you aspire to be. KEY TAKEAWAYS Personal branding is often about transitioning from being ‘hidden’ to being ‘seen’, often providing the confidence and clarity that people are truly buying into. A successful personal brand must be consistent across multiple digital platforms, including LinkedIn, Instagram, websites, and even search results. Your personal brand sits at the top and evolves with you, while business activities and joint ventures may come and go beneath it. Effective personal branding requires an intentional strategy (who you are and what you want to be known for) before jumping into social media content. Storytelling is a crucial element of personal branding that allows for a relational experience, moving beyond generic AI-generated content. BEST MOMENTS "While you think that you're offering transformation and personal branding, ultimately what people are buying into is confidence." "Dubai is the home of reinvention. And more than that, presence and brand is very much Emirates standards." "Your personal brand never stays still. It always evolves. You evolve as a person." "Visibility is your responsibility. No one else is going to talk about you than you." "It's the small things done consistently that makes you memorable, not one big thing." 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.

    1hr 5min
  5. Why You Need a 'Must-Not-Have' List for Your Next Hire

    4 MAR

    Why You Need a 'Must-Not-Have' List for Your Next Hire

    In this episode, Brad sits down with recruitment expert Daniel Langley, founder of his own agency with a decade of experience in the industry. Daniel shares his journey from a successful career as a personal trainer to becoming a specialist in MES and smart manufacturing recruitment. They dive deep into the post-COVID landscape of hiring, exploring the challenges of inflation, the impact of AI, and the ongoing debate between remote and in-office work. Daniel provides actionable advice for both companies and job seekers, emphasising the importance of structured interviews, the power of a ‘don't-want’ list, and the necessity of building a visible personal brand in today’s digital market. KEY TAKEAWAYS A bad hire can cost a company up to 200% of that employee's salary when factoring in recruitment fees, training, onboarding, and lost productivity. Beyond defining the perfect candidate, companies should create a ‘red line’ list of traits and qualifications they absolutely do not want to protect the company culture. A successful hiring process should include at least three stages: a line manager interview, a ‘peer-to-peer interview’ to assess team fit, and a final meeting with the CEO or founder. For professionals seeking growth, being visible, particularly on platforms like LinkedIn, and quantifying your specific impact (outcomes over responsibilities) is essential for triggering promotions. Companies should strive to be in a state of constant recruitment rather than ‘turning the tap on’ only when a desperate need arises, allowing them to hire for potential rather than just immediate relief. BEST MOMENTS "The riches are in the niches. You just can't be a generalist; you've got to zero in on one micro area." "I think you have to be delusional. You have to be delusional about what you can achieve and you've got to pitch into existence what you dream." "I've always been a big believer in you either win or you learn." "AI is excellent at repeatable tasks. The big differentiator is being able to talk about your impact, being able to demonstrate that you can make decisions, assess risks." "Your LinkedIn profile should be treated as a professional digital CV." 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.

    55 min
  6. From Dental Nurse to Senior Property Manager in Dubai

    25 FEB

    From Dental Nurse to Senior Property Manager in Dubai

    In this engaging episode, Brad interviews Beth Lancaster, a Senior Property Manager at FirstPort. Beth shares her fascinating career journey, starting as a dental nurse on minimum wage to making a bold move to Dubai at age 26, where she ‘faked it till she made it’ into the world of luxury skyscraper management. The conversation explores the high-pressure world of facilities management, the importance of proactive communication with residents, and how Beth manages a team of 96 developments.  KEY TAKEAWAYS Beth shares how she transitioned from dental nursing to managing a Dubai skyscraper by being willing to learn on the job and projecting confidence even when she was still learning basic office skills. In property management, silence creates anxiety. Beth emphasises the importance of constant updates, even if there is no new news, to build trust with residents during building emergencies. Successful property managers must be adept at juggling multiple high-priority tasks simultaneously while recognising their limits to ensure service standards don't slip. Beth discusses how her management style evolved through personality profiling (like the ‘Surrounded by Idiots’ workshop), moving from a ‘High Red’ dominant style to a more empathetic ‘High Yellow’ approach. The industry has become significantly more complex with the Building Safety Act, requiring managers to be constantly learning and leveraging new technologies to track compliance and safety. BEST MOMENTS "I was faking it till I made it. I didn't know how to use computers, I didn't know how to file anything, but I just seemed to get away with it." "Over-communicating is definitely going to be better than under-communication... that's where you build up the trust with your residents." "I like to be a medium fish in a big pond. I like to be somebody, but I also like to be surrounded by a lot of other somebodies." "On a Sunday evening, none of my team are feeling sick about going to work the next day. As long as we have that, then we're happy." "The more times you say no, the more successful you can be, because then you focus on the stuff that really matters."  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
  7. Building Boom: Lessons in Growth, Culture, and Exit Strategies with Paul Bulloch

    18 FEB

    Building Boom: Lessons in Growth, Culture, and Exit Strategies with Paul Bulloch

    In this insightful episode, Brad sits down with Paul Bulloch, as they dive deep into the evolution of business over the last 25 years. Paul shares his journey of founding and scaling Concept, a specialist vehicle leasing brokerage, and the eventual sale of the company to Rivervale. From the early days of ‘fire in the belly’ ambition to navigating the 2008 financial crisis, Paul discusses the fundamental shift from traditional marketing to the AI-driven landscape of 2026.  KEY TAKEAWAYS Despite the rapid acceleration of AI and digital communication, business remains fundamentally relationship-based. Real trust is earned through face-to-face interaction and consistent touchpoints. The 2008 financial crisis forced a strategic shift from consumer leasing to a B2B focus. Embracing constraints can lead to discovering a more profitable and sustainable niche. Maintaining a team for 10-15 years requires more than just high salaries; it’s about structure, clear progression paths, and small, consistent acts of recognition that make employees feel valued. Selling a business is a multi-year process. Paul suggests a five-year window to refine systems, clean up credit control, and ensure the business is attractive to potential acquirers. Success in 2026 requires consistent habits, such as regular strategy sessions out of the office and staying ‘present’ in the business while leveraging AI to handle operational heavy lifting. BEST MOMENTS "No trust, no transaction." "You've got to celebrate the wins, little and often, just making sure you take stock, look at what's worked well." "As business owners, quite often the best ideas or best solutions to problems come when you're taking yourself out [of the office]." "You've got to be the best version of yourself, you need to work on yourself massively before the business." "If you're in a hole, the only way to deal with that is to try and grow out of it." 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.

    1hr 8min
  8. Beyond the Buzzwords - Strategic Marketing that Drives Results

    11 FEB

    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.

    1hr 7min
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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
    29
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Show Website
    Working On It