What One Thing?

Phil Davenport and Hayley Baxter
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One business. One lesson. Every episode.  Real businesses. Real stories. Real-time. What One Thing? is the straight-talking bi-weekly podcast for growing UK businesses with a team who are on the move — building, scaling, and figuring it out as they go. Join co-hosts Hayley Baxter (Corbar Accounting) and Phil Davenport (Affirm IT) as they chat with fellow business owners and share their own lessons from the journey — the things they wish they'd known, the wins, the wobbles, and the one thing that made the biggest difference. Each episode is 15–25 minutes of real-world insight, a few laughs, and practical takeaways to help you grow a better business — without the fluff. 🎙️ Expect: Honest interviews with business owners on the growTopic episodes on key business challengesStraight answers, no jargonOne clear lesson, every week👀 Also on YouTube — because yes, it’s filmed too. 📍 Based in Derbyshire, speaking to businesses across the UK. New episodes fortnightly — follow to catch the next one.

  1. We Tried a 30-Day Business Challenge… did we win or learn?

    8H AGO

    We Tried a 30-Day Business Challenge… did we win or learn?

    Phil Davenport and Hayley Baxter reflect on their attempt to implement a 30-day relationship-building challenge inspired by their own podcast advice. What started with good intentions — outreach messages, networking coffees, introductions, and accountability — slowly became overwhelming as real business life got in the way. In this honest conversation, they unpack: why consistency is harder than motivationthe pressure business owners put on themselvesrelationship-building in growing businessesaccountability vs competitivenessand why slower, more sustainable habits often work better long termA thoughtful episode for business owners trying to balance growth, networking, marketing, and actually running the business at the same time. 🎙️ Brought to you by Corbar Accounting and Affirm IT Services Ltd.

    15 min
  2. Be Real - Why Pretending Everything's Fine Is Hurting Your Business - Marc Johnson

    MAY 6

    Be Real - Why Pretending Everything's Fine Is Hurting Your Business - Marc Johnson

    Marc’s What One Thing is: Be real. In this episode, we explore the pressure many business owners feel to look successful, polished, and “together” — even when reality feels very different behind the scenes. Marc shares his experience growing up in a family business, the pressure to prove himself, and how networking changed once he stopped trying to project perfection and started having more honest conversations. We also discuss: vulnerability in leadershipauthentic networkingmanaging teams as humans, not resourcesbalancing professionalism with personalitythe difference between honesty and oversharingwhy real relationships grow better businesses A very human conversation about leadership, business culture, and letting your guard down a little. Brought to you by Corbar Accounting and Affirm IT Services Connect with: Marc Johnson Phil Davenport Hayley Baxter

    35 min
  3. Why Your Ideal Client Isn’t Who You Think - Diyar Abdullah

    APR 22

    Why Your Ideal Client Isn’t Who You Think - Diyar Abdullah

    Why do some deals close instantly… while others drag on forever and go nowhere? In this episode of What One Thing, we sit down with Diyar to break down a different way of thinking about sales, marketing, and lead generation. Instead of focusing on your product or service, this conversation explores how understanding data, timing, and buyer intent can completely change how you win business. We talk about: Why “ideal client” might not mean what you thinkThe difference between a good fit and a deal that actually closesHow to use your existing customers to identify patternsWhy most businesses are unknowingly targeting the wrong peopleThe role of timing, triggers, and personal context in buying decisionsHow to build a simple but powerful data-led approach to growthIf you’ve ever felt like your marketing should be working… but isn’t converting, this episode will help you rethink where to focus. Brought to you by Corbar Accounting and Affirm IT Services Ltd. Connect with: Diyar Abdullah Phil Davenport Hayley Baxter

    31 min
  4. The One Thing That Stops You Doing Everything in Your Business - John Lamerton

    APR 8

    The One Thing That Stops You Doing Everything in Your Business - John Lamerton

    In this episode of What One Thing, we sit down with entrepreneur and author John Lamerton to explore the single shift that transformed his business — and his life. After years of running multiple businesses, working long hours, and trying to do everything himself, John hit breaking point. A health scare forced him to rethink how he was working and led him to a powerful realisation: You don’t need to do more. You need to focus on one thing. John shares how he went from being a “busy fool” juggling everything — from marketing to operations to finance — to focusing on his role as the marketer of his business. We cover: • Why doing everything holds your business back • How to identify your “one thing” • The dangers of constant busyness and burnout • Practical ways to simplify your workload • How to capture ideas without getting distracted • Why focus beats productivity every time This episode is for business owners who feel overwhelmed, stretched too thin, or stuck in the day-to-day running of their business. 🎧 If you’re ready to stop doing everything and start focusing on what actually moves the needle, this one’s for you. John's Website

    26 min
  5. How to Build a Consistent Pipeline: Our 30-Day Relationship Building Experiment

    MAR 25

    How to Build a Consistent Pipeline: Our 30-Day Relationship Building Experiment

    If you’ve ever listened to business podcasts and thought “this is great… but I’ll never actually do it” — this episode is for you. In this special episode of the What One Thing podcast, Hayley Baxter and Phil Davenport do something different. Instead of just discussing the ideas shared by successful founders, they commit to implementing one — properly. The focus? Building better relationships as a growth strategy. Over the next 30 days, they set clear targets: 5 meaningful outreach messages per week1 coffee or Zoom conversation1 introduction between contacts1 follow-up with someone already in their networkNo selling. No pitching. Just intentional relationship building. They also open up about the real challenges behind business growth: Inconsistent lead generation pipelinesRelying too heavily on referralsThe discomfort of outreach (especially as an “extroverted introvert”)The gap between knowing what works… and actually doing itThis episode is the starting point of a live business experiment — tracking whether small, consistent actions can create real growth. If you're a business owner looking for more consistent leads, stronger relationships, and a more intentional way to grow your business — this is one to follow. 🎯 Subscribe to follow the full 30-day implementation journey

    10 min
  6. How To Use AI Without The Hype - Ian Lockwood

    MAR 11

    How To Use AI Without The Hype - Ian Lockwood

    There’s a lot of noise around AI — but most small business owners don’t need more hype. They need practical ways to reduce pressure, improve customer experience, and scale without adding unnecessary cost. In this episode, Ian Lockwood shares how he implemented an AI chatbot across multiple websites to reduce inbound calls, automate parts of the quote process, and improve the customer journey — with a clear warning about guardrails and AI “hallucinations”. In this episode, we cover: Why “What problem would it actually solve?” is the best starting pointHow AI chatbots can reduce repetitive inbound calls and improve response timeThe real risk of overpromising — and how to build guardrailsWhat implementation looks like for non-technical business ownersWhen integration gets complex (stock, quotes, delivery updates)Building a usable knowledge base — and why formatting and context matter What One Thing is a podcast for thinking business owners talking to thinking business owners — grounded conversations that focus on what’s useful, not what’s trendy. Hosted by Phil Davenport and Hayley Baxter. Brought to you by Corbar Accounting and Affirm IT Services Ltd. If you’ve been experimenting with AI (or avoiding it), share your “one thing” in the comments — what’s the one business problem you’d actually want AI to solve? And if you found this useful, subscribe for more practical episodes.

    34 min

  7. FEB 25

    Know Your Numbers - Debbie Porter

    If you’re bringing in revenue but still not seeing the profit you expect, this episode is for you. Debbie Porter (Destination Digital Marketing) shares how COVID forced a hard reset — and why ‘knowing your numbers’ became the habit that protects profit, reduces risk, and helps you lead your business with clarity. In this episode we cover: • Moving from gut feel to numbers-led leadership • Pricing from costs + margin (not competitors) • ‘Whales’ and why big clients can become a risk • Why Xero shows the past — and what to add to forecast forwards • Avoiding surprise VAT and corporation tax bills • Building a simple sales ledger to spot gaps early

    32 min
  8. Growth Without Freedom Isn’t Success – Bev Flanagan

    FEB 11

    Growth Without Freedom Isn’t Success – Bev Flanagan

    What does it actually take to build a business (an accountancy practice in Bev's case) that doesn’t rely on you 24/7? In this episode of What One Thing?, we’re joined by accountant, coach and international speaker Bev Flanagan. Bev shares how she went from being constantly “on” for clients — even while supporting her sister abroad — to building a fully systemised, cloud-based accountancy practice that allowed her to travel, work from anywhere, and ultimately sell her firm. We cover: • How to stop creating a job and start building a business asset • Why systems and pricing are critical for time freedom • The mindset shift every accountant must make to grow • How to move from firefighting to long-term planning • What to do if you feel stuck in your accountancy practice If you’re an accountant, bookkeeper or service-based business owner who feels chained to your desk, this episode will resonate. Bev now coaches accountants and bookkeepers to build scalable, profitable firms with clarity and confidence. 🎯 Her one thing? Plan what you actually want — and reverse engineer it. — 🔗 Connect with Bev: Website: https://www.bevflanaganbff.com/ Email: bev@bevflanagan.com LinkedIn — What One Thing? is the bi-weekly podcast for growing UK business owners with a team. Brought to you by Corbar Accounting and Affirm IT Services. Subscribe for practical insights, honest conversations, and real-world lessons from business owners building something bigger.

    34 min
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About

One business. One lesson. Every episode.  Real businesses. Real stories. Real-time. What One Thing? is the straight-talking bi-weekly podcast for growing UK businesses with a team who are on the move — building, scaling, and figuring it out as they go. Join co-hosts Hayley Baxter (Corbar Accounting) and Phil Davenport (Affirm IT) as they chat with fellow business owners and share their own lessons from the journey — the things they wish they'd known, the wins, the wobbles, and the one thing that made the biggest difference. Each episode is 15–25 minutes of real-world insight, a few laughs, and practical takeaways to help you grow a better business — without the fluff. 🎙️ Expect: Honest interviews with business owners on the growTopic episodes on key business challengesStraight answers, no jargonOne clear lesson, every week👀 Also on YouTube — because yes, it’s filmed too. 📍 Based in Derbyshire, speaking to businesses across the UK. New episodes fortnightly — follow to catch the next one.

Information

  • Creator
    Phil Davenport and Hayley Baxter
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    36
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Phil Davenport and Hayley Baxter
  • Show Website
    What One Thing?