1 DAY AGO

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.

1hr 7min

29 APR

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

22 APR

From Emmy-Nominated Journalist to Language Architect: Michelle Ponto's Global Journey

In this episode, we sit down with Emmy-nominated journalist and global communications expert Michelle Ponto to explore her fascinating career journey across three continents. Michelle shares her insights on the courage it takes to leave a comfortable career in the US and move to places like Saudi Arabia and the UAE to build new ventures. KEY TAKEAWAYS Embrace change and take calculated risks: Leaving a comfortable job to explore unknown territories, like moving from the US to Saudi Arabia to help build a university newsroom, can lead to unprecedented career growth. Take control of your personal brand: If you do not actively update your personal brand and tell your own story, others will write it for you based on outdated information. Be a language architect: Effective communication requires building a solid foundation of messaging rather than just using generic words, ensuring your core values are clear across all platforms. Avoid AI-generated fluff: While AI is a powerful tool for writing, it often produces generic corporate jargon, meaning you must inject your unique perspective and specific facts to stand out. Maintain consistency across channels: Your core message should remain identical whether it is on a website, a press release, or a podcast, even if the delivery format changes. BEST MOMENTS "Sometimes you just have to go where the journey takes you." "If you're not always talking and updating people, your personal brand whatever you're doing is stuck in somebody else's mind and it is incorrect. And they make up your own history for you and your own future." "If you don't change, your brain I think kind of can go to mush." "Language is almost like a system... you find these key stories, these key things that will be interesting to your audience, and you build your messaging from there." "AI won't know your personal stories; it will only know what it can find on the internet." 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

15 APR

From Dyslexic Dropout to Multimillion-Pound Empire: The James Martin Story

In this inspiring episode, Brad sits down with James Martin better known online as "Dyslexic James" to uncover how he transformed his early educational struggles into a multimillion-pound property and business empire. Expelled from school at 14, unable to read or write, James used his familiarity with failure as a superpower, leaning into his relentless determination and unmatched social skills. KEY TAKEAWAYS Early struggles with severe dyslexia made James immune to the fear of failure. Because he was already used to failing in traditional academic settings, he had nothing holding him back from taking risks in business. Instead of letting his inability to read and write stop him, James hired a Personal Assistant at just 18 years old. By outsourcing his weaknesses, he freed himself up to focus entirely on his strengths—sales, networking, and growth. Business is fundamentally about people. If you lack certain technical skills, lean heavily into authenticity, relationship-building, and trust. People buy from people they like and trust. There is a clear evolution from being a "solopreneur" (doing the mechanical work), to an "owner-preneur" (managing the business and team), to an "invest-preneur" (buying businesses and providing stewardship while others run the day-to-day). To scale, you must let go of the tools. Don't rely on the government or external economic conditions to dictate your success. Build a highly profitable business by delivering exceptional, "surprise and delight" customer experiences that keep your pipeline full regardless of the broader economy. BEST MOMENTS "When you're used to failing as much as I did from say six years old to say 14... failure was my friend. It was more prominent in my life than most other things. So I just tried everything and anything." "We are on sale. As business people, we are salespeople of us every single day. I soon learned that my superpower was to be very social and be very capable of meeting new people." "A brand is just about promise. More than anything, that is what defines what your brand is. You say you're going to clean windows, they're going to be clean... and they're going to be at a price point. That is the promise." "They've got to have their own set of scars themselves. You can't just have your scars told to them, they need to feel them... you have got an environment where they are allowed to make mistakes." "You need to be your own economy. You need to make sure your company is making profit to afford these turnover taxes that are crippling companies." 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 18min

9 APR

Beyond the Bank Balance: Why Your Gut Might Be Tanking Your Profits

In this episode, Brad is joined by Tom Griffiths, a former JPMorgan corporate banker turned fractional CFO for SMEs. Tom dives deep into the most common financial pitfalls business owners face like making gut-based decisions instead of data-driven ones, and shares his expert framework for navigating economic shifts. KEY TAKEAWAYS Many business owners mistakenly equate their bank balance with profit, forgetting upcoming liabilities like VAT and Corporation Tax. There is a critical difference between a P&L statement and a cash flow statement; profit is theoretical until the cash is actually collected from the customer. Every business is made of the same basic parts. To fix a business, you must identify and repair only the malfunctioning "part". To protect margins, business owners must have a clear minimum profit target for every project and be willing to walk away if it isn’t met. Tracking cash flow on a rolling 13-week basis is the most effective way to prevent crises and make proactive decisions. BEST MOMENTS "It's very easy to get into the trap... of making decisions based on how much money's in the bank account... and forgetting that we have upcoming liabilities." "We're just tax collectors for the government, basically. The VAT and the corporation tax—it was never really our money in the first place." "Financial statements were designed by accountants, for accountants... no wonder it’s easier to just look at your bank account." "You can't cut your way to growth. You can cut your way to improved margins, but there’s a limit to how far that can go." "For every small business that's struggling, there is one that's doing tremendously well... the way we choose to see the world isn't out of our control." 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. I

57 min

1 APR

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

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

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

Working On It

From a VW Polo to a £10M Electrical Empire

Perfect Teams: Decoding the Psychology of Success with Neil Tuson

From Emmy-Nominated Journalist to Language Architect: Michelle Ponto's Global Journey

From Dyslexic Dropout to Multimillion-Pound Empire: The James Martin Story

Beyond the Bank Balance: Why Your Gut Might Be Tanking Your Profits

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

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

Trade Growth Club – Unleashing Your Business Potential

Trailer

Working On It | Trailer

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Working On It

Episodes

From a VW Polo to a £10M Electrical Empire

Perfect Teams: Decoding the Psychology of Success with Neil Tuson

From Emmy-Nominated Journalist to Language Architect: Michelle Ponto's Global Journey

From Dyslexic Dropout to Multimillion-Pound Empire: The James Martin Story

Beyond the Bank Balance: Why Your Gut Might Be Tanking Your Profits

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

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

Trade Growth Club – Unleashing Your Business Potential

Trailer

About

Information

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