The Next 100 Days Podcast

Kevin Appleby & Graham Arrowsmith
The Next 100 Days Podcast

The Next 100 Days Podcast is a leading UK business show. Through this podcast, Kevin and Graham reveal strategies you can use to improve your business and take it to the next level. In addition to featuring their own advice, Kevin and Graham host amazing guests from across the business world. Often the guests are successful, but lesser-known business owners and entrepreneurs, enabling the show to bring fresh content and stand out from many of the US based business shows. Graham and Kevin believe that business change comes about when a business owner focusses on just one thing that will make a real difference to his business. That might be product development, a new product launch or a marketing campaign. Focussing for less than 100 days, or focussing on too many things generally won't deliver the results you need, Equally, its difficult to maintain effective focus for much longer than 100 days without re-assessing priorities. The Next 100 Days Podcast is your source to learn how to move your business forward, with practical advice and guidance that you can put into action and make a difference in your own organisation within the next 100 days.

  1. 1 DAY AGO

    #463 - Stevie Ward - Truth Speaker

    If you visit Stevie Ward's website, its current headline is Captain, Winner, Truth Speaker. Stevie is a former professional rugby player and part of the golden generation at the Leeds Rhinos, one of the most successful teams in Super League history. He became the youngest grand final winner ever, winning two more Grand Finals and 2 Challenge Cups, and was named captain at just 26. Amongst the highs, Stevie endured ten operations and several mental health struggles. This adversity inspired Stevie to launch Mantality in 2016 to promote mental health for men through counselling, life-coaching services, and a stigma-breaking podcast. Summary of the PodcastIntroductions and casual conversationThe participants, Kevin Appleby, Stevie Ward, and Graham Arrowsmith, engage in casual conversation and banter, discussing topics like Stevie's background in rugby league, the participants' accents and regional origins, and some technical issues with Stevie's video background. Stevie Ward's rugby and personal journeyStevie shares details about his early experiences playing rugby, including transitioning from union to league as a child and the intensity and physicality he brought to the sport. He discusses being one of the youngest captains in Leeds Rhinos history, winning a Grand Final at age 18, and the highs and lows of his professional rugby career, including injuries and a brain injury that led to his retirement at age 26. Stevie's work as a speaker and coachStevie explains how his experiences in rugby, including the challenges he faced, have shaped his work as a speaker and coach. He describes his approach of using stories and metaphors to help leaders and teams explore concepts like vulnerability, psychological safety, and authenticity. Stevie shares how he aims to create transformative experiences for his clients by inviting them to inquire into their own thoughts and feelings. Reflections on the ConversationThe hosts, Graham and Kevin, express their appreciation for Stevie's honesty and vulnerability in sharing his personal journey. They acknowledge the unique perspective and insights Stevie brings and suggest that his experiences and approach could be valuable for a wide range of organizations and leaders. The Next 100 Days Podcast Co-HostsGraham ArrowsmithGraham founded Finely Fettled ten years ago to help business owners and marketers market to affluent and high-net-worth customers. Graham founder of MicroYES, a Partner for MeclabsAI, which combines the world's biggest source of 10,000 marketing experiments with AI. Find Graham on LinkedIn. Kevin ApplebyKevin specialises in finance transformation and implementing business change. He's the COO of GrowCFO, which provides both community and CPD-accredited training designed to grow the next generation of finance leaders. You can find Kevin on LinkedIn and at kevinappleby.com

    39 min
  2. FEB 14

    #462 Christy Pretzinger - Content Marketing

    For more than twenty years, WG Content and Christy Pretzinger have delivered strategy, content marketing, writing, and project management expertise to B2B and B2C audiences. Currently, she concentrates on healthcare. Summary of the PodcastIntroductions and small talkThe participants introduce themselves and engage in casual conversation, discussing their locations in the UK and US and their political views. Graham would love Donald Trump to replace the feckless idiots currently running our country. Christy's content marketing agency backgroundChristy explains how her content marketing agency, originally called "Writer Girl", evolved over the years to serve the healthcare industry, focusing on content strategy and creation for hospital systems and related companies. She discusses the rationale behind their recent rebrand to "WG Content". Unique challenges of healthcare contentChristy outlines the specific challenges of creating content for the healthcare industry, such as the need to write at an appropriate reading level, the importance of subject matter expertise, and the requirement to avoid overly promotional or marketing-driven content. The role of AI and technologyThe group discusses the use of AI and technology tools in Christy's content creation process, including internal systems, plagiarism checks, and the potential future use of generative AI - while emphasizing the importance of maintaining a human touch and oversight. Christy's purpose and leadership approachChristy shares her personal mission of creating environments where people can thrive, and how she has built her business on principles of kindness and relationship-building, rather than pure profit motives. She discusses the challenges of maintaining this approach in the face of industry pressures and trends.  The Next 100 Days Podcast Co-HostsGraham ArrowsmithGraham founded Finely Fettled ten years ago to help business owners and marketers market to affluent and high-net-worth customers. Graham founder of MicroYES, a Partner for MeclabsAI, which combines the world's biggest source of 10,000 marketing experiments with AI. Find Graham on LinkedIn. Kevin ApplebyKevin specialises in finance transformation and implementing business change. He's the COO of GrowCFO, which provides both community and CPD-accredited training designed to grow the next generation of finance leaders. You can find Kevin on LinkedIn and at kevinappleby.com

    51 min
  3. FEB 7

    #461 - TJ Slattery - Crowsnest Consulting

    TJ Slattery is the owner and founder of Crowsnest Consulting. A lifetime entrepreneur and strategic advisor, TJ harnesses his decades of experience to create clarity and stability for business owners immersed in the day-to-day on an entrepreneurial island. Armed with honest, relatable candor (and a stylish neckerchief), TJ leverages his business acumen, experience and relentless curiosity, and enables his clients in the finance space to connect the dots between the business they have and the vision they want to achieve–it’s time to stop treading water and get up into the crowsnest where they belong. TJ can offer invaluable insight into the following topics: Shiny Red Balls: identifying what’s important vs. what’s a distraction.Underpants Gnome Syndrome: understanding ‘step 2’ of the business plan.Tree in the Forest: why the onboarding experience is key for retention. Effective clear direction and training are more important than ever. Onboarding is the magic moment to keep employees engaged.Indiana Jones Moment: scary step into the business void after you’ve done all the prep - there’s no better feeling when you hit the ground.  Summary of the PodcastIntroductions and backgroundTJ Slattery introduces himself as a corporate consultant and strategic advisor who helps small business owners take a "crow's nest" view of their business. He explains his background in entrepreneurship and the concept of "underpants gnome syndrome" - when business owners have a grand vision but lack a clear plan to get there. Identifying and addressing business gapsTJ discusses how he works with clients to create a detailed 12-month performance plan, looking at all aspects of the business (financials, marketing, sales, operations, etc.) to identify gaps and ensure the growth plan is realistic and sustainable. He uses exercises like the "pipe burst" test to uncover the business's weakest points. Ideal client profile and engagement modelTJ explains that his ideal clients are service-based businesses with 3-5 years of experience, revenue of $500K-$1M, and a desire to scale. He typically works with them for 6-month engagements, meeting bi-weekly to implement a roadmap and track progress. The role of AI and technologyTJ discusses how AI and technology may impact his business, noting that the personal touch and strategic advisory role he provides would be difficult to fully automate. However, he sees opportunities to leverage AI tools to enhance his offerings and support his clients.  The Next 100 Days Podcast Co-HostsGraham ArrowsmithGraham founded Finely Fettled ten years ago to help business owners and marketers market to affluent and high-net-worth customers. Graham founder of MicroYES, a Partner for MeclabsAI, which combines the world's biggest source of 10,000 marketing experiments with AI. Find Graham on LinkedIn. Kevin ApplebyKevin specialises in finance transformation and implementing business change. He's the COO of GrowCFO, which provides both community and CPD-accredited training designed to grow the next generation of finance leaders. You can find Kevin on a...

    49 min
  4. JAN 31

    #460 - Lane Kawaoka - Investing in Real Estate

    Today, Lane Kawaoka is investing in real estate syndications, which invest in Class C & B Multi-Family apartments, RV Parks, mobile homes, and assisted living facilities because of the USA’s demand for affordable housing – not rich-people Class-A assets. His mission is to help regular people make good deals that were once only accessible to the rich. The passive income from investing in stabilized rental properties made it possible for me to move back home to Hawaii , where the cost of paradise is 10%+ the cost of living and 30% less than the pay for comparable jobs in the US mainland. There, I was able to live a lifestyle where I could bike to work. It did not take me long, however, to finally quit my day job and ditch the e-bike for a Mercedes. Summary of the PodcastIntroductions and background Graham and Kevin introduce their guest Lane Kawaoka, CEO of The Wealth Elevator, who is joining them from Hawaii, which is a day behind their current time. They discuss Lane's background in real estate investing, starting with single-family rental properties and then transitioning to larger commercial real estate deals and syndications. The 1% rental ruleLane explains the "1% rule" for evaluating rental properties - the monthly rent should be at least 1% of the property's purchase price. He discusses how this is easier to achieve in secondary and tertiary markets compared to high-cost primary markets like California. He also highlights the benefits of focusing on cash flow over pure appreciation. Scaling up to commercial real estateAs Lane's portfolio grew, he found the hassle of managing numerous single-family rentals became too much. He pivoted to investing in larger commercial real estate deals through syndications, which provide more institutional-quality assets and economies of scale. This allowed him to focus more on value-add strategies and force appreciation. The Wealth Elevator serves different investor profilesLane discusses his book "The Wealth Elevator" and how it aims to guide investors at different net worth levels on appropriate investment strategies. He is passionate about empowering the "first generation" of wealth creators, providing free educational content, and building a community of like-minded investors. Future plans and diversificationWhile real estate remains Lane's core focus, he is also exploring opportunities in other asset classes like micro private equity and digital marketing agency acquisitions. He emphasizes the importance of having a clear financial track record and P&L when evaluating new investments, rather than "flying blind". The Next 100 Days Podcast Co-HostsGraham ArrowsmithGraham founded Finely Fettled ten years ago to help business owners and marketers market to affluent and high-net-worth customers. Graham founder of MicroYES, a Partner for MeclabsAI, which combines the world's biggest source of 10,000 marketing experiments with AI. Find Graham on LinkedIn. Kevin ApplebyKevin specialises in finance transformation and implementing business change. He's the COO of a href="https://www.growcfo.net/" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

    45 min
  5. JAN 24

    #459 John Hannum - Fractional CFOs

    John Hannum provides an overview of his fractional CFOs business. His company takes experienced CFOs and "fractionalises" them to serve multiple clients. Summary of the PodcastFractional CFO services overviewJohn Hannum provides an overview of his fractional CFO services, explaining that his company takes experienced CFOs and "fractionalizes" them to serve multiple clients. The key benefits are access to high-level financial expertise without the cost of a full-time CFO, as well as the ability to leverage a CFO's industry-specific knowledge. Hiring and managing fractional CFOsJohn discusses the process of hiring and managing fractional CFOs, emphasizing the importance of finding the right personality fit and industry expertise. He also outlines how he structures the client engagement, with a focus on regular touchpoints and clear communication boundaries to ensure the CFO's time is used efficiently. The role of AI in financeThe group explores the impact of AI on the finance function, acknowledging that AI will automate many repetitive tasks but arguing that the strategic, advisory role of the CFO will remain valuable. They discuss how AI can enhance financial analysis and decision-making, but emphasize the continued need for human leadership and judgment. The fractional CFO market opportunityJohn provides data on the size of the fractional CFO market, noting that there are currently only around 11,000 fractional CFOs serving 33 million small and medium-sized businesses in the US. He sees this as a significant growth opportunity, especially as more companies recognize the value of accessing high-level financial expertise on a part-time basis. Recap and next stepsThe group concludes the discussion, summarising the key insights around the evolving role of the CFO, the potential impact of AI, and the sizable market opportunity for fractional CFO services. The Next 100 Days Podcast Co-HostsGraham ArrowsmithGraham founded Finely Fettled ten years ago to help business owners and marketers market to affluent and high-net-worth customers. Graham founder of MicroYES, a Partner for MeclabsAI, which combines the world's biggest source of 10,000 marketing experiments with AI. Find Graham on LinkedIn. Kevin ApplebyKevin specialises in finance transformation and implementing business change. He's the COO of GrowCFO, which provides both community and CPD-accredited training designed to grow the next generation of finance leaders. You can find Kevin on LinkedIn and at kevinappleby.com

    46 min
  6. JAN 17

    #458 Kristi Linebaugh - Canary Island Garlic & Herb Olive Oil

    Canary Island Garlic & Herb Olive Oil is the name given to Kristi's business partner's great grandmother's special recipe. Pour it over fish and it's like eating a Michelin star meal. It was a secret sauce that captivated the people who came into contact with it. These people included some very famous marketers including Dean Jackson and John Carlton. Kristi and Graham both are members of Flint McGlaughlin's MeclabsAI Guild. Kristi has been around since God was a lad, and Graham a more recent joiner. Kristi's BioI grew up the child of entrepreneurs. My parents owned grocery stores,a beauty shop, hobby shop and rental properties. My parents taught me at a young age to do what you love... and you'll never have a dull moment... my parents became cosmologists because there was a beauty salon for sale! My dad then got a gig doing hair for the local funeral home customers... he never did get a complaint.😉 North Caroline State UniversityFast forward I went to school at North Carolina State University and double majored in Communication and Social Work... then with one class left to graduate with two degrees... I chucked it all behind, moved to Florida and opened a coffee house. We were the first coffee house in the area (this was 1994) and people didn't know what Cafe Latte's were and would often call them Cafe Ladies... one person who didn't turn out to be a customer funnily enough.... said... "You really think you'll sell hot coffee... It's Florida! I said... We have frozen coffee too! How to CookEventually people caught on and loved our little Cafe Latte shop and wanted to eat there and began asking for lunch... which was a huge problem... because I didn't know how to cook! So I said to my business partner, "All these people want to eat here but I don't know how to cook, what do we do?" She said, "Well I'll make my great grandmother's secret recipe and you just Splash it on everything and people will think you know how to cook!" Well it worked, we ended up winning 13 People's Choice Awards, and I would tell our customers... You don't have to know how to cook when you can Splash! Our customers went wild over our secret sauce and harangued Miriam to please bottle her sauces to which she replied, "I've already got two businesses. I don't have time to start a seasoned olive oil company as well." Soooo.... customers started bringing in empty jars on their own birthdays and really big jars on Christmas and requesting "fill-er-up" gifts of our secret sauce.. gifts for themselves... from us! After seven years they finally talked my business partner into bottling her secret sauce and we officially named it the Canary Island Garlic and Herb Olive Oil in honor of her great grandmother's heritage. And began doing live events. We ended up going on tour every year for 2 months and would close our restaurant for the summer and go up north to do shows with our hand-blended seasoned olive oils. In 2016 we returned to a yucky surprise when we came back to find our restaurant had been destroyed by a flood (from our neighbor) the insurance refused to rebuild and eventually we ended up selling our gutted restaurant building and going on the road full time...  But... not all is lost ... I like to say, "We had over 20 years in the restaurant business... we just went out with a Splash instead of a bang! And went into the "secret recipe" business. Canary Island Garlic Herb Olive OilOur Canary Island Garlic Herb Olive Oil has been sold in Whole Foods Markets, gourmet shops, specialty food shops and online as well as in our restaurant. We've been featured in multiple magazines, t.v and even did a guest appearance on NPR (National Public Radio) We've co-authored 3 books and done over 800 live events, probably more like 1000 by now... I...

    41 min
  7. JAN 10

    #457 - Kevin Appleby & Graham Arrowsmith - 2025 Plans

    Embracing AI and automation in 2025Kevin discusses his plans to implement a new productivity system called "Pillars, Pipelines, and Vaults" (PPV)He discovered PPV from a YouTuber named August Bradley.The system aims to help him better manage his planning, to-do lists, contacts, and knowledge base.Graham shares his excitement about the potential of AI and automation to transform businesses and industries in 2025. Balancing work and personal prioritiesKevin and Graham discuss the importance of balancing work and personal priorities as they get older.They agree that they don't want to fall behind on technology and want to continue learning and growing, but also recognise the value of having a fulfilling life outside of work. Upcoming projects and initiativesKevin shares his plans for Grow CFO, a company he is involved with, to produce a technology innovation report focused on finance-related topics.He explains how AI and data analysis can help organisations optimise their spend management and procurement processes.Graham also discusses his plans to leverage MeclabsAI and automation to develop personalised solutions for a specific market sector. Closing thoughts and future of the podcastAs the meeting comes to a close, Kevin and Graham reflect on the longevity of their podcast, which is approaching its 10th year.They discuss the possibility of continuing the podcast, potentially with the involvement of listeners, and how it provides them with the "freedom of association" that they value. The Next 100 Days Podcast Co-HostsGraham ArrowsmithGraham founded Finely Fettled ten years ago to help business owners and marketers market to affluent and high-net-worth customers. Graham founder of MicroYES, a Partner for MeclabsAI, which combines the world's biggest source of 10,000 marketing experiments with AI. Find Graham on LinkedIn. Kevin ApplebyKevin specialises in finance transformation and implementing business change. He's the COO of GrowCFO, which provides both community and CPD-accredited training designed to grow the next generation of finance leaders. You can find Kevin on LinkedIn and at kevinappleby.com Do you want to be a guest on The Next 100 Days Podcast? Apply here

    36 min
  8. 12/20/2024

    #456 Confidence is Overrated with Susana Serrano Davey

    Confidence is overrated, so says returning guest Susana Serrano Davey. This lovely Spanish lady has written a book entitle Confidence is Overrated which comes out March 2025. Summary of PodcastIntroductions and book announcementGraham and Kevin welcome back returning guest Susana Serrano-Davey, who has written a new book called "Confidence is Overrated" that will be released in March.Susana explains that the book challenges the traditional view of confidence and explores how to feel more at ease with oneself even without constant self-confidence. Defining confidence and imposter syndromeSusana delves deeper into her perspective on confidence, distinguishing it from self-esteem and imposter syndrome.She shares her own journey of not always feeling confident, and how she has learned to be more at peace with herself even in moments of self-doubt. Challenging beliefs and finding courageThe example of Malala Yousafzai was used to illustrate how challenging one's cultural and personal beliefs can lead to finding the courage to do things previously thought impossible.The importance of being open to new possibilities beyond one's career and preconceptions. Enjoying the journey and finding inner peace Susana explains that her goal is for readers to enjoy the book, connect with her personal stories, and be inspired to reflect on their own lives and values.Her ultimate aim is to help people find a sense of inner peace and contentment, rather than constantly chasing confidence or external markers of success. Reflecting on the podcast journeyIn the closing discussion, Graham and Kevin reflect on their own journey of starting the podcast 450 episodes ago, when they had little confidence but took the leap anyway.They discuss how the podcast has evolved and the value of continuing to do it, even if it means letting go of reaching a specific milestone. The Next 100 Days Podcast Co-HostsGraham Arrowsmith Graham founded Finely Fettled ten years ago to help business owners and marketers market to affluent and high-net-worth customers. Graham founder of MicroYES, a Partner for MeclabsAI, which combines the world's biggest source of 10,000 marketing experiments with AI. Find Graham on LinkedIn. Kevin Appleby Kevin specializes in finance transformation and implementing business change. He's the COO of GrowCFO, providing community and CPD-accredited training designed to grow the next generation of finance leaders. You can find Kevin on LinkedIn and at kevinappleby.com

    44 min
5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

The Next 100 Days Podcast is a leading UK business show. Through this podcast, Kevin and Graham reveal strategies you can use to improve your business and take it to the next level. In addition to featuring their own advice, Kevin and Graham host amazing guests from across the business world. Often the guests are successful, but lesser-known business owners and entrepreneurs, enabling the show to bring fresh content and stand out from many of the US based business shows. Graham and Kevin believe that business change comes about when a business owner focusses on just one thing that will make a real difference to his business. That might be product development, a new product launch or a marketing campaign. Focussing for less than 100 days, or focussing on too many things generally won't deliver the results you need, Equally, its difficult to maintain effective focus for much longer than 100 days without re-assessing priorities. The Next 100 Days Podcast is your source to learn how to move your business forward, with practical advice and guidance that you can put into action and make a difference in your own organisation within the next 100 days.

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