Work Together, Worlds Apart

Work Together, Worlds Apart
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Entrepreneurship

Welcome to Work Together, Worlds Apart! The podcast where two entrepreneurs from opposite sides of the world meet in the middle to talk all things business, culture, and the real grind behind success. Join Lee and Mike as they share their journeys, lessons, and laughter from the front lines of entrepreneurship. Lee, born and raised in the UK, launched his first venture armed with nothing but a university laptop and a big dream. Mike, originally from Albania, built years of experience before life threw him a curveball, when his job suddenly ended, he took the leap to create something of his own. Together, they explore how culture shapes ambition, how challenges fuel growth, and how two very different paths can lead to a shared passion for business. Work Together, Worlds Apart - different backgrounds, one goal: building something great. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. Oct 29

    THE BOOK THAT BUILT MY BUSINESS

    Can one book change the way you run your business? Or is it what you do with the lessons that really counts? In this episode of Work Together, Worlds Apart, Lee and Mike share some of their favourite business books and the lessons that have shaped the way they think, work and grow their businesses. From the importance of building a business that doesn't rely entirely on you to understanding which customers are worth investing your time in, the conversation explores the ideas that can help business owners work smarter, create better systems and focus on sustainable growth. The main focus is on two business classics: The E-Myth by Michael Gerber, which challenges business owners to stop working solely in their business and start working on it, and The Pumpkin Plan by Mike Michalowicz, which explores how focusing on your best customers can help you grow a stronger, more profitable business. Lee and Mike also discuss Eat That Frog by Brian Tracy and Revenue Growth Engine by Darrell Amy, alongside the challenge of finding time to learn when you're busy running a business. They reflect on the pressure to put on a confident front at networking events, the wins and struggles of the week, and why the right book often depends on the stage of business you're in. They also share a practical tip for anyone short on time: using Blinkist to get the key ideas from books in bite sized summaries. In This Episode The E-Myth by Michael Gerber: Why building systems is essential if you want a business that doesn't depend on you for everything.The Pumpkin Plan by Mike Michalowicz: Why focusing on your best customers can be more powerful than trying to please everyone.Eat That Frog by Brian Tracy: Prioritising your most important tasks instead of putting them off.Revenue Growth Engine by Darrell Amy: Exploring the connection between sales, marketing and business growth. If you want to get in touch or have any questions, please email taylor@taylormadepodcasts.co.uk to get involved! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  2. Oct 15

    THE UGLY TRUTH ABOUT JEALOUSY IN BUSINESS

    Does someone else's success inspire you to do better, or make you wish they hadn't succeeded at all? In this episode of Work Together, Worlds Apart, Lee and Mike explore the difference between healthy competition, envy, jealousy and bitterness, and how these emotions can shape our relationships, mindset and success in business. Drawing on personal experiences, family relationships and Mike's upbringing in Albania, they discuss how our backgrounds and experiences influence the way we view success, why some people celebrate others' achievements while others resent them, and how to recognise the difference between being inspired by someone and being jealous of what they have. The conversation challenges the idea that competition has to be about beating someone else. Instead, Lee and Mike explore how losing can build resilience, why hard work and knowledge are more valuable than bitterness or sabotage, and how learning from successful people can help us grow. They also discuss why jealousy can feel more personal when it involves friends, family or people close to us, and why collaborating with competitors can sometimes create bigger opportunities than trying to beat them. Ultimately, it's a conversation about self-awareness, ambition and choosing to use other people's success as motivation rather than a reason for resentment. If you want to get in touch or have any questions, please email taylor@taylormadepodcasts.co.uk to get involved! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  3. Oct 1

    CULTURE ISN’T WHAT YOU SAY, IT’S WHAT YOU DO

    Workplace culture isn't what you say it is. It's what your people experience every day. In this episode of Work Together, Worlds Apart, Lee and Mike explore what workplace culture really means, how it shapes relationships with customers and employees, and why trust, reliability and leadership are at the heart of every successful business. Drawing on experiences across different countries, industries and business models, Lee and Mike discuss how workplace expectations vary around the world, why some businesses get culture right while others struggle, and what happens when the culture leaders believe they have created doesn't match the reality experienced by their teams. They explore the importance of leading by example, empowering employees to make decisions, and building a culture around everyday actions rather than words on a wall. From turning up on time and communicating clearly to refusing to compromise on quality just to win a job, the conversation challenges business owners to think about the standards they set and the behaviours they reward. They also reflect on the impact of remote working, the changing expectations of younger generations, and why creating a positive workplace culture takes more than good intentions. If you want to get in touch or have any questions, please email taylor@taylormadepodcasts.co.uk to get involved! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  4. Sep 17

    THEY HAVEN’T PAID YOU? STOP FUNDING THEIR BUSINESS

    We may have left the cameras rolling... If you don't set boundaries around getting paid, your customers will decide them for you. In this episode of Work Together, Worlds Apart, Mike takes a brutally honest look at late payments, business boundaries and why getting paid on time is about far more than cash flow. He shares his own experience of changing his standards around payment, and losing 80% of his old customers in the process. What remained was the 20% who respected the new boundaries, proving that sometimes protecting your business means being prepared to walk away. The conversation explores why silence can be one of the most powerful tools in difficult conversations, how to ask better questions, and why you shouldn't be funding someone else's business while waiting for them to pay you. Mike also discusses the importance of contracts, paperwork, legal support and consistent follow-up, and why your reputation can be damaged by one customer who repeatedly fails to pay. Ultimately, the message is simple: your business deserves to be paid for the work it delivers. If you want to get in touch or have any questions, please email taylor@taylormadepodcasts.co.uk to get involved! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  5. Sep 3

    AI WON’T REPLACE YOU… BUT SOMEONE USING IT MIGHT

    AI is no longer something businesses can afford to ignore. It’s changing how we work, how businesses grow, how much time we spend on admin—and potentially how we charge for our expertise. In this episode of Work Together, Worlds Apart, Lee and Mike dive into the real impact of AI on business, separating the genuine opportunities from the hype and fear. They discuss how AI is already helping businesses become more efficient, from admin and quoting to customer selection and back-office processes. But they also explore where AI falls short, and why human expertise, judgement and relationships could become even more valuable in an AI-driven world. The conversation also tackles a major question for business owners: if AI allows you to do a job in half the time, should you still charge the same? As technology changes productivity, could we see the end of hourly pricing and a move towards value-based pricing? And then things get a little more uncomfortable... What happens when AI becomes increasingly autonomous? Could technology eventually make decisions beyond human control? If you want to get in touch or have any questions, please email taylor@taylormadepodcasts.co.uk to get involved! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  6. Aug 20

    STOP SELLING! This Is How You Actually Win Customers

    Welcome to Work Together, Worlds Apart Sales gets a bad reputation. Pushy, manipulative, transactional, uncomfortable. But what if we've got sales completely wrong? In this episode of Work Together, Worlds Apart, Lee and Mike take an honest look at the reality of sales, relationships and trust, exploring why so many business owners struggle with selling and how changing the way you think about sales can completely transform your approach. Mike shares hard-earned lessons from years of getting sales wrong, explaining why he now sees sales as one of the most valuable skills he's ever developed, and one he wishes he'd invested in much earlier. Lee reflects on his own evolution from feeling pressure to make the sale to focusing on something much more important: how the customer feels during the conversation. Together, they explore why great sales isn't about convincing someone to buy. It's about asking the right questions, listening properly, understanding the problem and deciding whether you can genuinely help. The conversation also looks at trust, qualifying customers, knowing when to say no, and the growing role of AI in sales. While technology can automate processes and improve efficiency, Lee and Mike question whether AI can ever replace the human connection that sits at the heart of relationship-led sales. If you want to get in touch or have any questions, please email taylor@taylormadepodcasts.co.uk to get involved! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  7. Aug 6

    Your Network Is Your Net Worth: Build Relationships That Open Doors

    Welcome to Work Together, Worlds Apart Success in business isn't just about what you know, it's about who you surround yourself with. In this episode of Work Together, Worlds Apart, Lee and Mike dive into the power of intentional networking and why meaningful relationships are one of the greatest assets any entrepreneur can build. Moving beyond collecting business cards and LinkedIn connections, they explore how trust, authenticity, and shared values create opportunities that can't be bought. Drawing on personal experiences, they reflect on the networking mistakes they've made, how their approach has evolved over time, and why the best connections are built by giving first, rather than asking, "What's in it for me?" The conversation also explores the importance of finding your tribe, investing in personal development, and surrounding yourself with people who challenge, inspire, and support your growth. Whether you're just starting your business or looking to expand your influence, this episode is packed with practical advice on building a network that genuinely adds value. If you want to get in touch or have any questions, please email taylor@taylormadepodcasts.co.uk to get involved! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  8. Jul 23

    TRUST THE PROCESS: THE SECRET TO SCALING YOUR BUSINESS

    Welcome to Work Together, Worlds Apart Every successful business has one thing in common: it doesn't rely on memory, luck, or one person to keep everything moving, it relies on great processes. In this episode of Work Together, Worlds Apart, Lee and Mike explore why trusting your processes is one of the most powerful shifts a business owner can make. From delivering a consistent customer experience to creating the freedom to step away from the day-to-day, they discuss how systems become the foundation for sustainable growth. Drawing on their own experiences, they explain why so many entrepreneurs resist documenting processes, how to avoid becoming the bottleneck in your own business, and why consistency will always outperform chaos. Whether you're a solo founder or leading a growing team, this episode is packed with practical advice on building systems that save time, reduce mistakes, and allow your business to scale with confidence. If you're constantly firefighting, repeating the same tasks, or feel like your business can't function without you, this conversation will show you why trusting the process isn't about giving up control, it's about building a business that works, even when you're not there. If you want to get in touch or have any questions, please email podcasting@twentytwo.digital to get involved! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

See All (24)

About

Welcome to Work Together, Worlds Apart! The podcast where two entrepreneurs from opposite sides of the world meet in the middle to talk all things business, culture, and the real grind behind success. Join Lee and Mike as they share their journeys, lessons, and laughter from the front lines of entrepreneurship. Lee, born and raised in the UK, launched his first venture armed with nothing but a university laptop and a big dream. Mike, originally from Albania, built years of experience before life threw him a curveball, when his job suddenly ended, he took the leap to create something of his own. Together, they explore how culture shapes ambition, how challenges fuel growth, and how two very different paths can lead to a shared passion for business. Work Together, Worlds Apart - different backgrounds, one goal: building something great. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Work Together, Worlds Apart
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    24
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Work Together, Worlds Apart
  • Show Website
    Work Together, Worlds Apart