The Business Elevation Show With Chris Cooper - Be More. Achieve More

Most people recognize that investing in Real Estate is one of the best investments you can make as you can create a passive income now and long-term provision for your pension and retirement, as well as leaving a legacy for your family and loved ones. However, investing in Real Estate can be a risky business especially if you don’t know what you are doing. In this interview, experienced investor, Simon Zutshi will show you not only why you should be investing in Real Estate but also how to minimize the risks using the Five Golden Rules of Real Estate investing. Simon will explain how you can buy Real Estate using very little of your own money and how you can control property without the need for mortgages or large deposits. Prepare to be inspired and informed on this educational interview with one of the UK’s top Real Estate investing experts.

Leaders and organizations who build extraordinary relationships with their employees, customers and suppliers usually excel! Not just sales but also profits as benefits such as lower levels of absenteeism, extra delivery, ability to attract the best talent and customers hit the bottom line . On this show, we have two exceptional experts. Dave Bradley is a Professional Management Speaker and Web Event Producer who pioneered involving actors in corporate training in the UK. At one time Dave was the largest employer of actors outside the BBC. Karen Asemper is an Actress, Personal Coach to the stars and Speaker. After a highly successful dancing career in New York ended tragically, she built a successful career appearing in many popular drama’s, soaps such as Coronation Street, Emmerdale, Doctors and moving on to the big screen in films Blue Murder, 11th Hour, 42 Degrees North. Join us to find out how to build extraordinary relationships with two extraordinary guests.

So what are the vital elements to be a good speaker and effectively promote your business to an audience? As a Regional President of the Professional Speaking Association in the UK, I meet many people intending to move from being a presenter to a speaker who can effectively engage and promote their business from the stage. During this show you will learn about the 5 Ps of Promotional Speaking AND the two biggest mistakes people make when they get up to talk about their business. Celia Delaney is a speaker and speaker coach. She runs SpeakingSuccess, a company that teaches business owners, senior managers and their teams how to promote their business through speaking. Celia went to Oxford University, then joined Unilever and went on to be a HR Director. She then trained as an actress, working in stage & television for 5 years, before setting up her own training and speaking business. Listen if you wish to effectively promote your business through speaking.

Monks are known for living in silence and seclusion, but entrepreneur August Turak knows that they hold something of great value to the secular world—the key to business success. In his new book, “Business Secrets of the Trappist Monks: One CEO’s Quest for Meaning and Authenticity,” Turak tells the story of how he spent the past 17 years working part-time alongside Trappist monks as they ran high-margin businesses producing widely sought after commodities such as beer, eggs and exotic mushrooms. Turak started out searching for enlightenment but ended up with a lifetime of lessons that taught him that success does not mean sacrificing happiness for big profits. You can have both simultaneously. The monks break every rule of business 101 except one – commitment to quality – and therein lies the secret. Rather than obsess about profits and the bottom line, the monks succeed in business by practicing the idea of “service and selflessness.” And the profits always take care of themselves.

So how do you best use humour and storytelling in your presentations and speeches? Perhaps you have marveled at people who can engage an audience with their wit and stories? So how can you learn to use these skills really effectively in your work? On this show we have two leadership and public speaking skills experts. Ashley Boroda has worked in radio production, comedy writing, stand-up comedy, television as well as writing and delivering leadership programmes for businesses using humour. Ashley Boroda Entertainment also represents comedians. Andrew Thorp is a co-founder of MojoLife which includes Speakeasy Groups™ an innovative approach to developing presenting & public speaking skills and is a story telling expert. Andrew has spoken at the prestigious TEDx conference, authored ‘The 7 Pillars of Sporting Success and how to apply them in business’ and is co-author of several books on communication topics. Join us for what will be a highly valuable and enjoyable learning experience.

I met Tony Wilson as I was preparing to speak at a congress in Mayfair, London. We quickly engaged in a conversation and I was intrigued. It turns out that Tony is Founder and Global CEO of the Lifestyle Architecture people development group, operating in 27 cities in 12 regions around the world. His Practical Leadership system is literally practiced worldwide! So on this show, I am keen to discover the core concepts and philosophy behind his unique approach to Leadership. Also, how he discovered it as he went on his journey from rock bottom to highly successful and wealthy globe trotting entrepreneur. Having also researched in depth the lives of over 50 inspirational leaders expect this show to be peppered with examples that bring his concepts to life. Looking to be the best you can be? Join us with a pen and paper at the ready for this one!

Balancing a busy work life with being a great parent is not always easy. Married with two children, I know this situation well. Am I giving my family enough attention? Are we developing our kids to be happy and the best they can be? You can be a striving or successful entrepreneur or a top executive, however, is it all worthwhile if your family think you are not there for them? If you are so busy that you don't have time for your kids now, then will you be able to blame them if they don't want to spend time with you when your older? What do we do if our marriage ends in divorce? On this show, I am delighted to be talking with Shonette Bason. A mother of 4, expert in child development, flamboyant international Speaker and soon to be star of her own TV show on parenthood. Do join us as Shonette helps us through this maze and draws valuable parallels with also successfully managing people in your workplace!

Persuading people of our point of view and getting them to back our judgement with their money is what makes the world go around. And the sharpest end of the persuasion business is the pitch: that intense and brief period when you get to make your case to the potential client'. But how do you make the most of that opportunity? These are the words of David Kean one of world's leading authorities on the art of pitching and my guest on this show. Successful pitching is a subject close to my heart having spent part of my career facilitating and assessing many major pitches at both Mars Inc and United Biscuits. If you sell your services to clients and are involved in putting your case forward to potential clients then this show is a must. Also, It is not everyday that you get to hear advice on a subject that can make all the difference between success and second place failure from an expert who has helped clients win over $1/2 billion dollars in fees over the last 3 years.

Would you like to develop a business that runs without you? Do you want to know practically how to do it? It took my guest, young entrepreneur Steve Abel, 8 businesses to develop a truly innovative business opportunity in Parcels 4 Delivery and to put in place foundations for a business that could run without him and achieve massive growth. Also, to earn himself a small fortune in the process. While planning this show with Steve, I was fascinated about his truly entrepreneurial approach. Also, how from his earlier experiences he had learned to grow a business that was more than self employment, that employs a growing, capable team, with systems that mean its success is no longer dependent on him working all hours. Because, Steve will tell you that there are personal costs for striving for such success in the way he did. Join us for what will be a fascinating interview with lots of practical ideas and tips on how you can develop your business to flourish without you.

Do you have a natural bias towards systems, processes, facts and figures rather than interaction with people? When it comes down to it do these elements effect your decisions more than the impact on people? Do you have challenges when it comes to dealing with gregarious sales people, marketers and networkers in your business or team? Successful people know that you have to balance the need for systems and processes with the needs of employees, customers and suppliers. The former should not outweigh building great relationships. My guest Christine Marsh breaks the mould, coming from a natural desire to focus on systems, processes and logic but realizing that you cannot have success without also getting the people aspects right. If you tend towards introversion and detail this show is for you. If you are more gregarious then listen in to better understand the thought processes of what might be your accountant, lawyer, IT professional or project manager and how best to deal with them.

Are you wishing to advance your career? Or help others advance? Perhaps you have children or family members who could benefit from some words of wisdom? During this show I will be discussing career success with my guest Hilary Wilson who is an international keynote speaker, trainer and mentor. She also founded Wilson Associates Limited, the UK based development consultancy in 1989. During this time Hilary has worked with over 65 FTSE 100 companies, designed and delivered some 3750 bespoke career development programmes and facilitated over 5850 hours of coaching. Over the last 22 years, through observation, interaction and research of 55,000 executives across a vast range of organisations both in the UK and internationally, Hilary has identified the top critical success factors. She uses this to create workforces who really know how to manage their careers. If you want to help yourself or the career of others then join us for some provoking ideas, proven to improve career success.

We have had some incredible guests and stories on this show. This show in particular has true meaning to me. About 6 years ago, I watched an incredible DVD called ‘Mastery’ which included the story of Paul Reed Smith and how his dreams of making a guitar for Carlos Santana had turned into a reality. Today PRS Guitars in my mind have become an iconic brand. Go to any guitar show and guitarists are buzzing with excitement around the PRS stand. The story inspired me so much that I bought a beautiful PRS Custom 24 guitar and became committed to really learn how to play. Initially, I didn’t feel worthy to have such a guitar today I have even experienced a standing ovation. I regularly talk about my guitar, include images of it in my keynote speeches and mention how the values and the journey of PRS guitars so inspired me. Join this show to find out how PRS Guitars went from a dream to an exceptional business and how you can do the same with your business with President of PRS Guitars Jack Higginbotham.

Would you like to grow your business fast? On this show we are going to look at an incredible case story. While still in its relative infancy, Anesco is already the UK’s leading energy efficiency solutions company and is on track to hit revenue of £100million, after recently reporting a 400% growth in orders. So how can you get off the starting blocks quickly and achieve such outstanding performance from a standing start? During this show we will speak to co-founder and CEO Adrian Pike who has led the business to become one of the fastest growing UK private companies in the Sunday Times Fast Track league table and one of the fastest growing renewable energy companies in Europe. Having met Adrian, I was very immediately impressed with his engaging personality, clarity of thought and drive. Listen to this show and expect some gems about how to turn your business quickly into a success story.

Markets are changing. It’s not just about price we have online sales, social media for attracting new customers, the challenge of finding innovative ways to build relationships and keep customers and prospects informed, not to mention the demands of complying with legislation, staff training or any of the other things you need to keep on top of in your business. No wonder growing your business can seem like an uphill struggle. According to my guests this is the reality for businesses in the insurance sector. Not much different to all businesses then? I am delighted to welcome Jonathan Davey (Managing Director) and Derek Findlayson (Commercial Strategy, & Proposition Director) for SSP Pure and Keychoice a leading provider of services to help small and medium businesses develop. If you want to know how to develop key performance indicators for your business, use a balanced scorecard and other such proven tools and listen to top tips for growing your business then this is a must listen.

Do you understand how to use Linkedin really effectively? Or are you one of the many people who just try to collect as many connections as possible? My guest on this show Will Kintish never changes his message “There is nothing to beat face-to face networking”. But when you use Linkedin in conjunction with traditional networking it is a powerful cocktail for developing your career and building your business. Strategy for success is visibility and in today’s world it is critical that all ‘serious’ players have an online presence. Of all the social networks Linkedin has to be the best for your career and business. If you own a business you will have a website but Linkedin offers you a company profile to add value to your online marketing and sales effort. Join me with one of the leading exponents and advisors on Linkedin to understand the very best way to use it to achieve exceptional personal and business connections and results.

In today’s fast changing competitive business climate it is the organisations who develop the winning qualities of their people that capture the opportunities created by change and turn them into sustainable success. The qualities of authentic leadership; self motivation, a positive mindset and personal responsibility, are the most highly prized yet least consciously developed aspects of a person’s character. My guest this week is Brian Mayne the creator of life mapping (and goal mapping as per the exceptionally received show in the September 2011 archive) who will help us understand how to determine the blueprint of our potential and those of our people to cultivate the qualities of authentic self-leadership that lead to great results. Brian is an international speaker, who empowers hundreds of thousands of people globally with his unique success systems. Author of four books, he is getting close to achieving his core goal of helping to lift seven million lives with his work.

Are you working to unleash the power of your team or teams? During this show we are will be discussing how to create Fully Integrated Teams (FIT)? Leaders are becoming more than figureheads and bosses, they are team players who spur organizations toward effective change. We will cover the importance of Purpose and the 5 Steps of FIT which can be applied to help individuals and teams transform and create highly successful outcomes and healthy organizational cultures. My guest is Jim Leighton the President of Perdue foods, the third largest poultry company in the United States and author of 'Getting FIT'. Jim draws upon 35 years of extensive business experience and is extremely passionate about sharing how a common purpose, guided by shared principles, and a future promise changes the world for companies and their teams. Do join us for what will be a very insightful listen for anyone interested in integrating teams, business and self development.

Would you like to develop your ability as a great business leader? During this show we will discuss areas such as what good leadership looks like, how to build your leadership style, techniques to lead others and how to build and execute your vision. Marianne Abib-Pech led a highly successful career in Finance and has worked for some of the most admired corporations of the last 20 years. She has been Global CFO for Shell Aviation and Head of Finance and Commercial for EMEA Operation of BHP Billiton Iron Ore division. She is the founder of Leaders!, a global leadership consultancy and think tank operating in Europe and Asia. Marianne was also recently entrusted to write the definitive Financial Times guide on Leadership. Listen in for what I am sure will be a business leadership masterclass to you take your leadership performance to a new level.

Are you finding business and growing it challenging right now? During this show we will be discussing how to overcome the common mistakes that businesses make during recession including the biggest profit robbers in any business and the easiest ways to increase your profits. My guest Mike Ogilvie is an experienced Chartered Accountant by training. He is the major shareholder of Chartered Accountants and Business Advisers OBC The Accountants, however most of his time is focused on his work as one of the UK's leading Profit Coaches, with his company The Profit Team. Not only this he is also an international motivational speaker talking at Conferences and Seminars around the world, typically about adopting a Profit Culture in your business. Do listen in as Mike has some extremely insightful wisdom to impart that has improved the performance of many businesses around the world.

Like to know how to 'Generate Your Wealth Like a Millionaire? During this show we will reveal the three principles of success that can make you very wealthy. However, don't think this is about accumulating wealth at the expense of others. More money can help you add more value to more people in more ways and some of the wealthiest people I know are also the most giving. On this show we have two such people. Dr Meryl Koslow a real estate investor and motivational speaker and co author of 'Self Made Millionaire'. Also, I am delighted to welcome back Dr Ivan Misner the Founder & Chairman of BNI, the world's largest business networking organization. He is a NY Times Bestselling author who has written 16 books and known worldwide as the 'Father of Modern Networking. Join us for what I am sure will be an incredible and potentially highly valuable show.