Do you give people a second chance if they waste your time?

Your time is your most valuable asset - and once it's wasted, you don't get it back. In today's episode of The Engaging Marketeer, Darren goes deep on professional standards, boundaries and why how people handle their diary tells you everything you need to know about how they value your relationship.

This isn't about being rigid or difficult - it's about protecting your time, setting clear expectations and deciding when a second chance is earned rather than automatically given.

About your host:

Darren has worked within digital marketing since the last century, and was the first in-house web designer for video games retailer GAME in the UK, known as Electronics Boutique in the States. After co-founding his own agency, Engage Web, in 2009, Darren has worked with clients around the world, including Australia, Canada and the USA.

iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/engaging-marketeer/id1612454837

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrenjamieson/

Engaging Marketeer: https://engagingmarketeer.com

Engage Web: https://www.engageweb.co.uk

Support the show: https://engageweb.club

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"It’s a very painful lesson learned"

In this week's episode of The Engaging Marketeer, Darren is joined by executive coach Les Murray. Les is both an executive coach and leadership consultant who works closely with business owners, managers and founders to sharpen strategy, simplify operations and build leadership teams that truly thrive.

During this conversation, Les explains why some roles are only truly valued once they’re gone and the costly lessons businesses learn as a result.

About Les Murray:

Les Murray is a coach and speaker at 20-20 Coaching, working with individuals and business leaders who want greater clarity, confidence, and stronger decision making, particularly when operating under pressure or responsibility.

His journey into coaching and public speaking did not come from performance or presentation, but from recognising moments where he wanted to help others and realised he was not yet equipped to do so effectively. That honesty led him to develop his communication, thinking, and leadership skills through environments such as the Professional Speaking Association. Les focuses on competence before confidence, helping people grow into leadership roles through clearer thinking, better questions, and personal accountability. His work centres on the belief that real development starts by acknowledging gaps, taking responsibility, and committing to consistent improvement.

You can connect with Les here:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesmurray/

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@20-20management?si=_Ca9_0UANYAklH7v

Website: https://20-20management.com/

About your host:

Darren has worked within digital marketing since the last century, and was the first in-house web designer for video games retailer GAME in the UK, known as Electronics Boutique in the States. After co-founding his own agency, Engage Web, in 2009, Darren has worked with clients around the world, including Australia, Canada and the USA.

iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/engaging-marketeer/id1612454837

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrenjamieson/

Engaging Marketeer: https://engagingmarketeer.com

Engage Web: https://www.engageweb.co.uk

Support the show: https://engageweb.club

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some stories stop you in your tracks.

For The Engaging Marketeer’s special 200th episode, Darren invited BNI Global Convention host Greg Davies-Polaine to share tales that every business owner needs to hear.

Greg has a way of turning real life moments into valuable lessons. He talks about resilience, consistency, the power of community and why the people around you can accelerate your progress faster than any tactic or trend. This episode goes deeper into how you build trust, stay top of mind and create opportunities simply by being the person others rely on.

If you want practical mindset shifts and a fresh perspective on what drives long term business growth, this is the episode to watch.

About Greg Davies-Polaine:

Greg Davies-Polaine is the executive director for BNI in London South East and Croydon, a role he describes as “the best job in the world” because it allows him to help business owners grow through meaningful relationships.

A former signage company owner, he built his reputation inside BNI as a leader, trainer and storyteller, eventually creating his public speaking persona, The Story Fella. Greg has launched and grown multiple successful chapters, including long-standing groups such as Achievers in Sussex, and has gone on to host both the UK National Conference and the BNI Global Convention, including the main stage in Hawaii. Alongside co-authoring books such as Infinite Legacy with Dr Ivan Misner, he continues to champion the power of stories, structured networking and “givers gain” as tools to change lives, support local charities and create business communities that outlast the people who start them.

You can connect with Greg here:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregdavies1979/

Facebook: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregdavies1979/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gregdavies1979/

About your host:

Darren has worked within digital marketing since the last century, and was the first in-house web designer for video games retailer GAME in the UK, known as Electronics Boutique in the States. After co-founding his own agency, Engage Web, in 2009, Darren has worked with clients around the world, including Australia, Canada and the USA.

iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/engaging-marketeer/id1612454837

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrenjamieson/

Engaging Marketeer: https://engagingmarketeer.com

Engage Web: https://www.engageweb.co.uk

Support the show: https://engageweb.club

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A single interview question could cost your business thousands… and most employers don’t even realise they’re asking it.

In this week’s episode of The Engaging Marketeer, HR expert Joanne Moss explains why small, everyday mistakes in hiring and people management can lead to five-figure consequences. She talks about how one inappropriate question can trigger a discrimination claim, and why “I didn’t know” is never a defence when things go wrong.

Jo also breaks down the hidden HR risks most business owners overlook, and explains the steps every employer can take to protect themselves and create a safer, fairer workplace without drowning in paperwork. If you hire people, plan to hire people or simply want to avoid expensive HR mistakes, this episode is essential viewing.

Read more about Joanne

Joanne Moss is the Founder and Managing Director of Moss HR, an independent HR consultancy based in Suffolk. She is a Chartered member of the CIPD with more than twenty years of experience in HR and people management across sectors including motor retail, warehousing and distribution, hospitality and not-for-profit. That broad background shaped her reputation for offering clear, practical and commercially minded HR advice that helps small and medium-sized businesses stay compliant while still treating people well.

Through Moss HR, Joanne supports organisations with outsourced HR retainers, project-based HR work and straightforward advice on recruitment, employee relations, contracts and policies. She is also the creator of the popular Simple Steps toolkit for business owners taking on their first employee, combining legally sound documents with clear guidance that helps employers understand their responsibilities with confidence. Joanne is an active member of the BNI business community and is known for her contributions, referrals and leadership within her chapter. She also speaks regularly for local business groups on topics such as workplace wellbeing, mental health and people management.

You can connect with Joanne here:

Website: https://mosshr.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanne-moss-52719514/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MossHRLtd/

X: https://x.com/mosshrltd?lang=en

About your host:

Darren has worked within digital marketing since the last century, and was the first in-house web designer for video games retailer GAME in the UK, known as Electronics Boutique in the States. After co-founding his own agency, Engage Web, in 2009, Darren has worked with clients around the world, including Australia, Canada and the USA.

iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/engaging-marketeer/id1612454837

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrenjamieson/

Engaging Marketeer: https://engagingmarketeer.com

Engage Web: https://www.engageweb.co.uk

Support the show: https://engageweb.club

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You’ll never get referrals if you can’t answer THIS one question.

In today's episode of The Engaging Marketeer, Darren breaks down the 10 biggest networking mistakes that hold business owners back.

If you’ve ever walked out of an event wondering why nothing comes from it, this episode will hit home. Darren reveals what actually makes people remember you, what makes them trust you and what makes them willing to introduce you. You’ll discover how small shifts in how you show up can make a big difference, opening more doors to genuine opportunities through the people you meet.

Ready to change the way you network for the better? Then this one's for you.

About your host:

Darren has worked within digital marketing since the last century, and was the first in-house web designer for video games retailer GAME in the UK, known as Electronics Boutique in the States. After co-founding his own agency, Engage Web, in 2009, Darren has worked with clients around the world, including Australia, Canada and the USA.

iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/engaging-marketeer/id1612454837

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrenjamieson/

Engaging Marketeer: https://engagingmarketeer.com

Engage Web: https://www.engageweb.co.uk

Support the show: https://engageweb.club

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After a life-changing accident at just 20, Alistair Dickinson was told he was lucky to be alive - and to make the most of his second chance.

From building SaaS platforms and CRM systems to creating one of the first AI record labels, Alistair has done exactly that. He has spent his career pushing boundaries in technology, creativity and business - and in this episode of The Engaging Marketeer, he joins Darren to explore how AI is transforming the music industry. They talk about what creativity really means in the age of automation, and how one defining moment can change the course of a life forever.

More about Alistair:

Alistair Dickinson is a tech entrepreneur, author and innovator with over 30 years of experience in software, SaaS, and data-driven business solutions. He’s the founder of a global AI record label creating fully AI-assisted artists and music distributed on Spotify and YouTube, and the creator of Maps, a geospatial SaaS platform used worldwide. Alistair is also the author of The Essential Guide for Businesses on GDPR and a recognised voice in AI creativity, technology and automation. From surviving a life-changing accident to building multiple international tech ventures, he continues to push the boundaries of how humans and machines can create together.

You can connect with Alistair here:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alistairceo/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2703779406444247/user/100000857479981/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@alistairdickinsontiktok

About your host:

Darren has worked within digital marketing since the last century, and was the first in-house web designer for video games retailer GAME in the UK, known as Electronics Boutique in the States. After co-founding his own agency, Engage Web, in 2009, Darren has worked with clients around the world, including Australia, Canada and the USA.

iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/engaging-marketeer/id1612454837

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrenjamieson/

Engaging Marketeer: https://engagingmarketeer.com

Engage Web: https://www.engageweb.co.uk

Support the show: https://engageweb.club

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you’re too embarrassed to put your name to your content… why should Google recommend it?

In this week’s episode, Darren explains why faceless, AI-generated content is slowly killing credibility online - and what to do about it.

If you want to be trusted by search engines and AI tools like ChatGPT, you need to show who you are. That means your name, your experience and your expertise front and centre on your website.

Because here’s the truth that we all know deep down: when people and algorithms can’t see who’s behind the words, they stop trusting them. And if ChatGPT can’t tell you’re the expert, it’ll recommend someone else who is.

This episode is a must-watch for business owners who want their content to stand out - and be cited by AI, not replaced by it.

About your host:

Darren has worked within digital marketing since the last century, and was the first in-house web designer for video games retailer GAME in the UK, known as Electronics Boutique in the States. After co-founding his own agency, Engage Web, in 2009, Darren has worked with clients around the world, including Australia, Canada and the USA.

iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/engaging-marketeer/id1612454837

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrenjamieson/

Engaging Marketeer: https://engagingmarketeer.com

Engage Web: https://www.engageweb.co.uk

Support the show: https://engageweb.club

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every business owner has their own secret recipe - the way they do things that makes their company unique.

But what happens when that recipe lives only in your head? When processes, systems and client knowledge disappear the moment you step away?

In this week’s episode of The Engaging Marketeer, Darren speaks to Taruna Chauhan, a business owner who turned her passion for preserving her family’s recipes into a powerful lesson about systems, wellbeing and legacy.

From reversing pre-diabetes and creating her FRESH Framework, to understanding the “why” behind how we work, Taruna’s story is one every entrepreneur needs to hear.

It’s a reminder that structure, purpose and self-care aren’t opposites - they’re the real ingredients of sustainable success.

About Taruna Chauhan

Taruna is a health and mindset coach, author, and founder of the Inner Wisdom Coach brand. After reversing her own pre-diabetes through lifestyle changes, she created the FRESH Framework — a holistic approach combining nutrition, movement, and mindset to help others achieve long-term wellbeing.

A former NHS professional, Taruna is also the author of Recipes from a Gujarati Kitchen, a cookbook preserving generations of authentic family recipes and cultural traditions. She runs workshops, speaks at events, and mentors through organisations such as Migrant Leaders UK, guiding people to reconnect with their values, habits, and “inner why” for healthier, more fulfilling lives.

Website: https://www.tarunachauhan.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tarunachauhan/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tarunachauhaninnerwisdomcoach/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tchauhaninnerwisdomcoach/

About your host:

Darren has worked within digital marketing since the last century, and was the first in-house web designer for video games retailer GAME in the UK, known as Electronics Boutique in the States. After co-founding his own agency, Engage Web, in 2009, Darren has worked with clients around the world, including Australia, Canada and the USA.

iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/engaging-marketeer/id1612454837

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrenjamieson/

Engaging Marketeer: https://engagingmarketeer.com

Engage Web: https://www.engageweb.co.uk

Support the show: https://engageweb.club

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.