What does it take to build a travel business from nothing?

How Two Backpackers Built A Travel Empire

In this powerful episode of The Business Growth Podcast, recorded live at Sky Studios, Alastair Donnelly and Simon King, co-founders of Inside Travel Group, share how they went from teaching English in Japan to leading an £80 million global company employing nearly 300 people and sending tens of thousands of travellers around the world each year.

This isn’t a story of overnight success. It’s a story of grit, friendship, purpose, and doing whatever it takes to survive.

Alistair and Simon open up about:

- The moment a life-changing trip inspired their business idea

- Building a company from a spare bedroom with no experience or money

- Surviving financial crashes, inefficiencies, and a pandemic that almost wiped them out

- Finding the right systems, advisors, and people to create sustainable growth

- How purpose and profit can coexist when you truly care about people

“Business is about people. You have to care about them - your customers, your team, your suppliers, your community. If you really care about people, success will follow.”

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Why Your Marketing Strategy Isn't About You - Lessons from Neil Martin

In this episode of the Business Growth Podcast, powered by ActionCOACH UK, host James Vincent speaks with Neil Martin, Director of Marketing & Edutainment at ActionCOACH UK, a multi-award-winning coach and author of Done Beats Perfect.

This is more than a conversation about marketing. It’s a deep dive into why most strategies fail, what really drives results, and how personal resilience shapes professional success. Neil opens up about his early life, the impact of losing his father, and the lessons he learned about building businesses that can survive without depending on a single person.

Alongside his personal story, Neil shares practical marketing strategies that every business owner can use today. From understanding attention spans to balancing creativity and analytics to building campaigns that connect through story, this episode is packed with insights you can put into action.

Key Insights from Neil Martin

On attention:

“Attention spans are shorter now than they’ve ever been. If you’ve got 4 million views and only 12 of them are your ideal customers, are those 4 million views worth anything other than vanity?”

On marketing as strategy, not chance:

“Marketing is like going to the casino, only this time the odds are stacked in your favour. But until you place your bet, you can’t win.”

On storytelling:

“The best presentations are built of two things: frameworks and stories. Frameworks give the structure, and stories fill in the gaps.”

On edutainment:

“All business needs some show business. People don’t just buy products; they buy emotions. Education through entertainment makes your message unforgettable.”

On ego in communication:

“If you make it about you and making yourself look good, it disconnects. Ego doesn’t connect. Confidence attracts, arrogance repels.”

On resilience and growth:

“My life has been both a warning and an example. Every morning, I remind myself, I want to live today as an example.”

On marketing’s true purpose:

“The purpose of marketing isn’t to sell. The purpose of marketing is to start the conversation. Sales is what sells—but you can’t sell to someone if they’re not talking to you.”

Why You Should Watch

This is more than marketing theory. Neil’s journey—from being made homeless at 18 after his father’s business collapsed, to later losing his dad at just 56, to becoming a successful entrepreneur and coach—shapes the way he sees business.

He reminds us that:

- Businesses too often depend on one person, and when that person goes, so does the business.

- Real marketing success isn’t about vanity metrics; it’s about connecting with your customer.

- The line between confidence and arrogance is intention, and people feel the difference.

- Success doesn’t guarantee happiness; you have to choose happiness along the way.

As Neil puts it:

“The hardest lesson I’ve had to learn is that it’s not about me.”

👉 Subscribe to the Business Growth Podcast for more conversations with leaders and experts.

👉 Share this episode with someone who needs to hear why marketing is never about them- it’s about their customer.

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Simon Squibb: Money is Not as Important as You Think | The Business Growth Podcast

What really matters in business and life - money, purpose, or freedom?

In this episode of The Business Growth Podcast, Simon Squibb shares the raw truth behind his entrepreneurial journey. From starting his first business at 15 to building, selling, and investing in over 100 companies, Simon brings decades of wisdom. But he insists: “Money is not as important as you think.”

Simon opens up about the biggest misconceptions entrepreneurs face:

Why most people believe you need money to make money, and why that belief is wrong.

How limiting beliefs, often shaped by education and society, stop people from taking risks.

Why purpose and freedom should come before profit.

He also unpacks his mission to fix the broken education system and why teaching financial literacy, creativity, and resilience matters more than traditional classroom learning. As Simon puts it: “School taught me nothing about money, but debt taught me everything.”

You’ll also hear Simon’s take on AI, the future of work, and why owning your time is the ultimate wealth. This is more than a conversation about business growth - it’s a roadmap for redefining success on your own terms.

Whether you’re a start-up founder, an experienced CEO, or someone questioning the way society defines success, Simon’s insights will challenge the way you think.

About Simon Squibb

Simon Squibb is an entrepreneur, angel investor, and the founder of HelpBnk. He is on a mission to give away his knowledge, network, and money to help others start businesses for free. With over 3 million followers across social platforms, Simon inspires people to challenge old systems and take control of their futures.

Some of his core beliefs include:

- Money is just a tool. What matters is how you use it.

- Freedom of time is real wealth.

- Entrepreneurship is for everyone. You don’t need permission, funding, or the perfect plan to start.

- Education needs disruption. Real-world experience and problem-solving matter more than rote learning.

Why Watch This Episode?

- To rethink your relationship with money.

- To learn why purpose-driven businesses outperform profit-driven ones.

- To discover how AI and technology will reshape entrepreneurship.

- To hear how community, role models, and love all tie into success.

As Simon says:

“If you want to change your life, change what you believe about money.”

💡 If you’re serious about business growth, purpose, and building a life on your own terms, this episode will give you insights you won’t find in textbooks.

🎧 Subscribe to The Business Growth Podcast for weekly conversations with top entrepreneurs, investors, and thought leaders.

This episode is sponsored by COnstant Contact: Digital & Email Marketing Platform.

https://www.constantcontact.com/uk

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AI: The Catalyst for Humanity's Next Leap Forward

In this episode of the Business Growth Podcast, we sit down with Ross Power, product strategist, entrepreneur, and the mind behind oversubscribed AI workshops in Bali. Ross delivers a refreshing perspective: AI isn’t here to replace us, it’s here to help us become more human.

Ross shares how AI can:

- Automate repetitive tasks so we can focus on creativity, empathy, and connection.

- Democratise access to tools that once required huge budgets or big teams.

- Act as the ultimate assistant, helping us think, decide, and work smarter.

From his live workshops where attendees build businesses in real time, to his views on privacy, ethics, and the rise of one-person businesses, Ross brings a mix of practical advice and big-picture thinking. His mantra? “Persistently be yourself” - because AI is just the latest tool in our long history of tools, and its true power lies in how it helps us express what makes us human.

Along the way, we dig into:

- The myths that stop people from embracing AI.

- The dangers of over-automation in areas like relationships.

- How persistence, deep work, and curiosity are the real success factors.

- Why “comparison is the thief of joy” and how to stay authentic in a noisy world.

Ross also unpacks his five definitions of freedom - time, location, people, mind, and creativity - and why authenticity and truthfulness are at the heart of entrepreneurial success.

If you’ve ever wondered whether AI will make us less human, this conversation flips that on its head.

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From Dopamine Overload to Mental Clarity: A Neuroscientist's Guide

In this episode of the Business Growth Podcast, powered by Action Coach UK, James Vincent welcomes TJ Power, a 28-year-old neuroscientist, speaker, and founder of Dose Lab.

TJ opens up about dopamine overload, the hidden cost of constant phone use, and why balancing your brain’s four key chemicals - dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins is essential for clarity, productivity, and happiness.

He shares the science behind addictive behaviours, explains why modern life leaves us mentally drained, and gives practical daily challenges you can use to reclaim your mind.

As TJ puts it:

“We live in a world that is hijacking our dopamine system… if you don’t understand how it works, you’ll spend your life chasing quick hits and feeling empty afterwards.”

What you’ll learn in this episode:

Why your smartphone and social feeds are designed to keep you hooked.

The evolutionary mismatch between modern technology and human biology.

How oxytocin creates real human connection and why likes and comments can’t replace it.

Simple changes to boost serotonin naturally, including gut health and diet.

The role of endorphins and why effortful activities matter more than quick wins.

How the Dose 30-Day Challenge can reset your brain chemistry in less than a month.

TJ doesn’t just share theory, he gives you tools. From gut-friendly food swaps to a 24-hour processed food challenge, to adding movement and connection back into your daily life.

“The point isn’t to remove dopamine. It’s to choose your dopamine… the stuff that’s harder but makes life more fulfilling.”

🔔 Subscribe to the Business Growth Podcast for weekly insights from world-class entrepreneurs, leaders, and thinkers.

This Episode is sponsored by CWCS

https://www.cwcs.co.uk/

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Personal Branding and Finding Your FLOW with Hannah Power - From Rock Bottom to Purpose-Driven Business:

What does it really take to build a personal brand that isn’t about likes or followers—but about purpose, impact, and flow?

In episode #131 of the ActionCOACH Business Growth Podcast, host James Vincent sits down with Hannah Power, personal brand coach, speaker, and author of The Power of You. Hannah reveals how to balance purpose and profit, shift into flow state, and consciously create the truest version of yourself.

From overcoming trauma and addiction to building a thriving business, Hannah shares her personal story with raw honesty. She explains her Dreamer, Achiever, Performer framework, showing entrepreneurs how to step into performer mode—the place of alignment, balance, and flow where “everything feels like magic.”

“Personal branding is the conscious creation of your best self and the sharing of that with the world. It’s not a LinkedIn profile—it’s much, much bigger than that.” – Hannah Power.

This episode is more than business—it’s about resilience, courage, and the power of turning pain into purpose. Hannah speaks openly about her darkest moments and how therapy, personal development, and faith gave her the perseverance to keep moving forward.

“It is not the breaking of you, it is the making of you… If you can overcome having that level of power taken away from you, you can ping your way up to the top of empowerment.” – Hannah Power.

Expect practical tools and deep insight on personal branding, flow, and modern entrepreneurship:

What you’ll learn in this episode

• How to shift from dreamer or achiever mode into performer mode and live in flow

• Why purpose and profit must go hand in hand for true success

• How to use affirmations and memory training to reprogram your thinking

• The role of therapy, resilience, and faith in overcoming trauma

• Why personal branding is personal development “on steroids”

• How authenticity and entertainment beat perfection in today’s digital world

Hannah also discusses:

The importance of resilience and perseverance in business

Why fun and playfulness matter in marketing today

How to stop caring what others think and step into who you truly are

If you’ve ever struggled with self-doubt, shame, or fear of being judged, this conversation will inspire you to see those struggles as the making of you—not the breaking.

This is a must-watch for entrepreneurs, coaches, creators, and leaders who want to succeed without losing themselves.

Sponsored by Trustist Customer Reviews – helping your business stand out in Google search.

👉 Learn more: https://trustist.com/

👉 Want the tools and coaching to scale your business? Visit actioncoach.co.uk

🔔 Subscribe for weekly insights from world-class entrepreneurs, leaders, and thinkers.

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Business Networking From Amstrad to AI: Thomas Power's Journey at the Cutting Edge

In this episode of the Business Growth Podcast, powered by ActionCOACH UK, we welcome Thomas Power – a tech pioneer, futurist, and master networker. Over nearly four decades, Thomas has worked with the likes of Alan Sugar, Michael Dell, and senior leaders at Microsoft, while building global communities that shaped the foundations of LinkedIn.

Thomas has always lived “on the edge” of business and technology. As he says:

“Always stay on the edge, always on the front line. Otherwise you miss it.”

This conversation covers everything from AI to Bitcoin, from Twitter/X to LinkedIn, and why community may be the last thing humans truly have left.

Key Highlights and Quotes from Thomas Power:

On working with Alan Sugar at Amstrad in the 1980s:

“I learned about gross margin. I learned about cash flow. I learned about preservation of cash and reserve cash… and I learned about the pain of customer service. Selling a hundred thousand computers a month with no call centre or CRM - it was brutal.”

On Twitter/X being the front line of knowledge:

“All the best minds in the world are on Twitter. You’ve got to be reading it one or two hours a day to stay on the edge. Otherwise you miss it.”

“It’s the most advanced platform ever created - way ahead of Facebook.”

On Elon Musk:

“Whether you like him or not, he’s the highest-performing individual in business on the planet. He started with nothing and built it all between 21 and 51. And now he owns Twitter.”

On networking with the greats:

“Fly with the eagles and you’ll become one. From Alan Sugar I met Michael Dell. I worked with directors at Microsoft. These brilliant minds taught me lessons I’ve carried for life.”

On Michael Dell (1987 meeting):

“I spent four mind-blowing hours with him at Olympia when he was just 21. He wasn’t focused on Amstrad - he was going after IBM and Compaq. I told Alan Sugar, ‘He’s cleverer than you are.’ And time proved it.”

On what’s next (his A-B-C):

“AI, Bitcoin, and Community. One is about automation. One is about money. And one is about the last thing left for humans - community.”

On Bitcoin:

“You get the price of Bitcoin you deserve to pay. Some bought at $1, some at $200, some at $5,000. Today it’s $120,000. By the end of the decade it’ll be $1 million. By 2050, $50 million.”

On community vs networking:

“Networking is about hunting down information, contacts and deals. Community is about emotional support, identity, and belonging. One is a hunter, the other a farmer. My wife Penny is the farmer - I’m the hunter.”

On his legacy:

“When I’m dead, I want to be known simply as a networker. I love connecting people. That’s what I’ve always done.”

On the risk of falling behind:

“If you miss a nudge in tech, you’re dead. The tech minds rule the world now - not politicians, not CEOs. Less than 400 people globally are really shaping the future. And I study them every day.”

This isn’t just a podcast episode - it’s a rare chance to hear the lived experience of someone who’s been at the front line of tech revolutions for nearly 40 years. From the early PC boom, to the rise of online communities, to today’s AI-driven future, Thomas Power has always asked one question: What’s next?

🔔 Subscribe to the Business Growth Podcast for weekly insights from world-class entrepreneurs, leaders, and thinkers.

👉 Want the tools and coaching to scale your business? Visit actioncoach.co.uk

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Can Building Business Communities Change Lives?

In this inspiring episode of the Business Growth Podcast, powered by ActionCOACH UK, we sit down with Penny Power OBE, entrepreneur, author, and co-founder of Ecademy, the world’s first social network for business owners.

Back in 1998, long before LinkedIn, Facebook, or Twitter, Penny and her husband Thomas created a global network of over 650,000 entrepreneurs. Their mission wasn’t profit; it was about connection, trust, and friendship in business.

Penny shares how community can transform businesses, but also opens up about the struggles behind the headlines: financial stress, identity, and the mental health challenges that come with carrying responsibility for others.

She reminds us that “people bring their childhood into the boardroom” and that business is always personal.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

- The three ingredients of powerful communities

- It’s not about you, it’s about the members.

- Help people feel significant. “The best gift you can give anyone is to help them feel significant.”

- Build culture through love and vulnerability. “Culture eats strategy for breakfast. Get the culture right, and everything else follows.”

- Why success without truth can be damaging. Penny says: “The gap between identity and truth is where so much pain lies.”

- How contribution and reciprocity drive belonging. “Community doesn’t exist without people contributing, but contribution looks different for everyone.”

- The role of love in leadership. “Love is not soft; it gives you courage.”

- Why vulnerability is strength, not weakness. “If you want to build trust, you have to allow people to see your truth.”

How to ask better questions to build connection:

- What are you most proud of?

- What’s something you’ve dared to overcome?

- What experience has shaped who you are?

Penny also reflects on family, resilience, and what legacy really means: “Allow everybody to be who they are and be connected to one another. That is my definition of family.”

This is more than a story of building a business. It’s about rethinking how we lead, how we connect, and how we measure success.

Grab a pen and paper. This conversation is packed with wisdom every business owner, leader, or entrepreneur can apply today.

🎧 Listen now to discover how to build communities that create impact, trust, and long-term business success.

👉 Subscribe and hit the notification bell for weekly insights from the world’s #1 business coaching team.

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