In this episode, I'm talking with Vanessa Zamy, a business expert, keynote speaker, and bestselling author of FINISH: The Solopreneur’s Guide To Getting Stuff Done.

Vanessa does not come from an entrepreneurial family but it was her family that inspired her to follow the path that she is now on - though not in the way that you might imagine.

In this episode, I'm talking with Steve Gamlin who is a Stand-Up Comedian, Radio DJ, Professional Speaker and expert in Vision Boards and using Visualisation to achieve great results.

In short, he loves his music, loves to tell a story and loves to bring a smile to your face.

During the meetings last month, the theme under discussion was “Finding Your Purpose”.

I believe that connecting what you do to a higher purpose, can dramatically transform your attitude, your motivation and, of course, your enjoyment levels.

One of the key elements of a Purposeful business is that the key beneficiary is someone other than yourself. What you do makes a difference to others and the fact that you benefit as well is an added bonus.

But getting that connection to the difference you make - is the key.

I'm going to let you into a secret. The people you want to help will be, in some way, a reflection of yourself. It may be directly linked or a filtration of key elements. But thinking about the inner child that needs rescuing can help you get clearer on where your purpose lies.

So my question this month was:

Which version of yourself do you want to help most?

As you can imagine, many of our conversations were deep and personal. Here, however, are some of the thoughts, ideas and nuggets that I’m able to share.

In this episode, I'm talking with Sébastien de Nuñez, a professional speaker and public speaking coach. He is co-founder of The Thought Leadership Academy and 4 times TEDx-speaker with his talk on how he learnt 12 languages being seen by over a quarter of a million people.

In this episode, I'm talking with Hayley Koseoglu, an Award-Winning Entrepreneur, Business Owner and Business Consultant who shares her business story as well as her personal story around Post-Natal Depression and PTSD.

During the meetings last month, the theme under discussion was “Inner Confidence”.

There is a common phrase in the self-development world that we must remember to “Celebrate Our Successes”. A very sensible thing to do, so that we acknowledge to ourselves the things that we have accomplished and keep our motivation up to do more.

On top of that, however, I also believe that we ought to “Celebrate Our Failures”.

One of the biggest challenges to Inner Confidence is perfectionism, fear of failure, fear of things not panning out etc etc.

However, in the majority of cases when asked, everyone also trots out the old cliché – “I learnt more from my failures than my successes”.

A 'Failure' therefore, is a good thing.
It is an opportunity to learn, to grow, to get better, to be better. That is a good thing.

The more we attach positive vibes to so-called negative outcomes, the less likely we are to hesitate or hold back and the more likely we are to break new ground and move forwards.

To that end, my question to Members this month was:

WHAT FAILURES ARE YOU GOING TO CELEBRATE?

Here are some of the questions, observations and reflections that were noted.

In this episode, I'm talking with Christopher Fox of Syncresis who specialises in Thought Leadership which, in his case, means developing and executing content strategies for financial innovators.

A very specific, targeted business model and part of our discussion is around how this specification came about. After all, he started off life as a Professor of French Literature.

In this episode, I'm talking with Angel Ribo, the CEO Confidant. Born in Spain, Angel has lived in 7 other countries and now resides in Dallas, USA. In that time he has helped over 1,500 CEOs in 33 different countries to create better businesses and more enjoyable lives.

Angel is also passionate about helping underprivileged children in Latin America, helping them to develop their natural entrepreneurial skills and create self-sustaining businesses that will transform the lives of them and their families.

During the meetings last month, the theme under discussion was “Find Your Tribe”.

The question I asked this month was simple but also had the potential for a lot of depth. Quite simply it was:

“In the next few weeks/months, who would it be really useful for you to meet?”

That's it.

Now, that may be a potential client, It might be a collaborator, a team member. It may be someone you already know - but it would be useful to meet a different version of that person that is currently hidden within themselves. Or if might be a version of yourself that needs to come out.

It can go in many different directions, subject to what's important to you.

Here are some of the questions, observations and reflections that were noted.

In this episode, I'm talking with Sanjay Aeron, a serial entrepreneur with over thirty years of experience with starting up and successfully running businesses across the globe.

In our conversation, Sanjay shares with us his warts-and-all journey as an entrepreneur, detailing the failures and challenges he's faced, as well as the successes.

In this episode, I'm talking with Philip Webb who is the founder and MD of Investors in Community, a blockchain digital platform that enables businesses and individuals to donate, volunteer and gift to charity and community initiatives that matter to you.

Primarily, it gives a platform for smaller local charities to be noticed.

In this episode, I'm talking with Pamela Hopkinson from Social Media Solutions which provides social media training, consultancy and management services.

Pamela has not followed the path that one might expect to arrive at this point. I mean, she started out doing a European law and languages degree. However, it turns out that it was actually very good preparation for the career she finally chose and now she admits that she genuinely is a Social Media Geek.