Scale Up With Nick Bradley

Nick discusses the importance of systemising a business to achieve freedom and scalability with Lloyd Thompson, an expert in operations and management. They delve into the process of conducting an audit to identify areas for improvement, focusing on vision, values, and accountability.

Lloyd explains how they help founders delegate tasks effectively and establish operational smoothness through rhythms, dashboards, and feedback loops...

Nick welcomes business mastermind James Schramko to discuss his journey from working in the automotive industry to becoming a successful online entrepreneur. James shares his experiences transitioning from a high-pressure job to creating a thriving online business that provides him with the freedom and flexibility he desires. He emphasises the importance of personal effectiveness, building a small team, having a good offer, and cho...

Nick welcomes guest, Matt Chancey, to discuss the intricacies of tax planning for high-net-worth individuals, particularly focusing on strategies to minimise taxes during significant liquidity events such as selling a business.

Matt shares insights on how to strategically plan for such events, emphasising the importance of early preparation and collaboration with a team of expert advisors. They delve into the concept of tax alpha s...

Nick talks to Graham Stephen, the co-founder of BizVal, about the process of demystifying business valuations.

Graham shares his background in corporate finance and entrepreneurship, highlighting the importance of understanding the value drivers of a business. They discuss key factors in business valuations, such as owner independence, effective processes and systems, unit economics, and customer understanding.

The conversation...

Nick discusses the intricate world of mergers and acquisitions, focusing on sophisticated buyers like private equity firms. Nick emphasizes the importance of understanding the mindset of private equity partners when considering selling a company, especially for significant figures. He sheds light on the strategies and tactics employed by private equity firms, such as leveraging debt, maximizing returns, and the dynamics of partners...

Nick is joined by Kurt Stein, an IT consultant and digital transformation expert, to talk about the impact of AI on entrepreneurship and business, particularly in a rapidly changing landscape. Kurt emphasises the importance of embracing AI as an enabler rather than a threat, highlighting the need for businesses to adapt and innovate quickly. They delve into various AI tools and platforms, such as Microsoft Copilot and Descript, tha...

Nick talks to Justin Donald, the founder of Lifestyle Investor, about the concept of lifestyle investing and the importance of understanding wealth creation, freedom, and impact for entrepreneurs and business owners. Justin shares his journey from being an entrepreneur to becoming a successful lifestyle investor, emphasising the need to diversify investments and create passive income streams. They discuss the ten commandments of li...

Nick discusses the importance of leveraging time effectively to maximise output in business and personal life. Drawing inspiration from entrepreneur Naval Ravikant, Nick emphasises the concept of leverage in time management, focussing on the detrimental effects of being addicted to chaos and trading time for money, and highlighting the need to transition to trading money for more time to achieve entrepreneurial success.

KEY TAKEAWA...

Nick is joined by special guest, Anastasia Koroleva, who has been involved in multiple exits and is now focused on the psychological effects of exiting companies. They discuss the importance of understanding the psychological impact of exiting a business, including the challenges and changes that come with it.

Anastasia shares insights on the post-exit period, emphasising the need for healing, self-discovery, and exposure to new ex...

Nick is joined by Elliott Holland, an expert in due diligence, particularly quality of earnings. Elliott shares insights into the due diligence process, focusing on the importance of financial analysis and commercial and operational considerations. He emphasises the need for a robust due diligence process, especially for smaller businesses, to ensure accurate financial reporting and mitigate risks.

They also cover key aspects such ...

Nick and special guest Dan Cremons take a deep dive into the world of private equity.

Dan, with his extensive experience in private equity, shares insights on maximising exit value for business owners. They also discuss the evolving landscape of private equity, emphasising the importance of operational expertise and value creation post-acquisition. Dan highlights the significance of building a business that aligns with the criteria...

Nick discusses the key steps to prepare for a high-value exit of a business. He breaks down the process into three stages: strengthening the foundations of the business, scaling the value of the company, and being smart when you decide to sell. Nick emphasises the importance of transitioning from organised chaos to a well-oiled machine by focusing on areas such as talent structuring, systems automation, and data-driven decision-mak...

Nick is joined by Callum Laing, who shares insights from his experience in setting up boards for successful exits and emphasises the importance of having a diverse and effective board in place.

They discuss the value of advisory boards, the journey to becoming a board member, and the steps individuals can take to join boards successfully. Callum also introduces his upcoming book, "The Boardroom Blueprint," which provides a guide fo...

Nick is joined by Amber Spears, to talk about affiliate marketing, emphasising the importance of diversifying customer acquisition channels and highlight the value of incorporating affiliate marketing into a business strategy. 

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Affiliate Marketing Basics: It's vital to recognise the different types of affiliates such as traditional affiliates, influencers, and ambassadors.

Value of Diversification: Diversifying custom...

Nick interviews Trey Taylor, author of the book "A CEO Only Does Three Things: Finding Your Focus in the C-Suite." Trey shares his personal journey of unexpectedly taking over his family's multi-generational financial business and the challenges he faced in learning the role of a CEO.

He emphasises the importance of culture, people, and numbers in the CEO's job and how these three areas are interconnected. Trey discusses the signif...

Nick is joined by JB Brown, an experienced entrepreneur and mergers and acquisitions advisor. They delve into the topic of partnerships within businesses and the challenges that can arise, particularly when preparing for an exit. They discuss the importance of understanding each partner's goals and motivations, as well as the need for a solid partnership agreement from the start.

JB shares personal experiences and insights, highlig...

Nick welcomes back Adam Coffey, a renowned expert in scaling, growing value, and exiting companies, to share his insights from his latest book, "Empire Builder: The Road to a Billion," where he discusses the challenges faced by entrepreneurs and offers strategies for success.

Adam discusses the importance of understanding unit-level economics, focusing on needs-based businesses with recurring revenue streams, and diversifying asset...

Nick shares his insights and strategies for goal-setting and business planning, focussing on the importance of clarity, simplicity, and execution in achieving business success.

Nick takes you through a step-by-step process, starting with creating a vivid vision for the business and setting goals aligned with that vision. He then breaks down the goals into operational drivers and strategic initiatives, and further refines them into ...

Nick is joined by Rob Huxtable, a partner at executive search firm Falcon, to discuss what it takes to thrive as a C-suite leader in a private equity-backed company. Rob shares his expertise on the characteristics and skills necessary for success in this environment, delving into the importance of self-esteem, execution at velocity, hands-on involvement, effective communication, and influence without authority.

They also explore th...