Advertise on podcast: The Richard Smith - small business development for the real world.

There’s an old saying: The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time is today.  It’s a useful way to think about business. Most of us can identify something we wish we had started earlier. Perhaps it’s a better website, an online booking system, a stronger local presence or a clearer plan for attracting future customers. It would be nice if those things were already established—but they aren’t. We can’t change when we started. We can decide what we do next. What are you planting today? A tree takes years to mature. Changes within a business might take a few months or several years to bear fruit. Either way, the principle is the same: if you want the result in the future, you need to plant the seed now. That doesn’t necessarily mean making a large investment. Some of the most valuable first steps cost very little: Taking time to think about where your market is heading Deciding what you want the business to look like in a few years Understanding how customers will discover and buy from you Identifying the systems and processes you’ll need Choosing one practical improvement you can begin today Thinking is still free—and it may be one of the most productive things you do. Your customers are changing This matters particularly now, as artificial intelligence begins to reshape the way people work, search and buy. We may still be in the early stages, but change is coming. Businesses shouldn’t necessarily fear it. Instead, they should consider how to position themselves to benefit from it. Whether you work in sales, manufacturing, plumbing, legal services or accountancy, it’s worth asking: What will our customers expect from us? How will they find us? Which channels will we need to use? What could make buying from us quicker and easier? Where can technology improve the service we provide? Businesses that start considering these questions today will be better prepared when the market shifts. Build for convenience—and keep it local Customers increasingly expect to interact with businesses online. That makes a good website, e-commerce where appropriate and online booking increasingly important. At the same time, local presence still matters enormously. If you operate locally, you can understand that market, tailor your message and influence outcomes more effectively. An office in Horsham may need to market itself differently from an office in Leeds, even when both provide the same core service. The strongest approach combines convenient digital services with genuine local knowledge. Take the first step You don’t need to transform the whole business today. You simply need to begin. Set aside some time, examine the options and decide what needs to be planted now. One thoughtful decision today could become a valuable part of your business in the months and years ahead. The best time to have started may have been years ago. The second-best time is today. Listen to the accompanying podcast episode for the full discussion. Ready to get some help on this. Use the form below.   Get In Touch Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form. Name * Email * Subject * Comment or Message * Phone Send Message

Doing Nothing Might Be the Most Productive Thing You Do Welcome back to the podcast. Running a small business often feels like organised chaos. You walk into the office in the morning and before you’ve even had a coffee, something is already demanding your attention. A customer problem. A staff issue. A VAT return. A marketing problem. Another thing that suddenly feels “urgent”. And before you know it, the whole day has disappeared reacting to noise instead of building the business you actually wanted in the first place. The Groundhog Day Problem Most small business owners eventually hit the same wall. You sit at your desk on a quiet Friday afternoon and ask yourself: How did I end up here? Why does every week feel the same? Am I actually moving forward? Or am I just surviving? For many people, business becomes Groundhog Day. Same problems. Same distractions. Same routines. Same stress. Nothing really changes. That is not a great way to run a business. And it is definitely not a great way to run a life. Because the whole point of building a business is that it should support your life, not consume it. Your business is supposed to create freedom, income, flexibility, and choices. It is supposed to help you live the life you want to live. Instead, many people end up trapped inside the thing they created. The Cost of Constant Distraction One of the biggest problems in modern business is distraction. Phones ringing. Emails pinging. Staff interruptions. Social media. New opportunities. New ideas. New fires to put out. Entrepreneurs are naturally wired to look for opportunities. That is part of the reason many of us started businesses in the first place. But constant movement is not the same as progress. Sometimes the most important thing you can do is stop. Not forever. Just long enough to think clearly again. Why Doing Nothing Matters There are moments where the smartest decision is to deliberately step back. To sit quietly. To observe. To think. Not react. Not answer emails. Not chase another shiny object. Just stop and look properly at what is going on. Because when you finally create space, you begin to notice things. You spot the friction. You see where problems are forming. You notice what is draining energy. You see the gaps. Some problems are real. Some are imagined. Some are future problems waiting quietly in the corner. But until you stop and analyse them properly, you never really solve them. The Power of Quiet Space Ideas rarely arrive when your brain is overloaded. They show up when the noise disappears. That might be: Sitting quietly in the office Going for a walk without your phone Driving alone Taking an hour away from the business Having a quiet coffee with no distractions The moment your mind becomes still, your perspective changes. You stop staring at the tree in front of you and finally see the whole forest. That is where clarity lives. Your Business Needs Space to Breathe Most people think productivity means constant action. But businesses often grow because of better thinking, not more frantic movement. The irony is that doing less can sometimes create more progress than doing everything. When you create space: Better ideas appear Better decisions get made Problems become clearer Opportunities become obvious Stress starts to reduce And over time, the business starts to change. Not because you worked harder. Because you finally gave yourself enough room to think properly. Final Thoughts If you are running a small business, try this. Give yourself permission to stop for a while. No phone. No noise. No reacting. Just think. Observe. Take stock. You may discover the thing holding your business back is not lack of effort. It is lack of space. Anyway, my name is Richard Smith. And if you need practical, hands-on help with your small business, head over to Small Business Ninja Let me know how you get on. Get In Touch Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form. Name * Email * Subject * Comment or Message * Email Send Message

This episode is aimed at small business owners who feel stuck, overworked, and not getting the return they want from their business. The core message is simple: Your business should serve your life, not control it Cutting costs has limits Growth comes from using what you already have better, especially your existing customers The focus is on shifting from chasing new business all the time to building stronger relationships with current customers. Key Ideas 1. Your Business Should Give You Freedom If your business feels like a bad job, something is wrong The goal is income and flexibility Systems and processes create that freedom 2. Cost Cutting Is Limited You can reduce staff, marketing, travel, overheads But there is a ceiling to how much you can cut It will not solve the core problem on its own Cost control matters, but it is not the growth strategy 3. Stop Chasing, Start Farming Most businesses spend too much time hunting new customers Existing customers are: Cheaper to sell to Easier to deal with More likely to buy again Already trust you They are your real source of profit 4. Big Businesses Do This Well Examples like Amazon, eBay and Tesco show the model: Regular contact Smart offers Strong customer data Consistent reminders Small businesses can copy this in a simple way 5. Simple Customer Retention System Step 1: Contact Recent Customers Look at your last 10 customers Send a simple message No selling, just checking in Step 2: Build Habit of Communication Set aside 3 to 4 hours per week Make contact normal, not occasional Step 3: Add Light Marketing Send updates or newsletters Share useful or relevant information Every business has something to say 6. Emotional Benefit Talking to customers builds confidence Reminds you that people value what you do Makes the business feel more in control Practical Takeaway Pull your last 10 customers Send a short message today Block out time each week for contact Start simple updates No systems needed yet, just action Get In Touch If you are tired of chasing work and want a business that actually pays you back, start fixing this properly. If you want help putting the systems in place, building customer retention, and turning your existing client base into consistent income, get in touch. We will show you how to turn what you already have into something that actually works. Bottom Line New customers cost more Existing customers are easier money Consistent contact creates repeat business Repeat business creates stability Stop chasing. Start building. Get In Touch Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form. Name * Email * Subject * Comment or Message * Website Send Message

And Start Using It Like a Conversation Hi, welcome back. Today I want to talk about two things most small businesses get wrong: Social media Existing customers Let’s keep this simple. Social Media Is Not the Answer But It Is a Tool Social media is not magic. It will not fix a broken business. It will not replace proper marketing. And it will not turn rubbish into results. But it is free access to attention. You have platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter). They cost nothing to use. And they give you direct access to: Potential customers Referrers Partners People already interested in what you do That is powerful. Most people waste it. Why Most Businesses Get It Wrong They treat social media like a loudspeaker. “Buy this.” “Look at me.” “Here’s another offer.” Noise. That’s why people switch off. What Actually Works Use what is already happening in the world. Example: A story appears on the BBC about faulty kitchen units. If you’re a kitchen fitter, that’s your moment. You say: “You may have seen this issue. Here’s how we do it differently so it doesn’t happen.” Now you are not selling. You are explaining. You are solving. You are positioning yourself as the person who knows. That works whether you are: A builder An accountant A solicitor A consultant Same principle. The Shift You Need to Make From this: “Look at me.” To this: “Here’s something useful.” When you do that: Your content gets shared more The algorithm finds the right people You stop being a nuisance You become relevant That’s marketing. Not selling. Now Let’s Talk About Your Existing Customers This is where most businesses are just… lazy. You already have people who: Know you Like you Trust you Call you when they’re stuck But you never contact them. Why? You message your mates. You send them links. You share things you find interesting. But your customers? Silence. Makes no sense. Your Customers Are Already Your Audience If someone has used you before, you are their go-to. If something breaks, they call you. So why wouldn’t you: Send them a useful article Share a video you made Flag a common problem Offer a simple solution Email. Text. WhatsApp. Even a letter. Yes, a letter. Remember those? No one gets anything in the post anymore except bills. So when they get something useful from you, it stands out. How to Do It Without Being Annoying Don’t sell. Just say: “Saw this. Thought of you. If it’s relevant, give me a shout.” That’s it. No pressure. No pitch. You stay visible. You stay useful. You stay top of mind. This Is the Bit Most People Miss You don’t need more leads. You need to: Talk properly on social media Stay connected to existing customers That alone will grow most small businesses. Do Something With This If you are sitting there thinking: “I should probably be doing this…” You’re right. But thinking doesn’t pay the bills. Action does. If you want help putting this into place: Go to https://richardsmith.com if you run a larger business Go to https://smallbusinessninja.co.uk if you are a small or micro business Or just get in touch and we’ll sort it out. Because right now, you are sat on customers, content, and opportunity. And doing precisely nothing with it. Which is a bold strategy, if your goal is to stay exactly where you are. Get In Touch Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form. Name * Email * Subject * Comment or Message * Message Send Message

Podcast Summary – Stop Hiding Behind the Screen Welcome to today’s episode. I work with small businesses. Strategy. Sales. E-commerce. Marketing. Customer retention. That last one is my weapon of choice. Getting existing customers to come back is cheaper and more powerful than chasing strangers all day. But here’s what I’m seeing in early 2026. Everything is being pushed onto a screen. Zoom meetings. LinkedIn “connections”. Webinars instead of conferences. Entire businesses run from a spare bedroom in slippers. We are being sold the idea that you can build a serious company without leaving the house. Click a few buttons. Post a few videos. Watch the money roll in. It’s nonsense. Yes, online tools matter. Of course they do. Email, WhatsApp, social media. They are efficient. But they are not a substitute for human contact. Small businesses, especially those under £1m turnover, grow through trust. And trust grows faster face to face. Eye contact matters. Sitting across a table matters. Having a coffee. Reading the room. Picking up on tone. Having a proper conversation about what your client actually wants. That nuance does not live inside a screen. When you meet people in person, something shifts. You get momentum. Ideas flow. Decisions happen. That is where real business gets done. So I am not saying ditch digital. I am saying stop hiding behind it. If you are a small business owner, look at your diary. How many real meetings are you having? How many proper conversations are you starting? If everything is online, your growth will be limited. Blend it. Use digital for reach. Use face to face for depth. That is where the money is. Call to Action If you run a small business under £1m and you want practical, hands on help with retention, sales and real world growth, go to: www.therichardsmith.com Or if you want structured support and sharp thinking applied directly to your business, visit: www.smallbusinessninja.co.uk Stop building your business through a webcam. Go and shake a hand. Final thought: if running a million-pound business in your underwear was that easy, Primark would be sponsoring the FTSE 100. Get In Touch Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form. Name * Email * Subject * Comment or Message * Email Send Message

The Zero Moment of Truth (And Why Your Online Presence Actually Matters) If you run a small business, this one is for you. What I Do Before I Meet a Client Before I ever sit down with a client, I do two simple things. First, I Google them. I look at their website. I see how they present themselves. I get a feel for how they do business. Second, I look at their wider online presence. Reviews. Mentions. What other people say about them. This is not clever. It is exactly what your customers do. Your Customers Are Already Checking Before someone works with you, they look you up. They want reassurance. They want confirmation. They want to know they are making the right choice. If your website does not explain how you work and why you work that way, you are missing a trick. If your social media says nothing useful, you are missing another one. The Zero Moment of Truth Google used to call this the Zero Moment of Truth. It happens when someone gets a quote from you. Then they open Google. They search your name. Your business. Your reviews. They are not being difficult. They are being sensible. You need to show up at that moment. Reviews Are Not Enough on Their Own Star ratings matter. But they are not the whole story. People also look for supporting signals. A website that feels real A YouTube channel A TikTok or Facebook presence Evidence that you exist beyond a logo These channels are free to use. But only if you actually use them. This Also Applies to Your Suppliers This is not just about customers. It applies to the people you work with. Your kitchen supplier. Your accountant. Your solicitor. Your software provider. You should be leaving feedback for them too. Why? Because it shows you are a serious business. It shows who you choose to work with. It shows the quality of your supply chain. And you can talk about that publicly. Symbiosis in Business There is a biological term for this. It is called symbiosis. Two organisms working together. Both benefit. Neither survives as well alone. Trees and ivy. Humans and gut bacteria. Business works the same way. When you support your suppliers publicly, they support you. When you link to each other, visibility increases. Algorithms like connectivity. So do humans. What This Looks Like in Practice Reviews for customers Reviews for suppliers Mentions on your website Social posts showing how you work Clear signals that you are real and trusted This builds confidence before anyone ever calls you. The Core Message People are checking you out anyway. You can either control the story. Or leave it to chance. The Zero Moment of Truth is happening whether you like it or not. You might as well turn up for it. Need a Way Forward? If you are stuck with any of this and want a clear plan, you know what to do. You can find out more about me at: 👉 https://www.therichardsmith.com If you need hands-on help for your small business, visit: 👉 https://smallbusinessninja.co.uk Get In Touch Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form. Name * Email * Subject * Comment or Message * Website Send Message

AI Is the Tool. The Fundamentals Still Win. Welcome to this episode of the podcast. In this session, I want to reset how we think about artificial intelligence and small business. I am positive about AI. I believe it will be one of the biggest shifts small business owners experience over the next few years. But not for the reasons most people are being sold. The Real Mistake Small Businesses Are Making Everyone is rushing to integrate AI into systems and processes. Automation. Dashboards. Workflows. Platforms. That is fine. But it misses the bigger point. As I mentioned in the last podcast, the real advantage for small business owners is focusing on what does not change. What Keeps Changing in Business Business never stands still. Legislation changes Employment law evolves Marketing channels rise and fall Technology updates constantly The way work gets done keeps shifting This has always been true. What Does Not Change The fundamentals. Customers still want problems solved. Sales still rely on trust. Cash flow still matters. Clear thinking still beats busy activity. Good decisions still outperform clever tools. These things are constant. The Carpenter Analogy Think about a carpenter. A hundred years ago, they used: Straight edges Measuring tapes Hammers and chisels Today, they use: Lasers and mobile phone measuring tools Battery-powered equipment Automated machinery The tools have changed completely. The job has not. They still turn up every day to build something solid that fits and lasts. AI sits in exactly the same place. It is machinery. Not the craft. Why Business Owners Get Stuck Most people do not stop to think. They keep working through problems. They hope clarity will appear later. It rarely does. Busyness creates noise. Noise hides the real issue. The problem grows instead of shrinking. Where AI Actually Helps Used properly, AI supports thinking. It helps you: Step back from the noise Question assumptions Test ideas safely See simpler routes forward But only if you stay grounded in the fundamentals. The Core Message Forget the hype. Forget the panic. Forget the race to automate everything. AI is just another tool. The fundamentals still do the heavy lifting. Get those right and AI helps. Get them wrong and no system will save you. Need a Way Forward? If you feel stuck, overwhelmed, or buried in noise, you already know something needs to change. You can find out more about me at: 👉 https://www.therichardsmith.com If you need hands-on help with your small business, visit: 👉 https://smallbusinessninja.co.uk Get In Touch Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form. Name * Email * Subject * Comment or Message * Name Send Message

In this episode, the focus is artificial intelligence without the nonsense. AI is not sold as a miracle. It is treated as what it actually is. A tool. The discussion looks at how small business owners can use AI in a practical way. Not in the cloud. Not as a gimmick. But as a controlled system that helps you think, decide, and act. It explores how AI can pull together proven ideas, trusted content, and real-world experience. All in one place. On your terms. If you want fewer opinions, better questions, and shorter paths from problem to solution, this episode is for you. Why listen to this episode? This is not AI hype. It is AI as a tool that actually earns its keep. Here are the ideas, and why they matter. 1. AI is not magic Idea: AI is useful, not miraculous. Why listen: If you are tired of being told AI will solve everything, this resets expectations fast. 2. Small businesses have too many jobs Idea: Owners are expected to be good at finance, sales, HR, marketing, stock, and strategy. Why listen: Because no one is that good. This episode admits it and moves on. 3. Outsourcing is expensive and slow Idea: Most firms outsource knowledge because they have no choice. Why listen: This shows how AI can reduce that dependency without pretending you can replace experts. 4. AI works best as a private knowledge base Idea: AI is strongest when fed proven content you trust. Why listen: You learn how to turn AI into something closer to an in-house advisor, not a glorified search box. 5. Use your own data, on your own terms Idea: Control the sources. Control the answers. Why listen: This avoids cloud dependence and keeps sensitive thinking where it belongs. 6. Turn podcasts into thinking tools Idea: Download, transcribe, and interrogate content. Why listen: This is a practical trick most people have not clocked yet. 7. Build AI by function, not fantasy Idea: Separate tools for marketing, sales, product, and ideas. Why listen: Because structure beats enthusiasm every time. 8. Shorter paths appear Idea: AI often shows a simpler route than the one you planned. Why listen: Less effort. Fewer mistakes. Same destination. 9. Better questions beat quick answers Idea: AI helps you think before you pay someone else to think for you. Why listen: This alone can save time, money, and embarrassment. 10. This is about survival, not buzzwords Idea: AI is framed as a working tool for real businesses. Why listen: Because survival is more interesting than trends. Get In Touch Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form. Name * Email * Subject * Comment or Message * Comment Send Message

Steal Like a Professional. Borrow What Works. Build What Sells. Summary This episode is about borrowing ideas, not nicking work. Every market is crowded. Whatever you sell, someone else sells something similar. Often cheaper. Often louder. That is normal. That is how markets work. Instead of pretending you must be “original,” look at what already exists. If a competitor has a product or service that sells, that proves demand. That alone is valuable. You can take the idea, adapt it, repackage it, and make it fit your customers better. Add your edge. Your voice. Your service. Your brand. This is not about copying copyright or stealing IP. It is about learning from what already works and improving it. The internet proves this daily. Amazon is full of near-identical products. The difference is branding, positioning, and trust. For small business owners, this is often the fastest way to grow. Less risk. Clear demand. Faster execution. Stop fearing the word “steal.” Start borrowing intelligently. Ready to get in touch? Get In Touch Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form. Name * Email * Subject * Comment or Message * Phone Send Message

Most people know me for business development. Fewer know my background is financial services. I spent over 30 years in that industry. One thing became very clear early on. Most people have serious mental blocks around money, work, and investing. There is no magic switch. No instant fix. Anyone selling that is lying. But there are ways to reset how you think and behave. When that shifts, everything else starts to move. This podcast has always focused on business. Planning. Strategy. Growth. Today I want to talk about mindset. How the brain actually works. And why so many capable people feel stuck. I am about to launch a new programme on my sister site, MoneyTrainers.co.uk. It made sense to introduce the ideas here first. We are taught a simple story. Set goals. Make plans. Follow steps. Everything works out. Business owners know that is nonsense. Plans break. Life interferes. Circumstances change. You end up somewhere you never planned to be. That is not failure. That is reality. The Buddhists say it well. The problem is rarely the problem. Your reaction is. I want to talk about being stuck. Not lazy. Not broken. Just stuck. Most of us already know what we should be doing. Get up earlier. Move more. Focus. Stop scrolling. Stop avoiding. The issue is not knowledge. It is behaviour. Your brain is doing exactly what it was designed to do. Distract you. Protect you. Preserve energy. Sit alone for an hour. No phone. No noise. You will see it. Thought after thought. Tens of thousands a day. That is not a flaw. That is survival wiring. The brain blocks action in three main ways. First, uncertainty. Your brain does not believe the effort will work. Second, distance. The reward feels too far away. Big goals overwhelm the system. Third, threat. Fear of failure. Fear of embarrassment. Fear of damaging your identity. When all three are present, action stops. This is why motivation fails. This is why positive thinking fails. You do not need more effort. You need less friction. A reset is not about dreaming bigger. It is about starting smaller. As we get older, this matters more. I am in my 60s now. Looking back, the real question is not “why didn’t I know?” It is “why didn’t I change?” For years, I did not believe change was possible. Life was fine. Career was fine. Family was fine. But something never shifted. That changed when I started working with meditation and reset principles in my late 40s and 50s. I began to understand the mechanics. We do not need another “change your life” programme. We need to work with the brain we actually have. That means smaller actions. Closer rewards. And a shift in identity before long-term goals. Identity drives behaviour. If you believe you are overweight, unfit, bad with money, or “just not that person,” then no amount of motivation will fix it. You will always act in line with who you think you are. This reset is about changing that. Gradually. Practically. Without heroics. If you are stuck, the answer is not trying harder. It is starting smaller. The programme launches soon. It will be free initially. You will find it at: moneytrainers.co.uk/reset If this resonated, get in touch. Leave a comment wherever you found this podcast. You are not broken. Your brain is just doing its job. Ready to get in touch use the form below. Get In Touch Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form. Name * Email * Subject * Comment or Message * Email Send Message