Adam (Active Internet Marketing) and Jon (Octopus Computers) chat with Michael Parry, co-founder of Frank Modern, about building a modern estate agency in the Peterborough and Rutland market. Michael breaks down what’s really happening right now, why getting the setup, pricing and marketing right from day one is everything, and how listening properly has led to a big rise in off-market sales. He also shares what he’d do differently if he started again, how networking and visibility helped them grow fast, and why “old school” lead gen like direct mail is working again. We also get into the story behind the Frank Modern name, what it’s like running the business with his wife Morgan, and the next chapter. launching a new prestige-focused sister brand, Parry & Grace, for Rutland’s unique and exceptional homes.

Main takeaways from our chat with Michael:

- In a competitive market, visibility and strong marketing from day one matters.

- Get the pricing right early and you give yourself the best chance of success.

- Off-market deals come from understanding buyers properly and matching them well.

- Process and communication after the sale can be the real differentiator.

- You can’t be everything to everyone, sometimes you need to split the brand.

Subscribe, like, and comment. We’d love to hear what part of Michael’s story or approach stood out most!

#BusinessGrowthShow #Entrepreneurship #Property #EstateAgency #Marketing #Sales #Peterborough #Rutland #Stamford #SmallBusiness #Leadership

Adam (Active Internet Marketing) and Jon (Octopus Computers) chat with Toby Thomas, founder of Love Stamford. After moving from London to Stamford just before the pandemic, Toby went from online business training to a hyper-local project designed to connect residents, visitors, and businesses. He shares lessons from past ventures, including speed dating, domain hoarding, and a short-lived spinning tops empire, and how failure shaped his approach. We cover community pride, local growth challenges, and how Love Stamford aims to be an inclusive, collaborative hub. Plus: why cutting costs can matter more than sales, and why AI is a “sports hall-sized brain” for entrepreneurs.

Main takeaways from our chat with Toby:

• Failure teaches as much as success: know when to cut losses.
• WordPress was a game-changer for making business training accessible.
• COVID showed Zoom’s potential, but also the loneliness of remote-only work.
• Love Stamford is built on inclusivity, collaboration, and no paywall gatekeeping.
• AI is like a free super-team: learn to use it as a business partner.

Toby shares how he built Love Stamford through entrepreneurship, resilience, and community. Discover the failure lessons that shaped his journey and the power of building with purpose.

Subscribe, like, and comment - we’d love to hear what part of Toby’s story inspired you most!

#Entrepreneurship #FailureLessons #CommunityBuilding #BusinessGrowth #LoveStamford #Leadership #TheBlondeBeat #BusinessGrowthShow

Adam (Active Internet Marketing) and John (Octopus Computers) sit down with Andy Nisevic, founder of One Degree and leadership coach. Andy shares his journey from property investment into people development, and why he believes that small, intentional shifts can create extraordinary results in business and leadership. We dig into the power of DISC reports for building self-awareness, how COVID reshaped the way leaders need to show up, and why culture and accountability drive performance more than strategy alone. If you’re leading a team or scaling a business, this conversation is a playbook for unlocking potential without losing sight of people.

Key takeaways from our talk with Andy:

• Leadership isn’t about titles, it’s about creating space for others to succeed.
• Most companies underinvest in people, even though culture drives results.
• COVID accelerated empathetic and adaptable leadership models.
• Small, consistent “one degree” shifts compound into major growth.
• Coaching provides accountability and perspective leaders can’t always find themselves.
• Self-awareness, powered by tools like DISC reports, is the foundation for lasting development.

Discover how Andy helps leaders transform their teams and businesses through culture, coaching, and the power of small shifts.

If you’re interested in leadership growth, DISC reports, or strategies for building stronger teams, this episode is packed with insights and inspiration.

Subscribe, like, and comment - we’d love to know which part of Andy’s journey inspired you most!

#Leadership #BusinessGrowth #DISCReports #OneDegree #Coaching #Culture #TheBlondeBeat #BusinessGrowthShow