Life Is Short So Tell It Like It Is

Most people that know me know that I have seen business from every side. I’ve had jobs at the cutting edge of modern science and technology and I’ve worked in places with low morale and a bullying culture. Today I live an amazing life because I chose to get out of the rut and take action. I do what I love every day and I meet fantastic people every day. I am fitter and healthier than I have been for thirty years. I have travelled as far as Vietnam and Malaysia and I am now an internationally known professional speaker and published author. I have gone from physicist to firewalker. I have learnt to live with better habits and higher standards.

On my journey I have worked with many businesses from start-ups to famous local names. I have discovered some common themes that lead to success. There are thirteen crucial parts to running a thriving business and I have created this course to give you the strategies to ensure sustained growth and happiness.

Check updates on fixmybusiness.co.uk/news.

Warning! Do not this this course if:

You blame other people for your situation

You think you have a right to a job

You are easily offended

Why do we all need to be in business? Because we are social animals and born to serve. Because there are no limits to our wealth generating capacity. Because we don't need qualifications, only a certain aptitude, attitude, determination and perseverance. We all need to be in business, even if the business is "Me Unlimited".

For the first time in the history of mankind we have almost boundless free access to the entire sum of the knowledge of humanity. We are at a time of enormous abundance and opportunity if we keep our mind and eyes open. We can communicate more easily and more widely than ever before. At the same time our Governments have made promises that they cannot keep, our world financial system is bankrupt, our world economy is unsustainable and our environment is under threat. We have no entitlement to be provided for and because so much information is available for all to see we have no excuses not to look out for ourselves. You cannot say that nobody told you.

The ease of access to communication channels has indirectly allowed the dramatic increase in the number of false news web sites designed to sway public opinion. Recently they have been used to influence public perception in issues such as the elections in the United States, fracking, climate change, terrorism, migrants and refugees. What you see on your Facebook timeline is determined by secret algorithms known only to the Facebook developers.

Facebook ran an experiment where different groups of users were shown posts consistently happier or sadder than the average. The posts written by the users were deemed to follow the mood of the received posts, showing that Facebook has the power to change your mood. Posts that you see will in general be aligned with your way of thinking, leading to an echo-chamber effect, where you only hear what you want to hear, splitting communities into isolated groups. It is your duty to check your facts and sources before rebroadcasting them. Use websites like snopes.com for an alternative perspective to a given news article. Use your own eyes and check social media video timestamps for consistency. Remember that facts remain the same as time goes by and that it is right to be suspicious of people whose stories change with the weather.

There are only four broad ways to create wealth: mining, farming, manufacturing and creativity. Service industries are necessary make sure that these four sectors run efficiently and to ensure the wellbeing of people. Financial services do not generate wealth.

The education systems in many Western nations are not fit for purpose, if their aim is to maximise the potential of all those who pass through them. Many school systemsaround the globe are designed to produce a workforce that is compliant and ready to conform to a 19th century factory type environment. Creativity is stifled and students are required to fit into the system rather than the system being flexible enough to develop the student. How do current school systems recognise and nurture the potential of a child that has a natural ability to care for plants, animals or people, for example?

The University system has lost its way and is now a self-serving business cartel. The government has actively pursued a policy of increasing university student numbers. Is this in order to artificially suppress unemployment figures? Universities have increased tuition fees in order to become profitable businesses. Students are compelled to take on loans to pay for their tuition, ensuring that they will be locked into a debt slave economy. Employers can demand high levels of qualifications from job applicants and the qualifications can only be obtained via the University awarding bodies. The quality of education and validity of the qualifications are regulated by The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) and the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA), staffed by members with strong university ties. With the advent of nearly free online courses in almost every subject, the university business model is broken.

The way it works at the moment:

Take Exam > Get Certificate > Enter Academia > Set Exam

Between 2000 and 2012 the proportion of graduates in the UK population rose from 23% to 38%. Over the same time, graduate unemployment doubled from 10% to 20% according to the UK Office for National Statistics. Having a degree does not guarantee having a job. Modern employers will increasingly judge you on your actions, not on your exam results.

In the 19th century mechanisation in farming reduced the need for labour in the fields. The industrial revolution reduced the need for home based craftspeople. In the 20th century robotics and advanced manufacturing machinery has reduced the need for factory workers. In the 21st century, advances in computing and artificial intelligence will reduce the need for white collar workers. We have to be ready to adapt to this imminent disruptive technology.

In general, professional workers are being commoditised: teachers are replaced with classroom assistants, doctors are assigned patient session number quotas, policemen are replaced by community support officers, checkout staff are replaced with touchscreens.

Who are most at risk?

Replaceable: Bankers, travel agents, checkout staff, retail staff,

Who are least at risk?

Irreplaceable: Carers, craftspeople, trades people, problem solvers, creatives, scientists, educators, sales people, marketers, drivers, traders, inspirational managers, artists, nurturers of plants, animals and people.

If you are ready for an exciting adventure ahead, take action and work through the rest of this course, completing section checklists as you master them.

Why are you in business?

What is the problem that you are solving?

What is your 1 year goal?

What is your 5 year goal?

Please answer these questions in the comments section below: