In this episode of British Business with Matt Holland, Matt and co-host Tom McIlvenny (plus a cameo from Morgan Goodsmith) dive into one of the biggest productivity traps in business: being busy without being effective.

🧠 Why being “flat out” doesn’t always mean progress

⏳ Time management tips to get out of the weeds and back on strategy

📉 The hidden cost of doing low-value tasks as a founder

🤝 Delegation vs. micromanagement—how to step back without losing control

🧰 Tools & systems that free up your time (and mind)

🛑 How to spot when you’re being a “busy idiot” in your business

💡 Key Takeaway:Being busy isn’t the goal—building a business that works without you is. Know what only you should be doing, and delegate or automate the rest.

🔥 Whether you’re a solo founder or leading a growing team, this episode will help you regain focus, reclaim your time, and grow your business the smart way.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify | Watch on YouTube

🔊 Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/4uqUUHLdho0f9o3hc0WjLZFollow

Matt:

📸 Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/mrmattholland/

👨‍💻 LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrmattholland/

📱 TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@mrmattholland

❌ X – https://x.com/mrmattholland1Follow Tom:

👨‍💻 LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-mcilvenny-b15b9555/

💬 What’s one task you’re still doing that you know you should delegate? Drop it in the comments and own it.

#BritishBusiness #Productivity #Entrepreneurship #Delegation #WorkSmarter #SmallBusiness #Leadership #TimeManagement #FounderLife

Ep10 Cutting Through the Noise: This episode of British Business with Matt Holland, Matt and co-host Tom McIlvenny tackle the ever-evolving world of marketing—why it’s harder than ever, what’s actually working, and how you can stand out without breaking the bank.

📺 From the UK’s first TV ad in 1955 to TikTok today—how marketing has changed

📉 Why ad costs are rising and what that means for your budget

⚖️ Branding vs sales—what really moves the needle?

📬 How direct mail made a comeback (and why it works)

💡 The real power of video content, social proof, and personal branding

🧠 AI, automation, and how ChatGPT can become your best marketing assistant☕ What small businesses (like your local coffee shop) can do with £10K or less🔥 Why your customers are your best marketers—and how to turn them into fans

💡 Key Takeaway:Marketing in 2025 is about trust, creativity, and connection. It’s not just about shouting louder—it’s about saying something worth listening to.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify | Watch on YouTube

🔊 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4uqUUHLdho0f9o3hc0WjLZFollow Matt:

📸 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mrmattholland/

👨‍💻 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrmattholland/

📱 TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@mrmattholland

❌ X - https://x.com/mrmattholland1Follow Tom:

👨‍💻 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-mcilvenny-b15b9555/

💬 Got a creative marketing idea or a question about cutting through the noise? Drop it in the comments and we might shout you out in the next episode!

🔜 Next Episode: The Truth About Business Partnerships – What Makes or Breaks Them

📌 Make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss it!

#BritishBusiness #MarketingTips #SmallBusiness #Entrepreneurship #ContentMarketing #SocialMediaStrategy #AIinMarketing #PersonalBranding #UKBusiness #BusinessGrowth

In this episode of British Business with Matt Holland, Matt and co-host Tom McIlvenny dive into the realities of business partnerships—from sibling-run success stories to the common pitfalls that tear businesses apart.

🤝 The surprising history behind Marks & Spencer’s original partnership

⚖️ Do the best partnerships come from different skill sets?

🧠 Why clearly defined roles and shared vision are essential

🔥 The Represent Clothing founders: a modern example of introvert/extrovert synergy

⚠️ Mistakes to avoid: unequal effort, unclear expectations, and no legal agreement

💬 Real stories of resilience: how strong partnerships helped them survive hard times

💡 Key Takeaway:A great business partner can be your biggest advantage—or your biggest risk. Know what to look for, how to structure it, and how to keep the relationship thriving.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify | Watch on YouTube

🔊 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4uqUUHLdho0f9o3hc0WjLZFollow Matt:

📸 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mrmattholland/

👨‍💻 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrmattholland/

📱 TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@mrmattholland

❌ X - https://x.com/mrmattholland1

Follow Tom:

👨‍💻 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-mcilvenny-b15b9555/

💬 Are you in a business partnership? What’s been your biggest win or challenge? Drop your story in the comments!

🔜 Next Episode: Don’t Be a Busy Fool – Work Smart, Not Just Hard

📌 Make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss it!

#BritishBusiness #BusinessPartnerships #Entrepreneurship #Founders #StartupTips #SmallBusiness #Leadership #MarksandSpencer #RepresentClothing #FelixDennis #HowToGetRich

In this episode of British Business with Matt Holland, we dive deep into Part 2 of Tom McIlvenny’s business journey—and this one’s a rollercoaster.From building his own brand “Snugaroo” and making thousands in organic sales to influencer deals with Michelle Keegan and even a brand name offer from Tesco… this episode covers it all.👕 How Tom turned novelty Christmas jumpers into serious cash📦 The challenges (and cost) of importing from China📉 The IP legal threat that nearly sank the business overnight🧠 What Tom learned from scaling a brand—and losing £200k in stock🤝 Why a supportive partner matters when your business hits the wall💡 Key Takeaway:You can do everything right and still get blindsided in business. But resilience, smart pivots, and good people around you make all the difference.🎧 Listen now on Spotify | Watch on YouTube🔊 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4uqUUHLdho0f9o3hc0WjLZ📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BritishBusinessPodcastFollow Matt:📸 Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/mrmattholland/👨‍💻 LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrmattholland/📱 TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@mrmattholland❌ X – https://x.com/mrmattholland1Follow Tom:👨‍💻 LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-mcilvenny-b15b9555/💬 Got questions about starting your own brand or scaling e-commerce? Drop them in the comments!#BritishBusiness #Ecommerce #StartupJourney #BusinessLessons #Snugaroo #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusiness #Importing #IPDrama

In this episode of British Business with Matt Holland, Matt and co-host Tom McIlvenny tackle one of the most overlooked yet critical aspects of running a business—cash flow.💸 Why is cash flow the silent killer of businesses?⚠️ The difference between cash flow and profit (and why it matters).🚨 Overtrading: How growing too fast can sink your business.💡 Practical strategies to improve cash flow and avoid financial pitfalls.🧠 The psychology of holding cash—why entrepreneurs struggle to keep money in the bank.💡 Key Takeaway:Your business doesn’t die when it stops making profit—it dies when it runs out of cash. Understanding and managing cash flow is the key to survival and long-term success.Listen now on Spotify | Watch on YouTubewww.youtube.com/@BritishBusinessPodcast

Follow Matt:📸 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mrmattholland/ 👨‍💻 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrmattholland/📱 TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@mrmattholland❌ X - https://x.com/mrmattholland1Follow Tom:👨‍💻 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-mcilvenny-b15b9555/💬 What’s the biggest cash flow challenge you’ve faced in business? Drop your experience in the comments!🔜 Next Episode: The Journey of an Entrepreneur – Tom’s Story📌 Make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss it!#BritishBusiness #CashFlow #Entrepreneurship #MoneyManagement #StartupFinance #BusinessTips #Overtrading #SmallBusiness

In this episode of British Business with Matt Holland, Matt and co-host Tom Mcilvenny dive into one of the biggest challenges of running a business—risk-taking.

🎲 How do you know when to take the leap?

💡 The difference between calculated risks and reckless gambles.

⚡ Why failing fast (and learning from it) is crucial to success.📊 Data vs. gut instinct—how to make the right call under pressure.

🚀 Why the best business owners are risk-takers—but not risk-fools.

💡 Key Takeaway:Every successful entrepreneur has had to take a risk, fail, and try again. The key is knowing when to push forward and when to pivot.

🔥 Whether you're launching a startup, scaling your business, or making tough decisions, this episode is packed with real talk about risk, resilience, and rewards.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify | Watch on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/@BritishBusinessPodcast

🔊 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4uqUUHLdho0f9o3hc0WjLZFollow

Matt:

📸 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mrmattholland/

👨‍💻 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrmattholland/

📱 TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@mrmattholland

❌ X - https://x.com/mrmattholland1

Follow Tom:

👨‍💻 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-mcilvenny-b15b9555/

💬 Have you ever taken a big business risk? How did it go?

Drop your experience in the comments!#BritishBusiness #Entrepreneurship #RiskTaking #Failure #BusinessDecisions #SmallBusiness #StartupMindset #Leadership

Here we are—episode five already! Time is flying, and in this episode of British Business with Matt Holland, Matt and co-host Tom Mcilvenny tackle one of the toughest and most important parts of running a business: people.

💼 Finding the right people—skills vs. culture fit.

⚡ Avoiding “quiet quitting” and keeping a motivated team.

📈 How to recognize, reward, and retain top talent without breaking the bank.

🔄 Why hiring is just the start—and real success comes from leadership & development.

😬 The awkward side of business: handling underperformance & difficult conversations.

💡 Key Takeaway:Your business is only as strong as your team. The right people will push it forward—the wrong ones will drag it down.

🔥 Whether you're hiring your first employee or leading a growing team, this episode is packed with insights to help you build a business that thrives.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify | Watch on YouTube🔊 Spotify -

https://open.spotify.com/show/4uqUUHL...

YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/@BritishBusinessPodcast

Follow Matt :📸 Instagram - / mrmattholland

👨‍💻 LinkedIn - / mrmattholland

📱 TikTok - / mrmattholland

❌ X - https://x.com/mrmattholland1

Follow Tom:

👨‍💻 LinkedIn - / tom-mcilvenny-b15b9555

💬 Drop a comment with your biggest hiring or leadership challenge!

#BritishBusiness #Entrepreneurship #Leadership #BusinessGrowth #SmallBusiness #Hiring #CompanyCulture #WorkplaceSuccess