In this episode of "All Things Conflict," Maria engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Simon Woodroffe, the founder of Yo Sushi and Yotel, and a former dragon on Dragon's Den. Simon shares his journey from a headstrong entrepreneur with little formal education to a leader who values connection and rapport in business. He reflects on the challenges of navigating relationships in the entrepreneurial world and emphasizes the importance of building goodwill and trust. The discussion touches on personal development, the significance of emotional connections in leadership, and the cultural differences in service and teamwork. Simon also shares pivotal moments in his life that led to his transformation, highlighting the necessity of self-love and respect in fostering meaningful relationships. This episode is a rich exploration of leadership, personal growth, and the evolving nature of business in today's world.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

1. Vision and Imagination: Having a clear vision and the ability to imagine what you want to achieve is crucial for success in entrepreneurship. This vision helps guide decisions and actions toward achieving goals.

2. Importance of Relationships: Building rapport and maintaining good relationships with others is essential in business. Creating goodwill allows for more effective collaboration and can lead to better outcomes.

3. Personal Growth and Self-Trust: Trusting oneself is foundational for being able to lead and inspire others. Personal development, including overcoming challenges and learning to love oneself, is key to becoming a more effective leader.

4. Balancing Drive and Connection: While being driven and focused on results is important, it is equally vital to connect with people on an emotional level. This balance can lead to greater collaboration and success in business endeavors.

5. Learning from Experience: The journey of entrepreneurship often involves learning from mistakes and adapting one's approach over time. Embracing the lessons from past experiences can lead to personal and professional growth.

BEST MOMENTS

1. "I always used to say, you know, business is easy. It's people that are difficult." - Simon Woodroffe

2. "If you can imagine what something is, or what you want to get to, you've got a chance of getting there." - Simon Woodroffe

3. "I think the bank of goodwill is a very good way to put it." - Simon Woodroffe

4. "You can't really trust other people until you can trust yourself." - Simon Woodroffe

5. "Learning to love yourself is the greatest love of all." - Simon Woodroffe

SOCIAL LINKS

www.centreforpeacefulsolutions.org

www.peacefulsolutions.org.uk

www.workplacehuddle.com

HOST BIO

Maria founded the Centre for Peaceful Solutions in response to the fatal shooting of a 7 year old in her neighbourhood. She developed a model of conflict resolution for violent crime using her brainchild, the Dialogue Road Map (DRM).

Over 30 years she has mediated everything from threat to life gang disputes to high stakes business deals gone wrong, Maria empowers people to resolve conflict without reliance on experts. So she trains violent prisoners to be facilitators, leaders to be effective communicators, teenagers to be peer mediators and neighbours to be tenant listeners within their respective communities.

This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

Learn More About Us: https://www.centreforpeacefulsolutions.org/