What does success really look like after building, scaling and ultimately losing a business?

On Progress Over Perfection, host Dean Mason sits down with Ian Taylor, founder of Team Spirit, the experiential events company he grew from 1993 to 2020 while working with major brands including Virgin Media, Rolls Royce, Adidas, IWG, Dunhumby and Theo Paphitis’ businesses.

Ian shares the story behind building one of the UK’s most immersive event companies, including the creative vision behind Team Spirit’s unique Oldham headquarters inspired by Disney style experience design. The conversation explores the realities of entrepreneurship, from winning early clients and adapting to industry change, to navigating recruitment challenges, leadership lessons and evolving customer expectations in a fast moving business landscape.

If you’re a founder, business owner or leader navigating growth, change or difficult seasons in business, this episode offers an honest conversation about leadership, resilience and the reality behind entrepreneurial success.

Key takeaways

• Why customer experience was central to Team Spirit’s business growth
• Lessons Ian learned about recruitment, leadership and scaling a team
• How the events industry changed from long term planning to instant expectations
• The importance of adaptability in entrepreneurship and business survival
• The mental health impact of losing a business during COVID
• How focusing on controllables helps during uncertainty and setbacks
• Why success eventually became more about family and balance than business growth
• The power of reflection, mindset and resilience in leadership and entrepreneurship

Connect with Dean on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/deanmason1/

Email: progressnotperfectionpodcast1@gmail.com

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@progressnotperfectionpod

Connect with Ian:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-taylor-0343a020a/