Steve Bennett had the experience, the story and the coaching framework. What he needed next was a way to turn that into something that could reach more business owners.

That’s where Mark came in.

“In order to move forward, you’ve got to accept change.”

With more than 25 years in technology, alongside his own experience of running businesses, Mark has played a major role in helping Steve develop Ascend and bring the Elevate and Conquer programme to life.

In this episode of If It Is To Be, It Is Up To Me, Steve and Mark look back at that journey. From the early conversations about getting Steve’s coaching online, to building the systems, automation and customer journey needed to create something that can grow.

They talk about why growth requires investment, why so many business owners resist change, and why progress often comes from making small improvements consistently rather than trying to transform everything overnight.

For Steve, the goal has always been bigger than simply creating an online coaching programme. It’s about taking the lessons he learned building and exiting his own £20m business, alongside everything he learned rebuilding his own life afterwards, and using that experience to help other business owners move forward with more clarity.

The conversation also looks at what comes next for Steve and Ascend. Building authority, growing the brand, public speaking, creating consistent content and making sure that when business owners need help, Steve Bennett is one of the people they think of.

And, as with every episode, they get underneath the business too.

Talking honestly about resilience, relationships, sacrifice and the personal cost that can come with building something of your own.

If It Is To Be, It Is Up To Me is Steve Bennett’s podcast about business, life, pressure, purpose and the real cost of success.

Subscribe and follow for new episodes every two weeks.

If you're interested in working with Steve, find more information here: https://ascendcoaching.co.uk/

Carl came to Steve Bennett with an idea... and to ask for help.

“I’m not going to take advice off somebody who’s not been there, seen it and done it.”

After some very personal struggles, Carl wanted to change direction, build his own traffic management business and create something better for himself. He knew where he wanted to go, but needed someone who could help him work out how to get there.

That’s why he came to Steve.

Now, Carl has sold the business and is moving into the next stage of its growth. In this episode of If It Is To Be, It Is Up To Me, Carl and Steve look back at that journey. From hitting rock bottom, changing his circle and rebuilding his life, to asking for help, building a successful business and ultimately selling it. It’s also an honest conversation about what success actually means.

As Carl puts it: “Success is not money.”

They talk about why you have to help yourself first, the value of getting advice from people with real experience, the time and work success demands, and why building the business should never come at the expense of the life you’re trying to create.

Carl’s journey is a powerful example of the work Steve now does with other business owners. Using the experience of building and exiting his own £20m business to help people get clearer on where they’re going, make better decisions and build a business that supports the life they actually want.

If It Is To Be, It Is Up To Me is Steve Bennett’s podcast about business, life, pressure, purpose and the real cost of success. Subscribe and follow for new episodes every two weeks.

If you're interested in working with Steve, find more information here: https://ascendcoaching.co.uk/

Steve built the business. Made the money. And still lost the plot.

If It Is To Be, It Is Up To Me is author and coach, Steve Bennett’s new podcast for successful business owners and leaders navigating the pressures, identity shifts and personal cost that can come with success.

Drawing on his own experience building and exiting a £20m business - and the struggles that followed - Steve sits down with people who know what it means to carry responsibility, ambition and expectation.

Expect honest conversations about business, relationships, identity, purpose and the real cost of success.

Because building a successful business is one thing.

Building a bigger life is another.

Subscribe and follow to see how Steve does it, and learn from the success of the people he works with.