On this weeks episode, Steve & Jason discuss Jason's journey from travelling the world after university to building a successful career as a commercial agent in the furniture industry. They explore the importance of customer service, what makes retailers and suppliers successful & the challenges of being an agent. Plus the episode also dives into Jason's passion for rugby coaching!

00:00 Intro

01:44 When Jason & Steve first met

02:44 Life growing up & who Jason works with

06:30 Jasons world tour after uni

11:00 Finding Jobs around Australia

15:21 What inspired Jason to travel when he was young

18:13 Getting his first job in Furniture

23:30 Working for Sealy

25:00 Importance of training and right tools for the job

27:49 Why the big suppliers of the 00’s are no more

30:17 What makes suppliers successful

32:04 Why desire is so important

34:05 Customer Service is top of the list

35:20 Being the ‘middle man’

37:40 What Jason finds the most challenging part

41:35 What makes a great retailer

44:25 A mattress protector story

49:35 Jason & working in the same industry as his brother

51:57 Why Jason became a commercial agent

58:00 The differences between a Agent & a Rep

1:00:30 How a trauma shaped Jasons route

1:03:20 Jasons love for Rugby & coaching Rugby

1:12:00 Quickfire Questions

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In this weeks episode Steve chats with Jon our Logistics Manager all about his early job and love of football, to becoming Logistics Manager at Sussex Beds. Plus they talk about the challenges of the role, how delivery has changed over the years, the story behind Jon returning to SB and life outside of work!

00:00 Intro

02:08 Life growing up

04:30 Jons love for playing football

07:27 His first job & taking the leap into a managerial position

10:30 Dealing with his first job going into administration

13:10 Finding a new job - Coming to Sussex Beds as a driver

14:58 How our transport & way we deliver has changed

18:11 Why Jon decided to move on

19:22 The story behind Jon coming back to SB

23:22 Biggest challenges of being a logistics manager

25:49 Fantastic feedback about our delivery guys

27:20 Why Delivery experience matters

30:30 Jons wife Zoe & what they have learnt from her business

32:15 Most stressful part of Jons job

35:50 How Jon de stresses

37:37 Quickfire questions

44:05 Outro

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This week, Steve sits down with Adam Hankinson to break down the psychology behind great sales, the 7 habits every salesperson should master, and what truly wins the sale. Plus, they chat about the top tips to help overcome barriers with customers!

00:00 Intro

01:43 How Adam got into the furniture industry

08:00 Why Adam went out on his own

08:46 Why Managers are key in store

11:06 Has they way we sell changed or is it the way we buy

16:05 What’s the most influential part of obtaining the sale

20:00 Customer “Must haves” are so important

22:45 Important first questions when approaching a customer

24:01 Emotional & Logical responses

25:00 Overcoming barriers with a customer

32:15 What makes the best sales people the best

35:00 Commitment to what you are doing is so important

39:37 About Adams book - Selling Furniture

42:52 The 7 habits in Adams book

50:56 Quotes & importance of the follow up

53:29 Adams book is out now!

55:50 How he handles challenges

57:24 Quickfire Questions

1:05:20

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In this episode, listen as Steve is joined by Ollie Jeffs, CEO of The Pelham, to explore the powerful role community can play in changing lives.

Ollie shares his journey to leading The Pelham, how the organisation is building meaningful connections, and the vital work they’re doing around suicide prevention. We also dive into the realities of running a purpose-driven organisation — from managing funding and volunteers to balancing growth, leadership, and personal wellbeing.

00:00 Intro

01:25 About The Pelham & Ollie

04:00 Inspiration to create The Pelham

06:00 How Ollie got involved & journey to CEO

08:30 What The Pelham does for the community

13:15 Why the Pelham focuses on creating connections

17:01 Their work on Suicide Prevention & what you can do

27:06 Managing people on payroll vs volunteers

31:28 Most challenging part of Ollie’s role

33:15 The success rates of bids and the time they take

35:15 How they manage their funding and how growth is impacted by this

38:28 How The Pelham want to link with the NHS & what they are currently doing

44:50 Managing work / life balance

48:08 Quickfire questions

55:55 Outro

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A one-year special from An Unorthodox CEO! Listen as Steve & Vic as they chat through their past year of podcasting—from the journey to personal insights, funny moments, and everything in between.

We will be back at the end of May, so keep an eye out for the start of season 4!

00:00 Intro

01:00 A big THANK YOU!

01:35 Some quick stats from our year

02:24 The podcast journey

10:10 Personal Insights

16:22 Fun & lighthearted

22:07 Outro

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In this episode, listen as Steve chats with his friend Colin about his journey to working for HP, how he has navigated success & stress. Plus, find out how delegation and letting go allowed himself a better work life balance!

00:00 Intro

03:34 How Colin & Steve met

07:00 Colins journey to HP & his first Jobs

12:04 The job & friend that led Colin to the sales world

17:45 How Colin views success

19:30 What HPs purpose & ethos is

21:20 Local leaders & their importance in big businesses

23:56 What Large Format Printing is & the benefits

27:40 Managing Stress, Pressure & Failure

35:50 The success Colin saw after proper delegation

37:00 The changes Colin made personally & professionally

45:00 Colins Pictures

46:39 How print has changed over the years & the impact of AI

52:05 Working on Gangshow together

56:47 How Colin de-stresses

1:02:10 Quickfire Questions

1:08:30 Outro

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On this weeks episode Steve chats with Andy Clarke one of our agents! Listen as they talk through his journey to becoming an agent, what life working in beds is like & how Andy has been on both the retail and agent side! Andy mentions the difficulties of being on the retail side but the enjoyment he got from it! Plus how his resilience led him to his first agent job!

00:00 Intro

01:08 There is always room to learn

07:50 Changing depending on the client

10:00 Job titles & peoples perspectives

12:50 How Andy got his first Job & some big learnings

20:00 Working at Army Navy

21:50 His Apprenticeship in the print world

24:05 How resilience got Andy a Job he wanted

30:00 What being an Agent used to be like & how the industry has changed

37:27 The shift from searching from beds to sleep

40:00 Why Sussex Beds dont service all price ranges

42:00 Long term advice is important

43:05 Why Andy opened his own shop

48:20 Biggest learning from being in retail

51:20 Innovation in the bed industry

57:42 The Green Era & working for a flooring company

58:50 Recycling in the bed industry

1:00:40 What does Andy think retailers need to do to stay relevant & how its changing

1:07:05 Most challenging part of Andys job

1:12:15 How Andy distresses

1:15:05 Quickfire Questions

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Listen as Steve chats with Dr Nick about the focus on prevention in the healthcare industry, what is driving unhealthy lifestyles & the innovations happening within the industry! Plus, we chat about the importance of sleep and get some tips on ways to help you fall asleep quicker!

00:00 Intro

01:40 The links between exercise & health

05:00 Did Nick always want to be a doctor & his journey

08:04 Differences between UK Health Service & New Zealand

09:35 The changes in the NHS over the last 20 years

12:15 The rise of Health Anxiety & the work on prevention

14:45 What is driving unhealthy lifestyles

17:30 South Downs Health Care & where the idea came from

24:12 How SDHC has filled a gap in the Sussex Area

26:30 What changes Nick would like to see

30:00 How AI is being used

33:22 The Sussex PCPC Board

35:30 Nick's role as chair in Sussex Integrated Health

36:13 What Nick hopes healthcare will look like in 10 years & what we can do

42:13 The importance of sleep for our health

50:20 Quickfire Questions

01:02:33 Outro

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