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What happens after the excitement of going self-employed? When the clients are coming in, the business is growing... and suddenly you're buried in admin, paperwork and wondering where the hours in the day disappeared?

In our latest Fun Side of Business episode, James Roper joins us to share the reality of building a successful wealth management business. From a chance conversation at a wedding that changed his career, to taking the leap into self-employment with no ready-made client bank, James is refreshingly honest about the highs, the challenges and everything in between.

We chat about the less glamorous side of growth too—FCA regulations, delegation, wearing every hat in the business, and the struggle to stop being reactive and start thinking strategically. James also shares how his mindset has changed over the years, why he no longer panics over the "what ifs", and why time has become more valuable than money.

There are plenty of laughs along the way (including a rather uncomfortable would-you-rather!) as well as practical insights for anyone growing a business.

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Ever had that moment where the sensible plan suddenly stops feeling big enough? That’s exactly where this conversation with Shelly Antczak from Raspberry HR begins.

We chat about growing up in Ipswich, loving the structure of school, studying business with a marketing career in mind, and then somehow falling headfirst into HR instead. What started as an unexpected detour became a 15-year career packed with challenges, opportunities, and one surprise promotion that changed everything.

Along the way, Shelly shares what people leadership really looks like behind the scenes. We talk about why the perfect CV isn’t always the most important thing, what makes a great hire, and why good HR is usually about helping people find solutions rather than policing problems.

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