Tom Webster Joins Us On The Steve Jobs Inspired Join Up Dots Podcast
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Introducing Tom Webster
Tom Webster is today’s guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots free podcast interview.
He is a man who from the very early stages in his life had the hustle muscle working overtime.
At the age of nine he would sneak comics into school to sell them to his classmates, who couldn’t get enough of the latest adventures of their favourite characters, so would cough up their hard earned pocket money for the privilege.
And I suppose it wasn’t a surprise that he could see the way to earn a buck or two, as both his parents were successful entrepreneurs, and being surrounded by people who do things their way and work to achieve things, is as we know so hugely powerful to your own development.
So with a track record of a range of ventures including a nightclub promotions company, a modelling agency and a fashion line, Tom Webster is attempting to find the thing that brings all his hustle together and creates the future that he deserves.
How The Dots Joined Up For Tom
And now more recently, he has been managing his own financial advisory firm, Fordyce & Playle, and a new online estate agency, Market My Property
But if you think that this episode will be about a young man who is working solely on his own life, and becoming an entrepreneur of note, then think again.
As with passions ranging from animal healthcare, children and even appearing in the ‘Famous Males Checkum’ cancer calendar he is doing his best to give back to the world.
So where does he see his true value to the world being directed at its highest level?
And does he feel that he is on track to achieve his dream of the youngest entrepreneur to sit as an investor on BBC’s tv show “Dragon’s Den”
Well let’s bring onto the show to start joining up dots, as we discuss the words of Steve Jobs in todays Free podcast, with the one and only Tom Webster.
Show Highlights
During the show we discussed such weighty topics with Tom Webster such as:
How the greatest invention known to man is and will always be the see-through toaster, and should have been invented years ago
How his brother, uses YouTube tutorials to teach himself new skills, and why we feel that this is such a great thing for all of us to do
How he has only ever read three books in his life, but one was Yes Man
which gave him a completely new mindset.
Why the advice of the Dragon, Peter Jones is so valuable “Find a product that is already out there, and try to do it even better than ever”
And lastly…
What the difference is between sheep’s and shepherd’s and how you need to decide what group you want to be in as soon as possible!
Books Discussed On The Show
How To Connect With Tom Webster
Return To The Top Of Tom Webster
If you enjoyed this episode with Tom Webster, why not check out other inspirational chat with Jocelyn Paonita, Jo Vitale, Geoff Thompson and the amazing Leon Logothetis
You can also check our extensive podcast archive by clicking here – enjoy
Audio Transcription Of Tom Webster Interview
Intro [0:00]
When we’re young, we have an amazing positive outlook about how great life is going to be. But somewhere along the line we forget to dream and end up settling. Join Up Dots features amazing people who refuse to give up and chose to go after their dreams. This is your blueprint for greatness. So here’s your host live from the back of his garden in the UK, David Ralph.
David Ralph [0:27]
Yes, hello world. How are we all? How are we on episode 192 of Join Up Dots? And I say this on every episode, why would I not but today’s gonna be a great one because I’ve already been chatting to him. And in the way that two English men get together over a couple of pints. We got a bit bitchy, to be honest, but we won’t share what we were talking about. That’s just between him and me. But I can tell there’s going to be good vibe on this show, because he is a man who from the very early stages in his life. At the hustle muscle working overtime, we love the hustle muscle on the show. At the age of nine he would sneak comics into school to sell them to his classmates who couldn’t get enough of the latest Adventures of their favourite characters. So would cover up their hard earned pocket money for the privilege. And I suppose it wasn’t a surprise that he could see the way to earn a buck or two as both his parents were successful entrepreneurs and being surrounded by people who do things their way. And work to achieve things is as we know, so hugely powerful to our own development. So we have a track record of a range of ventures including a nightclub promotions company, a modelling agency, and a fashion line is attempting to find the thing that brings all these hustle together and creates the future but he deserves. And now more recently, he’s been managing his own financial advisory firm for dice and player and a new online estate agency market my property. But if you think that this episode will be about a young man who’s working solely on his own life and becoming an entrepreneur of note event, think again as with these passions, ranging from animal health care, children, and even opinion in the famous mouse check on cancer calendar. He’s doing his best to give back to the world. So where does he see his true value to the world being directed at its highest level? And does he feel that he’s on track to achieve his dream of being the youngest entrepreneur to sit as an investor on the BBC TV show Dragon’s Den? Well, let’s find out as we bring on to the show to start Join Up Dots. The one and only Tom Webster. How are you Tom?
Tom Webster [2:24]
Yes, very well, very well. Even better after listening to that introduction. Wow.
David Ralph [2:29]
It’s a biggie, isn’t it? It’s a biggie. I I do I do a lot of stalking. I like to sort of dive around and find things about you. And it’s funny, actually, because so many people will say to me, oh, how did you find that out? Because they forget there’s something called the online world. And when you been in it for years and years and years, you you put things on, don’t you? And there’s pictures, there’s bad photographs of haircuts. And there
Tom Webster [2:54]
are some terrible ones on their haircuts, I can assure you that
David Ralph [2:57]
Oh, well. I didn’t find any too bad either. I’ve got one on the show notes, which you might want to censor, which is a kind of kind of creepy look. You’ve got going on. You’re leaning nonchalantly outside of property and you look about about 14 really with this this big, big with it. Is that is that the hair that we’ve got at the moment or have you moved in? Yeah,
Tom Webster [3:16]
that’s recent. That’s a that was only a few weeks ago that fire?
David Ralph [3:20]
So that’s a word that’s that’s good Heaven, isn’t it? Isn’t that how it should be? Yeah. Did you do what was the worst ones you’ve had when when you look back? Have you ever had a mallet
Tom Webster [3:32]
not the worst one I ever had is was in sixth form. And me and my mates we obey each other to see who grow our hair the longest. And we called it the mallet challenge. And it was it was me and three others and I definitely look the worst the whole way through. And, and and I thought what we’ll do is we’ll try and see if I can win it early. And I’ll get everyone to dye their hair as sort of like a cherry and sort of just to see if if that would do enough for them to think that this is just gone too far now. And and again, we all died our hair and and again, mine looked worse. So the whole challenge I ended up losing. But this blonde long hair that sort of went over my eyes. And it just it just was the worst thing that could have ever happened.
David Ralph [4:16]
But is that is that a point to your character, but you’re willing to put yourself out there and sort of quote unquote make yourself look a bit stupid without the fear of people coming back at you?
Tom Webster [4:27]
Oh, definitely. I think I’m, it’s quite difficult to embarrass me. But then I think that’s a part of wonder, without sounding too arrogant. I think it’s part of my charm is the fact that I’m quite happy to put myself out there and do things that that I think are fun. Even if some people might think they’re stupid, and I’ve always been a big believer that. So you know, like when you’re on holiday, and you’re in sort of in camps, and people got up on stage and, and you’d be really nervous before you went up there think you know, everyone’s going to think I’m really stupid, and you’re doing all the silly things. But you gotta realise that everyone in the audience is laughing and enjoying. They don’t think you’re stupid, as long as you give it 100%. And I think it’s a reservation we all have, especially as Englishman that if you put yourself out there for ridicule, you’re going to get ridiculed, but I think people don’t realise that it’s not. It’s not a negative thing. It’s people enjoying a laugh. And I think as long as you’re doing it in the right way, then then there’s a lot of fun that could be had by putting yourself out there a little bit.
David Ralph [5:23]
Yeah, I think so I know that vibe, but holiday camps and stuff in England, you would go to these very dreary caravan sites. And the only kind of entertainment in the evening was either sitting in the caravan looking at each other when the rain lashed down, or going to some kind of bar where they were doing bingo, and some guy would get up and do a bit of singing. It’s kind of pre, pre karaoke times. And they would always do these kind of talent competitions where they would get people up just to do the most bizarre things. And yeah, you’d sit there and you lived through them. And you what you never sort of ridiculed yes, sometimes you would laugh at them, but you coming and proud but they were giving a goal because you wouldn’t give it a go yourself. You was living through them somehow.
Tom Webster [6:09]
Okay, and I think that’s that’s the big thing is everyone has this reservation that if you put yourself out there is going to be embarrassing, and that people are going to laugh at you were with it, as long as you put some effort in, I think people love with you. And they and like you said they sympathise with the fact that you’ve had the balls to go out there and do something and and they like that. And then and then what would then tend to happen is the next couple of days you’d be walking around the caravan park or, or in New York or something like that, and everyone would be going now You’re the son. So yeah, that was really funny. I really enjoyed that. And, and I think until you put yourself out there and and take that you don’t get the positives that come off the back of it is that a learning curve
David Ralph [6:47]
for people out there, our target audience is all the listeners that haven’t made that movement that that frightened the making that movement that found themselves in a position, maybe a job or a relationship that isn’t right for them. And for some reason or other, they are just staying where they are because they don’t want to put themselves out there for fear of ridicule for fear of people saying it’s not going to work, or jet or fear of failure, is that what people need to do really get out of their comfort zone as early as possible.
Tom Webster [7:20]
I think that’s the one I think fear of failure is probably what holds most people back in life. And, and I don’t want to sort of belittle anybody but think there’s a difference between sheeps and shepherds. And there’s a lot of people out there that are more than happy to go nine to five, work their jobs, go home, enjoy their weekends, and that there is nothing wrong with that. But there’s a big portion society out there that are natural born shepherds and, and it’s, there’s a, there’s a portion of those that are afraid to be the shepherd. And then they’re, they’re sitting there thinking, I’ve got this really good idea. And I know it’s going to work. But if I tell one of my friends and my family, they’re going to tell me, I’m an idiot, it’s not going to work. And then and then you sort of shy away and you don’t have to do it. Whereas a conversation, most people will forget the conversation you had yesterday. So if you’ve come up with an idea, talk to people and and when you start talking to more and more people, you might start realising that a lot of the ideas you have are very good. But if they’re in your head, then you’ll you’ll never be able to, to get them out. And so I’d have a dream. And then what I then do is I’d wake up and I’d write it down. And then and then what you’d find is that a lot of the ideas that you have when you’re sleeping are actually quite good ideas. And then I then go to my dad and say dad about this number idea that about this number idea. And a lot of them were stupid, but you’ve got to get them down. And I think the minute that they come out of your head and onto a piece of paper. And that’s when you can really start processing sort of some of the the ideas that you have, and especially with market my property and I sort of kept an eye on the industry. And then one night I’ve had a dream and then I woke up and and then I started writing some ideas down. And then I thought right now I’ve got to get it all down. And by the time that the morning come, I’d written an entire business plan because it just all these ideas were in my head and then obviously built built up for ages and ages. But getting them down on a piece of paper is quite logic. So there’s anyone sitting there thinking what I’ve got this idea, and they don’t know what to do with it, just write it down, get as much of it out of your head on a piece of paper as you can. And then once you can see it, then you can start to process it. And I think and think when you then can see something they’re not as afraid of the failure because you then think your idea is a lot better than what you did when you just had it as an idea.
David Ralph [9:26]
No, I think that’s absolutely true. I spent years and years and years being a trainer, and the companies would come up to me and say we want you to create a course on a subject. And when they keep you that subject, you kind of go, I don’t know how to do that, you know, it’s just like too big, but by actually jotting it all down. And I used to do mind maps and just sit there and spin off on different ideas, when script out the ones that weren’t quite working, and you can get a structure. And once you’ve got that structure, then you’ve started to create momentum Avenue, and you can start working, what you’ve got within that framework. And I think that says a lot about what you have done. I think looking at your history, you are somebody that is as we say, willing to take the risk, willing to be scared, but you’re also willing to structure as well and create something but you can be limit that risk and limit that fear of being looking stupid.
Tom Webster [10:24]
Yeah, yeah. And I definitely think structure is a big one. Because once you can work out, well, different pieces fit into a puzzle, then it’s easier to do everything. And then once you’ve got your corners and your sides and things like that, and then and what you’re doing is as you’re writing these ideas down and putting them into some sort of structures, you’re actually building confidence in yourself and your idea, because it makes more sense when you can read something for me anyway, when I can actually read an idea or read a business plan. It makes more sense to me once at once out of my head, because there’s so many divergence and things that your brain could go into that happen on a piece of paper, I think, again, really the logic and this is a great way of getting that confidence be well,
David Ralph [11:04]
did you work more from your head and your heart? Because I’m a heart person? And I kind of got the it sounds like a brilliant idea. Yes, it’s fantastic. And then once I sort of actually analyse it, I think it really is a bit stupid. Do you go the opposite way is that your mind controlling that emotion as I as I have a problem with
Tom Webster [11:23]
that don’t know too much. I think a lot of it comes from the heart, I think a lot of times I have an idea. And I think that’s going to be the future, this is going to make me millions. And that’s going to be the way to go. And then I started again, I start writing it down and you start picking things apart. And, and I’ve always sort of consider myself as quite an ideas, man that I’ll have 100 ideas. And if I need to or any good then I’ll never run with them. And there’s there’s loads of things that I could have done should have done. Things I look back and think actually, that one wasn’t as bad as I thought it was, but a bit too late now. So I think what happens is I get carried away with my heart and then my head then calms myself down and then picks the
David Ralph [11:58]
best ones out. My best idea I’ve ever had. And I’ve had it for about 20 years, and I’m sure it’s out there now, but nobody has ever seen it. And I’ve mentioned it a couple of times on shows. But it’s the see through toaster. It’s the most
Unknown Speaker [12:13]
literally the other day I saw it.
David Ralph [12:16]
And I had this idea maybe 20 years ago, when I couldn’t work out why I was having to pop the toast up all the time to see whether it was brown when I could just stare through the sort of glass and see it go to the perfect colour. Now that that that’s a genius idea. And that
Unknown Speaker [12:30]
genius either literally must it must been two days ago that I saw it. And I said and I said to me was we’re missing. That’s genius. That is why was that not from the off? Why was toast is not always for added glass from
David Ralph [12:43]
Well, I probably gave back away to somebody I’m going to look into who
Tom Webster [12:48]
created intellectual property rights.
David Ralph [12:50]
Yeah, and I bet it’s episode number five or something. Yeah. And the person’s taken it as an idea. And then now James Dyson or something.
Tom Webster [12:59]
So my alarm went off when I was a kid among my best mate Dan King will tell you that was what year was the year right? So we must have been about 13 and, and the mp3 player only just come out. And and I say right there next thing is going to be a little screen that you can read a book on and you can go on to a Napster type thing and download books. And everyone I told was like No, that’ll never work people like books and this will be I’m promise you. So so and so made. Danna was Oval Office. I invented the Kindle without without knowing it.
And I was convinced I was convinced the next medium of entertain would be people downloading books, but no one would listen to me.
David Ralph [13:40]
Yes, they were forward thinking I should I share my big idea. And if it is out there, I haven’t seen it. But I just bought it the other day, we go down to restaurants with our kids. And the kids once they’ve eaten their meal. They’re not open to actually sitting there for a while. It’s like, oh, should we go home now and we got no we’re out for a meal. You know, you don’t just stop it down advice have been clearer. And I thought to myself, would it be great if you had like an electronic menu, so instead of sitting down and you’ve got like, the top of menu that you open it up, it’s like electronic so you sit there first of all, and you go bing, bing, bing, and you press and when the waiter doesn’t have to turn up, he goes straight over to the bar. Bar, many turns into like a game and the kids can sit there playing.
Tom Webster [14:22]
Yeah, genius. Cuz once once you’ve got them in, and then once the kids are in the net, the adults will drink more alcohol and you make more money. Absolutely. You see,
David Ralph [14:32]
the way my mind works. So. So if we go back to the age of nine, what was was that the first entrepreneurial venture that you had at school? Or was, you know, because I have conversations with people from the age of four that say yes, I created my first business at the age of four and age of five and stuff. Were you always going to be entrepreneurial? Do you think?
Tom Webster [14:53]
Yeah, no, I think he was always it was always looking at ways of always ways of doing different things. So every wasn’t money and a lot of stuff I did was for charity when I was a kid so we would the comics. It was men called Tang and stole two friends from sort of early years and and we would sit there in class normally, I’m drawing comic books and Jordan characters and and people started and asked, you know, can you make me one and they want to personalise comics and I realised if we started making a lot of them that we could then sell them cheap and then and then what we managed to do is get permission to take control of the sort of the lunch room after it finished lunch and then kids would come in and and buy our comic books for us. We made about 200 quid we didn’t really went out and consumed we’re selling them for like 50 p a pop and, and that was all for comic relief. And but but it was I chose calling relief after we’re done it so we’ve made the 200 quid and the intention was just to make some money, but then I thought, well, I’ve got this money I don’t really want anything I don’t really need anything. And Comic Relief was on at the time. So I said said to the lads that do want to buy anything is anything you want or should we just give it to charity we will just decided now is probably better off looking after somebody else where we were quite in a fortunate position that we wasn’t wanting for anything, which I think is quite rare for children.
David Ralph [16:12]
It’s very rare. I’m sitting there thinking my kids I can’t my son these nicknames to squirrel because he is so tight with his money he will spend anyone else’s money but he’s own you can’t get it out of his fingers. So to have 200 quid as a kid at school, I would have thought you’d be going yeah, let’s buy a BMX. Let’s Let’s go out and go down the arcades. And
Tom Webster [16:37]
we did bought we did buy a few things. We bought a few packs of Pokemon cards and things like that. But there were there was a there was a good hundred and 50 quid a
David Ralph [16:43]
high lifetime you’ve got to get your kids leaving school you could have had women alcohol and everything and you went
Tom Webster [16:54]
good. Oh, Pokemon cards, and that was another one was selling Pokemon gods. Once you may get me called time we built up a big collection. And then and there was a shop in eSports that was selling like imported Pokemon cards from like Japan and Korea and things like that. And they were all different characters all with Japanese writing on so we’d go and buy them and then would bring back into school and welcome to double the price.
David Ralph [17:20]
How do you get Pikachu? Is it pitch you pitch you on a bus how to get on a bus? Then I go for it? Pokemon? Pokemon brilliant. Love it. That is the quality that is the gold. That’s the gold of this. So so your mom and dad being successful entrepreneurs because it is true, isn’t it? If you’re surrounded by people that do things in a certain way, it is so hugely powerful to your own development, because you can see that it’s possible. And that’s one of the things that people it holds people back. But they can’t see the possibility because it’s an idea they’ve got it’s a dream they’ve got but they don’t know anyone else who’s doing it. Now you’re saying that your mom and dad were sort of hustling from an early age and doing things the wrong way? Did that sort of naturally Taylor you to thinking Yes, it is possible. This is what I want to do.
Tom Webster [18:10]
Yeah, without a doubt, it was never a doubt in my mind that owning your own business or taking control of the way that you made money was the only way to make real money and the only way to sort of, for me live a happy life always. And I never struggled taking orders, but I never liked it. So so it’s so even though I had loads of fun at school, it was the actual classes and and being told what to do a lot. I didn’t really enjoy it, I did it. And I was a good kid. But it was always a bit of a chip on my shoulder that I didn’t like being told what to do. But it was never affected me as such and then later in life, and it started to become a bit more apparent. And I think that was always from understand and that I always fought. I knew better in certain certain areas. And I think that does come from having entrepreneurial parents that go out and their way to make sure that they’re controlling their own future.
David Ralph [19:04]
Is it though? Or is it just you? Because I as you’re saying, but I’m thinking yeah, I was exactly the same. I would take orders from people. But especially if I didn’t respect the person I would struggle with, I would do the thing. And I would think this is just stupid. I’m not really sure why I’m doing but so I always had that just inherently in me. So do you do you think that naturally, you know, that was just you?
Tom Webster [19:28]
Yeah, potentially, I think where you just mentioned that. I think a really good example for me was it. And I’ve always been really good with computers really good with it. And even when the first sort of computers were put into primary school, a lot of teachers would ask me how things would work and and the thing that was, as only would have only been about seven or eight teaching computers to teachers, because obviously they’ve never seen a computer before and it’s brand new, and I just sort of understood them. And I always thought it was going to be my path because that was the one thing I also have naturally gifted at and then I’ve got to you would you would have been GCSE is it GCS season we gotten a teacher was really good. And I was really excelling. And then she left and then a new teacher come in. And she didn’t know anything. And, and I don’t know where I just took a dislike into her or just didn’t respect to like you mentioned, and my grades just absolutely plummeted because I just didn’t put any effort in. And and that was one of the big things that I regret was allowing other people to influence my behaviour, which is something I’ve learned more in recent years. But if I look back this, there’s certain moments in my life where I’ve let other people and they’re their influence on me change my mindset. And the thing if I could go back and change that back to where it should have been. And then things will be a little bit different
David Ralph [20:46]
than that is what we call the big docs in life that is the timeline in Join Up Dots, those moments that you look at it, and you go, yes, might not been my sort of best time in life. But really, it kind of defines me. And so the but you were seven and thinking this is fundamentally wrong. You know, my son came back from school the other day. And he said to me, I said to him, you know, did you do you have a good day at school? And he went No, not really, because I had this conversation with the teacher and the teacher wouldn’t see my point of view just said it’s wrong. And that’s wrong. Isn’t it bad? And I said, what was what was your point of view? And he said, and he said, Okay, what it was a common what it was now. And it wasn’t a black and white answer. You know, if it was yes or no, I could see that the teacher could say no, but it was just a different way of looking at something. And the teacher was saying, no, that’s not right. And part of me was proud, but my son was instantly thinking that is wrong, because he’s got his own mind. And he’s going to sort of where I was bad. But it is a failure on the education system. And I’m not surprised that you had that as well, because literally every person I speak to and it doesn’t matter in what country I speak to them. They all say about the education system really held them back more than inspired him to do great stuff.
Tom Webster [22:02]
Yeah, I completely agree with that, I think was it an Einstein said that if you judge a fish on its merits on climbing a tree, then get it for everything that you should stupid, I think that’s very, that’s very similar to the education system we’ve got is that everyone gets judged on the exact same standards. But everyone’s different. And everyone’s got different talents and different skills. And I think that’s a big thing isn’t it is an unfortunate thing, it’s a, it’s sort of all we’ve got is been out to judge everyone on the same platform, because it’d be difficult otherwise, because you need a level playing field for everyone to be so sophisticated on. But I think it misses a load of opportunities. Whereas a lot of people out there have a lot of talents that may be missed, because the education system is is a blanket, this is what we do. And this is what you need to know.
David Ralph [22:51]
I don’t know how you’re going to fix it, really. But it does seem flawed somehow. But I remember my education as being pretty much boredom just sort of sitting there. And you’d occasionally get an amazing teacher. But more often than not, you would get the ones that would go turn to page 42 and jot that down in your book. And you think even then, as a kid, I was thinking, why am I rewriting this? I’ve already got it there, you know, why am I doing that again, and there was a lot of now one look as it as an adult, I kind of think to myself, I was being trained to be bored. So that when I went to work, which the education system is basically a conveyor belt for people going into employment, I would be happier being bored for many days, weeks, months, or whatever it is, because I’d already spent the sort of formative years 10 years, being bored on a daily basis.
Tom Webster [23:44]
I can sense the conspiracies very within you
David Ralph [23:47]
is out there, every single episode, if you squeeze me hard time is going to come out.
Tom Webster [23:52]
I’m just like, as a conspiracy may appear like a conspiracy,
David Ralph [23:56]
but it’s true. It’s not even a conspiracy theory. It’s true. What What is the education system for? Is it to give you an education? Or is it to provide you with the skills to go into employment?
Tom Webster [24:09]
Yeah, it’s definitely important, I think, I think we’re, we’re fortunate in the western civilization, that we have an education system that allows us to then get to where we are now, and look back and have that judgement and be able to make the decisions ourselves. Whereas there’s a lot of countries out there that don’t have any educational the education system, so single minded or week that people didn’t come out the other end, and they can’t formulate the sort of opinions that we can. So you will be able to sit with someone else from a different part of England or even the same town as ours, and, and that they would have an opinion on their education that could be different than ours, because of the way that I think Western civilization allows you to make to make your own decisions to an extent. And and I think that’s where we’re super fortunate. So as much as I have a degree, I think I think we are fortunate in the fact that we can have these sorts of things conversations and and formulate these sorts of opinions.
David Ralph [25:03]
I agree with you totally. But I would say to all the kids out there, if you’re listening to this show, because your mom and dad’s got it on the in the car, and you’re going to school, work as hard as you can, because it’s not going to hurt you in any shape or form. The education system is bare to give you the nuts and bolts. But the thing that it fails on is a life skills, that extra stuff that that thing that will take you and make you amazing. And what I want to do I want to play a speech now but I want all the kids out there to listen every single day before they get out of bed, go to Join Up Dots. That’d be amazing. From a downloads. If I all do that. Listen to this three or four times before you get out of bed. And this will inspire you to greatness. This is Jim Carrey.
Jim Carrey [25:44]
My father could have been a great comedian, but he didn’t believe that that was possible for him. And so he made a conservative choice. Instead, he got a safe job as an accountant. And when I was 12 years old, he was let go from that safe job. And our family had to do whatever we could to survive. I learned many great lessons from my father, not the least of which was that you can fail at what you don’t want. So you might as well take a chance on doing what you love.
David Ralph [26:11]
So bad is what we need to get out to the world. Isn’t it really tough,
Tom Webster [26:15]
very powerful. He’s an incredible man, Jim Carrey. What part of your life
David Ralph [26:19]
do you love? Now? I’m going to rephrase that. When did you realise that you were actually doing what he says? And you were taking a risk on something that you love? Was? Was there a moment? Was there part of your history that you would go? Yes, actually, this sort of hustle muscle that I’ve been developing is more enjoyable than being an employer, employee.
Tom Webster [26:42]
And I did, I think I was a little bit fortunate the fact that when I left and six form, I went and worked for my dad. And, and always enjoyed working from a dad. And what we was doing in financial services was interesting. For me, the money was good. And there was lots of career aspects. But because I was working for my dad, I could always do things on the sides or so even though I was employed. And, and, and working sort of the nine to five, as it were, I always had something on the go on the side to keep my mind active. And I think I think I’ve always had that in me. So even when I was when when my dad’s company, unfortunately went under. And when I worked for a recruitment company and I went to work for a digital marketing company, even at those moments, I was still doing something in the evenings on the side. So I think it’s, it wasn’t a moment of, I can’t do this anymore, I now need to go and work on my own, I’ve always been doing something and it was just waiting for that one thing to turn into something that I could hold on to. And and that moment was when I was at a digital marketing company selling email marketing software. And it got quite bad there I was, I was selling a product I didn’t believe in which was which I think is really difficult and near impossible. When you think that your competitors are actually better than you and you’re trying to sell it and you and and I don’t, I’m a big believer in in loving what you sell. And then when you don’t and you can’t convey that love and and even though I was I was hitting targets and I was making money, and I was doing some big deals, it just wasn’t sitting right with me. So then I moved teams and during the moment of moving teams, the the attitude around me changed a lot in regards to sort of the the directors and how everyone viewed me in the office. And I just didn’t like it. And at the time, I was doing a club promotion just on the side to another bit of extra cash. And, and it got to the point where I was like, You know what, I don’t need to do this anymore. I don’t need someone to be given me a salary, I’m earning enough money doing the club promotions, and I’m loving what I’m doing with the club promotions. And I just I don’t know, and I went in and I just said, Look, I’m not doing it anymore. And then I went out and and I was doing the club promotion stuff. And it was great. And I was having so much fun. And I was having all the control over my days, and you’re only working in the evenings and doing something that’s that’s fun. And, and and and and that’s that was the moment and then really said the only thing that you could do is work for yourself.
David Ralph [29:03]
So so at that moment, you went from the sheep to the shepherd?
Tom Webster [29:07]
Yeah, most definitely. I think at that moment, I had the confidence to let go of the salary. And I think and that that was the moment was like, well, I need to now on my own living rather than allow someone to control me with a salary. And, and the big one for that was I’ve made a sale to the NHS. And it was a really high profile email marketing campaign. And it was fronted by David Cameron. And it was the one where there’s a bit there were a lot of expectant parents out there that will get emails from the NHS. And this week for you should be expecting this. And it was me who sold that system into the NHS, which was really high profile and really great for my CV. And there was a moment where the the office all sat down. And the commercial director was praising everybody’s efforts in getting this deal through. And he got to the end of the speech had mentioned me. And it was that that moment, I realised that my future wasn’t there anymore. And, and that pushed me that one step too far, that island turned around and said, I’m not doing it anymore. And a day after I walked in with my resignation, and I left straight away, I didn’t I don’t serve my notice and said, I’m not going to let anybody influence my life like that, again, where you’re going to make me feel like I’ve not contributed when, in fact, if I wasn’t there, that wouldn’t have happened. And, and it was at that moment, I realised I can’t do this anymore.
David Ralph [30:30]
I was speaking to a chap last night, and he is a mind coach. And so he looks at ways that we can break down the self limiting fears and, and the fears that we have. So if you are frightened of spiders, he doesn’t believe that you are riding the spiders, there is some reason why you’re frightened of spiders. And he tries to find those, that that aspect of it. And he said a brilliant thing that he said, the most successful people have gone from being actors to directors. So the majority of people out there actors, and we go to the film, and we get told what to do. And we stand there and we do our lines, whether it’s in a cubicle, or it’s in a sales position, or whatever. But when you become a director and you realise that it’s you that’s making your film of your life, and it’s you making those choices, when everything some How comes together is cause and effect, isn’t it, you’re actually becoming the cause of the good things and the bad things that happened to you. And because you’re pushing yourself in that direction, and you get more experience at going in that direction. A lot of the bad things kind of fall away. And you you you make momentum and you look at it, and you go, I could never go back to this position I was I want to be the director, and you feel like that at the moment. You’re the director of your life.
Tom Webster [31:46]
Yeah, without without a shadow of a doubt. I think the only thing and which I’ll touch on a little bit later in the sermon is, is having a bit of freedom and, and being able to make them decisions because because you have the freedom. And I think that’s the one is is when you become a director, you you earn that freedom to be able to, to make mistakes. And and I think if you make a mistake, that’s your mistake to make, then you don’t mind doing it. And then because if you make a mistake, and someone else is going to then give you a hard time for it, I think that’s a lot higher pressure than making your own mistakes, because because that’s where your learning comes from. You can’t no one in life has ever achieved anything can go back and say, I know that was easy of that’s exactly how I planned it. That’s exactly what I wanted to do. And nothing ever went wrong. And now I’m sitting in a nice big house and it loads of money. And it was brilliant and easy. It just doesn’t happen.
David Ralph [32:36]
You never pick up an autobiography to you. And it’s just a blank book.
Tom Webster [32:42]
I think that would sell. So I turned up one day and I picked up the phone and someone said yeah, here’s a million pounds. And then that’s the end.
David Ralph [32:49]
But But people will look at you Tom Webster, because you know you’re you’re rocking and rolling. I actually found you through an article on the Huffington Post, which is a big publication. You were Entrepreneur of the month or something last year, I think in August, which is a big, big statement. And people will read that article and they will kind of go. Yes, it’s all right for him. Yes, it’s okay. He’s got skills. I haven’t Oh, yes, it’s okay. And because we kind of like to see the highlights of alive. And we don’t want to see the drudgery and the fears and the failures that lead up to it. We like to see the Uber successful on the red carpet and think that’s all right for them. But yeah, we’re not going to make an effort because they’ve got some kind of skills and talents that we haven’t. But that’s that’s just rubbish, isn’t it? Every single person out there, if you you know, if you it’s going to be hard. And that’s the beauty of it. I was saying to my son the other day, he was saying to me, what are you working so hard Dad? And I said, because I want something that other people don’t have? And he said, Yeah, but do not feel like giving up and I went No, because I realised when it gets harder, and I work even harder, other people will give up. So there’s less competition. And I don’t know if he grasped that. But that’s how I felt. And when you see be successful people via just people that have kept on going, going going, they’ve had their breaks, I’ve had a bit of luck, they’ve got talent, and they ultimately end up in Die Hard for something you know, and you kind of go It was destiny, but that was going to happen. Rubbish. It’s just hard, hard work, as you say the autobiography is never an open book,
Tom Webster [34:28]
know that the majority of multi millionaires, billionaires, etc, etc. So many of them have gone bankrupt. So many of them have lost money, so many of them have made the wrong decision. But it’s the it’s the difference between making the wrong decision and getting yourself back up and fighting and keep going forward. Or saying, You know what, I can’t do this anymore. I’m going to go find a nice steady job and see how my days and and if you get these moments where you either choose to keep fighting, or you choose to call it in, and it’s the ones that keep fighting that ultimately have the success. How do you do that?
David Ralph [34:59]
How do you do but
Tom Webster [35:02]
I don’t know. TechCrunch? I think I think there’s a little bit there’s got to be inside you. I think there’s got to be a fire, I think there’s got to be a desire. More I think mine has always been family. So for me, my ultimate dream is for my when I eventually have children, for them to come up to me and say, Dad, I want this and me to be able to say yes, or for me to offer my fiance together say right, I want to go to Thailand, tomorrow and meet to be able to say yes, and and it not be money that stopping that decision. And it’s the freedom that I want. And it’s and it’s having that goal in mind, that keeps me going and keeps me wake up every morning because I I don’t want money to ever be a talking point in my family, I want it to be I want to be so mentally wealthy, that if anyone wants anything at any time, that the money side of things isn’t a decision factor. It’s just we want to do this. And now I’m going to do it. And it’s having that burning desire and having having a goal in your head that you you think is important. And and for me, it’s that
David Ralph [36:07]
we’re kindred spirits in many ways, but I am more focused on the time freedom band, the money, I have spent all my career having to be up in London by half past seven in the morning having to be here having to be bare. And now I’m doing this, I’m absolutely adamant that I’m not going to just create what I had before. And I’ve seen it so many times that people become entrepreneurial. And they are so frightened of getting the money in. But they take opportunities left, right and centre. And effectively they men hate their life as much as they did when they were working for someone. And so with this show, I’m absolutely adamant that I’m only going to do what I love doing. And that’s the bottom line. And so I can go off for three or four days. Yes, I will do that, you know, but it’s got to be something that I love. And a lot of people are saying to me, you should just be taking this opportunity. And you should be taking that opportunity. And I’m going No, I don’t want that. I don’t want a been there already. And they can’t quite see it. They can’t quite see it. But when when you’ve got that in your heart, as you’re saying time freedom to be able to do what you want when you want. It is so important, isn’t it?
Tom Webster [37:17]
Yeah. And I think that’s what I was getting at is the money is a new point in regards to it’s the freedom that is the ultimate goal. And I see that money is the key to that freedom for me. And and it’s all about being able to make decisions when you want to be able to make them rather than being forced into anything.
David Ralph [37:36]
Are you more entrepreneurial or solo pioneer, also, an entrepreneur kind of wants to build an empire. And a solo pioneer wants to build a lifestyle
Tom Webster [37:47]
and bit by first sight. And I’d say definitely more entrepreneurial in the fact that dominate world domination is is an ultimate goal. And but I’d say that the driver behind that is for the lifestyle. That makes sense. So it’s it’s the world domination and the entrepreneurial side is motivated by the solo printer, general goal and mindset.
David Ralph [38:16]
I’m going to play a speech now I don’t play very often, but it kind of touches on what we were talking about how you just have to keep on going keep on going. And this is this is from the Rocky film Rocky six. By the
Tom Webster [38:27]
way, he’s gonna go Rocky
David Ralph [38:29]
Yeah, this is amazing speech. And I love this. And I would play it on every show if I could, but he doesn’t often fit in. But I think it says a lot what we’re saying at the moment about just taking those risks and keep on going for it. This is Rocky,
Rocky Balboa [38:40]
you, me and nobody is going to hit as hard as life. But ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit. And keep moving forward. How much you can take a keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done.
David Ralph [38:56]
It’s true, isn’t it? You’re willing Tom Webster to be hitting the face and you’re willing to go down and get up and keep on going. And that is the difference isn’t it?
Tom Webster [39:06]
Yeah. Even listening to that gives me goosebumps and that’s literal goosebumps. I’m sitting here with with little bumps on my arms. It’s It’s such a powerful statement is just to keep going and keep going. Because no one no one doesn’t get hit. No one spends their life without getting a punch in the face. And it’s an it is exactly what you said. It’s about getting hit and how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.
David Ralph [39:30]
Did you think you have to love it though? Because I know when I listen to that speech. Yeah, it’s spine tingling. It really is. And I remember hearing it in the cinema when I went to see the film you cannot go to see Rocky, I go and see Rocky 15 when he’s in a Yeah, I’ve got I’ve got the the box set. Yeah, you have to delve through those. My my son went through the whole lot. Six in a day. He started Rocky one. And he wants watched Indiana Jones temples to do and he watched it six times back to back in a day. It’s amazing what kids can
Tom Webster [39:59]
do. That sounds exactly like my brother, my brother. Remember, we were kids and and he’ll hate me for saying this. But it was Mary Poppins and and he he watched Mary Poppins constantly. And he was he wanted to be a chimney sweep and anyone in it was just it was hilarious. And he got to the point where it was the film so many times that George if you watch that film one more time on Friday and the bit
David Ralph [40:23]
that does he still pull these trails is dinosaur dance like a penguin?
Tom Webster [40:26]
Yeah, he does. He’s saying that he’s, he’s an actor. And he’s, he’s over in Ireland at the moment filming for will be an incredible film. And he in he does a scene during the Charlie Chaplin dance where you just said putting these trousers out there. And then the penguin is not too far dissimilar to Charlie Chaplin.
David Ralph [40:44]
So So obviously, the show is about you, but he’s somebody that’s putting himself out there as well. And being an actor is the ultimate entrepreneurial journey, I would say that you really have to take your knocks constantly, you know, you probably go to audition, audition, audition, maybe 100 auditions before you even get a sniff of anything.
Tom Webster [41:03]
It is incredible. And that I think, like you mentioned out of all of them. There is no industry where you get rejected more than trying to become an actor or a musician or anything in the arts because because it’s all down to perception rather than realities. Whether someone perceives you to be talented or perceives you to be right for the role. And and I’ll see what happens is perception and there’s no right or wrong answer. So it’s it’s such a tough slog. And George is immensely talented in what he does, and I’m incredibly proud of him as a brother. And but I think that a big one for him was when he signed to a new agency, and Curtis Brown, which one of the largest talent agencies in the country and in the world and, and that changed everything for him, but it was getting them opportunities to get in front of them people. And I remember the first audition that they lined up for him was Star Wars, the new Star Wars films that come out. And my brother is the biggest Star Wars fan that there is on the planet. And he’s trivia knowledge of Star Wars is up there with the best of them. Yeah, that’s exactly and then, and says his first sort of audition, as it were, was with Star Wars and, and they arranged for a blacked out saloon car to pull up insight into London, and the window comes down, they pass him over a nondisclosure agreement to sign imagine being 21 years old, having this sort of experience thinking, I’m going to be in Star Wars and he sign a nondisclosure. They give him a script with his name, all on it so that he can’t scan it and put it on the internet. And then he then did the auditions got really far. And then they changed the role on him. And they change what they were casting for. And from sort of a kooky character to sort of a generic Hollywood sort of actor. And at that moment, he was, he wasn’t, he never showed any sort of upset or devastation. But you knew that that was a difficult one for him, because he was the first big knock. And I think that’s given him the platform to be able to take more knocks, because no knocks going to be bigger than him lose in Star Wars as it were. Another thing that that’s then given him the inspiration just to keep fighting forward, because he knows what it’s never gonna get as bad as that. And it wasn’t that bad. So as long as I can keep going. And then, as I said that, it makes me think that as long as you’ve got your health, then it doesn’t matter what anyone says, or whatever anything happens. It’s all bit a relative because we’ve all got a certain time span on this planet. And you could get knocked down, you could be fired up made redundant, but you still alive. So you still got more opportunity to try something else.
David Ralph [43:40]
Well, yeah, and that is true. And that kind of gets me to the risky route. You know, this, this show really isn’t about making everyone entrepreneurs, this show is purely about trying to make everyone believe that they can be happy. And whether they want to be in a job, or they want to be doing their own thing, or whatever they want to be doing. I believe that we’re all on this planet once and so we should be as happy as possible. But that Star Wars Derek storey, it resonated with me. But really, I suppose it’s like Rocky as well. You have to take the blows? Because it I it toughens you up, be it makes you realise what you want even more. And if there is a third option, bear, it just kind of, well, to me, it just makes me more bloody minded to achieve something. I think it’s because it’s hard and unloving doing something. I want to do it better and better and better. And I I actually don’t think that although it was a big knock, I don’t think getting Star Wars at an early age would be a great career move. Because it’s one of those kind of films that can go both ways you we saw the chat, who was um, Darth Vader in the last ones by you weren’t very good. And what’s happened to him, they’ll never see him anywhere. So I do think that you’ve got to, you’ve got to build it up, don’t you, you’ve got to connect your dots. And it’s the people that had the long careers are the ones that haven’t had, quote, unquote, the overnight success. They’re the ones that have really worked it up.
Tom Webster [45:15]
Yeah, got a catalogue of a catalogue of terrible films and a catalogue of indie films and, and learn their craft. Because I think acting is a craft. It’s a, it’s something not everyone can do. But I think it’s something that, that when you’ve got a natural talent that you could build on and you could become better and better and better. And I think George’s got that element of him that he’s constantly trying to learn new skills and new things that can make him better. And I think a good one from a good example my brother is and one summer holiday, he pretty much taught himself how to play the guitar for YouTube videos, never picked up an instrument before in his life and said, Look, I want to learn how to play the guitar. And he did he spent six weeks solid training and training and training watching YouTube clip after YouTube and by the end of them six weeks he could play the good are and that’s just incredible. And he’s done the same thing ukuleles done the same for piano. And he he because he gets a target in his mind. And he wants to talk to these got it and and acting was one of them for George. And so each person I think that’s where our family bread that you know, we were bred to believe that there isn’t anything you can’t achieve. And and I think other people out there might not have that support structure might not have that. But it’s still in everybody’s still everybody has the ability to do whatever they want to do. It’s just about doing it.
David Ralph [46:34]
That is the real goal of the episode. And I want all the listeners out there to just keep them rewinding round to about 45 minutes on episode 192. But if there’s something out there that you want to do, and you don’t know how to, we’ve got the opportunity of a lifetime, we’ve got the Internet, and you can type in how to is the most powerful two words, yeah, this dictionary, and somebody will show you how to do it, I basically created this whole show, I didn’t have a clue reading a clue. And I didn’t know how to do the website, I didn’t know how to record I didn’t know how to do anything. And I just sat there exactly like Georgia Tech did, looking at stuff and researching. And it’s amazing what opportunities we have got out there to create a kick ass life for ourselves, at our fingertips. But so many people kind of feel that they should have these talents already. And you don’t need to, you just need to have a passion and been go out and research it more than you’ve ever done before.
Tom Webster [47:29]
We are so fortunate that there is so much content at our fingertips, you could like you said you can learn any skill you want by just typing in how to and and it’s incredible, and I can’t remember what it is. But there’s a there’s a theory that if you’ve got an idea, or you was is if you think of something, it’s already on the internet, someone’s already thought of it. And and that’s but that’s that’s incredible, because it’s so powerful because it means that if you’ve got an idea or you want to learn something, there will be something out there on the and that could better your understanding of that because it is so content rich.
David Ralph [48:04]
And and when you are at work, you have got quite a lot of free time. And it may not be the free time that you want to give up. For example, you might be really busy. And I’ve been in situations that nine to five, eight to a 10 to 10 or whatever I’ve been absolutely snowed under. But I’ve managed to make time by going in an hour earlier and using the computer beforehand or doing it for my lunchtime or whatever. And you can really create, as you were saying right at the very beginning, a structure for an idea that although it’s new to you, somebody’s already done it. And that’s one of those things that hold people back well, I kind of get our is out there already. It’s the world, you only need a tiny few people to make a bloody good living, you really do. Somebody was telling me the other day, you know, about you know, we get sort of thousands and thousands of listeners. And he was saying why don’t you create a product to do X Y Zed? I went hard. really fancy doing it. You said? Yeah. But you imagine you sell it for $500 and you sell it for 200 people. That’s that’s like 100,000 a year, you know, it’s a small, tiny percentage. And if the idea is out there already, that means that people are making money from it, which it’s it’s mind blowing. But we have got this opportunity day in day out. And so many people are sitting there listening, thinking, what should I do? What should I do? You tap you go on Google, you research, you look around and you find stuff, you find stuff? And then one day, if you look enough, and you’re curious enough, something will go? Yes. I think I could do that. And Ben, you’re halfway there.
Tom Webster [49:39]
There’s a lot, there’s a lot of schools of thought when it comes to starting up a business and entrepreneurial ism and things like that. And I think and a good one that I think is Peter Jones that said on Dragon’s Den. And he was saying that the some of the best businesses are ones where the product already exists, or the service already exists, and you do it better. You do it, Fred, whoever is cheaper or more efficient, just you do something so many out there and you do it better. Because if you think you go down your local High Street, there’ll be two Italian restaurants, there’ll be three kebab shops there. Today, there’s not always one of everything. And it’s about if if you don’t have that idea of I’m going to change the world with this idea. But you want to take control of your own destiny is to think what am I passionate about? And can I do it better than what everyone else is doing? And if you can answer them questions, then it might be worth having a partner going going down that route.
David Ralph [50:30]
That that is spot on as well, isn’t it really because you’ve already got an audience out there people are buying these things? And so it’s not hope marketing, you know that? Yeah, I would go to a kebab shop. How would I What would I like to make it better. And once again, if you are doing a shop, then you are sort of localised. So I believe it’s a lot more difficult. And I wouldn’t want to do a shop, I just think to myself, for the sake of creating a website and going online, you’ve suddenly opened yourself up to customers in Bora Bora and New Zealand and wherever, obviously, they’re not going to buy a car babby be cold by the time. But you have got that, haven’t you? And I was saying to a chap the other day who’s just been listening to the shows, I’ve been working with him, Harry, I salute you, sir. And he has just started learning how to build websites, He’s never done it before. And I said to him, that is the first star. Because if you can build your platform, then you can throw any idea on to it. And if you throw enough ideas on it, and you solve enough of other people’s problems, then you will make a living. Absolutely, I believe that
Tom Webster [51:38]
again, we are super fortunate with the internet that you have now a global economy where you can sell to anybody anywhere in the world, whereas you only take back 1520 years, and that just didn’t exist the whole world a different place where there’s so much more money opportunities out there than there is there has been,
David Ralph [51:54]
Oh, I like this conversation. This is taking us in a different area, because it’s getting rid of the gatekeeper as well, isn’t it? You know,
Tom Webster [52:00]
yeah, you could you could bring, you can bring your costs down, you can do it in your spare time. So you can set up an online business and just do it in the evenings just during the weekend. an eBay is a good one, if you’ve got a product that you want to sell, and you’ve got the platform of opening an eBay shop, your overheads are tiny, you can start seeing if your product does have any traction. And then you can sort of start really super small on the internet as well and work your way up, you haven’t got it set by a shot, you haven’t got invest 100,000 pounds, open up a new business, you could you could buy a.com for five, five pounds, and then and then you’re away.
David Ralph [52:34]
I’m trying to total up what I spent to launch this show. And I think with equipment and everything I probably spent, and I have done it big i’d built an actual recording studio because I wanted a proper space to go. But away from that if I was doing it in my own house, I probably have spent about 60 pounds a month. Now. Yeah, that’s absolutely nothing because it
Tom Webster [52:58]
that’s that’s an incredible, incredible achievement. But that just goes to prove that you don’t need masses of startup capital to be able to achieve something online.
David Ralph [53:08]
So so what what are we saying to the listeners out here, Tom, so but they’re sitting at work? First of all, we’re saying that they need to be aware they need to start looking around, they need to start becoming curious of the possibilities. And then they need to actually work on it and research it and know it better than anybody else around and then you build a structure. And you can do all of that without spending a penny. It’s just time, isn’t it?
Tom Webster [53:34]
Yeah, I did. A good one My dad said to me once was why would I use your product over somebody else’s? And and as long as you can answer that question and be 100% positive that your answer is the best answer in the world, then the idea is good. And another friend of mine was looking to launch business. And I asked him that question, and he couldn’t answer it. So well, it’s probably not the right thing to be doing. If you if you can’t answer that, that fundamental question, then then it’s probably not the right idea. But if you can, and you’re confident with the answer to that question, then you’re probably on something.
David Ralph [54:08]
And what so many entrepreneurs doing it in a brilliantly effective way, is create online email lists, and then send out requests to people and going, I’m thinking of building this product, would you like it? And if you would like it, what would you like to see in it? And you actually get your audience to actually tell you what they would buy it?
Unknown Speaker [54:29]
Yeah, yeah, most definite again, Chris, you’ve got so many people that are online constantly. There’s forums, there’s chat rooms, there’s online asked questions services and, and you can engage an entire community just by typing in a couple of things on the computer and pressing send. And then you get people as people are really willing to help. I mean, that’s one of the things I’ve learned is that people like to help other people. And I learned that from when I was doing the cold calling at the email marketing, I did a bit of research in what is the best way to get past the gate. Keep it so when when you’re banging on the phones and you’re ringing and every secretary of receptionist is saying no, he’s not in No, he’s not in. If If you change your tact and you say I’m wonder if you can help me. And as soon as you say the word help someone it switches in people’s brains that are more keen to then actually help. And I think that’s a big one is is people are out there that are willing to give you ideas willing to help as much as you want. As long as you ask the right questions to the right people. I’ll give you a tip for cold calling. I used to do cold calling, getting there earlier than anyone else and stay there later than anyone else. And if you phone early in the morning, basically the guys you want to speak to their PhDs haven’t turned up and they will generally answer their own phone and you get them. And then once the PhDs go home in the evening, the gatekeepers, you phone again and once again better people working late so you get them again, I used to find it was so much more efficient. To do all my calling first thing in the morning last thing at night, and during the day just kind of Swan around with it and maximise your time
David Ralph [56:02]
get past the gatekeepers.
Tom Webster [56:04]
Yeah, nothing. That’s great.
David Ralph [56:06]
So just before we send you back in time told them put you on the Sermon on the mic to find out what advice you would give to the young turks, I’ve got a cup couple of questions for you. And number one is why and how did you manage to end up naked holding your bits and bobs in a famous calendar? How did that occur?
Tom Webster [56:25]
And that one again, that’s a bit that I’ll get onto in the sermon is, is saying yes to more things. And I read a book called The Yes, man. So don’t say yes to everything. And at the gic talk about Jim Carrey did a film called bs man. It’s a great book the books actually funnier than the film and and that’s coming from me and I don’t read any books, that’s probably one of the one of three books I’ve ever read in my life. And, and, and from that, that that did give me a bit more of an open mind to saying yes to more things. And a friend of mine and applause for a TV show on Channel Four called coach trip. And which anyone that’s sort of at home during the day will probably know is that it’s a really cheesy, sort of reality TV show where people travel around on a couch around Europe, and then you vote each other off at the end of the night. And me and my mate, Cliff Perkins, we did the show. It was an incredible experience. And then and then once the show aired, someone then come to to us and said, Would you prepared to do a naked campaign for Macmillan Cancer Support, and the campaign was called famous miles check them about testicular cancer? And just, the answer is always Yes. If it’s, if it’s something that’s one going to be fun to going to be funny, and three can help somebody then then then the answer is always going to be yes.
David Ralph [57:52]
Should I tell you a fact, I can’t believe I’m gonna even share this fact with you. Because I have to remember, it’s not just you and me talking, Tom, this is going to go live. But I once met somebody who used to do for naked calendars. And he was he was a chap who used to stand there. And obviously, when it comes to men being naked, there’s a certain desire to look a certain size or weight vaping, maybe in a in a calendar format, and you’re in a cold studio, you’re not gonna get if you know if you know what I’m saying. So what he used to do, and apparently this is the way to do it, is take toothpaste, and rub it down besides of the thing that you want to improve. And it takes the shading away and makes it look bigger.
Tom Webster [58:44]
Well, we showed about that inflammation.
David Ralph [58:46]
Yeah, you don’t want to go with the red and stripy sort of to pay all the stuff that’s too minty. But yet, that that apparently is how they do it. And he kind of Yeah, he just does the trick
Tom Webster [58:58]
that could really dominate, make sure when you’re in a very cold photo studio, and it doesn’t matter how many times that you put on something to try and get it a bit more excited. It doesn’t happen.
David Ralph [59:09]
I never thought we would come to this point in this show. But that that’s what happens on Join Up Dots, we go in a direction that we want to. And the very last question is just before we send you back in time, do you think that all our listeners out there can have a kick ass life?
Tom Webster [59:24]
Yes. Fundamentally, yes, there’s there’s the only thing that and again, this is Jordan Belfort the the investment banker from Wolf of Wall Street. And it’s the The only thing that’s stopping you from succeeding is you. And I completely agree with him on that.
David Ralph [59:38]
And I agree with that as well. Well, let’s send you back in time. And this is the part of the show that we called a sermon on the mic when we send you back in time to have a one on one with your younger self. And if you could go back in time and meet the young Tom Webster, what advice would you give him? And what age would you choose where we’re going to find out because I’m going to play the theme tune? And when it fades? You’re up? This is the Sermon on the mic.
Unknown Speaker [1:00:05]
Here we go with the best the show.
Tom Webster [1:00:23]
Hello, Webster, Junior, how are you sir. And yeah, I’m coming back in time to give you a bit of advice on how you can make the rest of your life a little bit better. I’m going to start off by telling you not to let other people’s influences control your mindset. And what you want to do. I remember when I was must have been 13 choosing my GCSE choices, and you let other people tell you what subjects to take. And you really enjoyed history but was influenced there that all you had to learn was David and things like that. And and if you was to have done history, I know that you would have really enjoyed it. And it’s the same with it, you shouldn’t have let that teacher let you feel the way you did about that subject, you should have ignored the fact that she existed and worked harder. And it’s the same with graphic design, you were influenced into doing good work, because that’s what all your friends did, where you would have really enjoyed graphic design. And it’s about not letting other people’s perception of you choose what you want to do. And, and, and I think that’s that’s a big one. And then the second one, if I could go back to time would be to an 18 year old me. And in a lot of money, probably a bit too young. And you took out a lot of credit cards, loans to fund the lifestyle by nice cars and a new laptops and things like that. And what what you did with that is you stunted your growth, consumer credit put you in a position where you didn’t have control over your day to day because you you had to work to earn money to pay back the money, you don’t really spend. And if you could make the decision and not buy them things at that time or save up and buy them when you could afford them, then the freedom you would have got off of the back of that would be incredible. And you’ve you’ve put yourself back a few years by having consumer credit. And I know for a fact that if you would have not gone down that route or saved up a little bit or, or chosen a cheaper car or however it would have been then you would be in a better position. Or you would have been a lot quicker into getting to where you are now. And then the other thing is is to say yes to so many more things is to keep the opportunities come and enjoy everything that you do and and just have as much fun as you can do doing it.
David Ralph [1:02:48]
Tom, how can our audience connect with you, sir?
Tom Webster [1:02:51]
And you can find me quite easily. I’m on Twitter. So it’s at Tommy Webster underscore and I think I’m pretty simple to find on LinkedIn as well. I think it’s linkedin.com forward slash TP Webster I think it is and And like I mentioned in the beginning the show, I’m always open to suggestions and conversations and opportunities. So if anyone’s got any ideas or anyone wants, just ask me questions, then please do feel free to get in touch be more than happy to talk to anybody about anything.
David Ralph [1:03:19]
And you realise you might get an amazing toothpaste sponsorship deal now.
Unknown Speaker [1:03:23]
Yeah, well, you never know.
David Ralph [1:03:25]
would be perfectly well. Thank you so much for spending time with us today, joining up those dots. And please come back again when you have more dots to join up. Because I do believe that by joining those dots and connecting our paths is the best way to build our futures. Tom Webster, thank you so much.
Tom Webster [1:03:40]
No, thank you, sir. Have a great day.
Outro [1:03:43]
David doesn’t want you to become a faded version of the brilliant self you are wants to become. So he’s put together an amazing guide for you called the eight pieces of advice that every successful entrepreneur practices, including the two that changed his life. Head over to Join Up Dots.com download this amazing guide for free and we’ll see you tomorrow on Join Up Dots.
David Ralph [1:04:10]
Thought you got rid of me. Now I’m just gonna ask you a favour anyone out there who’s enjoyed the show, and has enjoyed all the shows. Could you go over to iTunes and leave a review the more reviews I get, the better the show will perform. And then it’s a win win. You’ll be getting me every single day for the rest of your life. Don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing. But yeah, iTunes, David Ralph, Join Up Dots and I love you so much or even come down to walk your dog. Thanks very much. Bye bye
