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The Flowcoacher Chris Randall Joins Us On The Steve Jobs Inspired Join Up Dots Podcast
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Introducing The Flowcoacher
Chris Randall is today’s guest on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots podcast interview.
He is a man who first appeared on the show in the first year of Join Up Dots, back in episode 256.
During the show we discussed how he got his coaching business up and running, and the steps he took to find the niche that suited him best.
He provides his life changing method “Flowcoaching” where he shows the world how to lead a highly successful and well rewarded life doing what matters most to them
He believes as I do that it can also transform any business into a happy, creative and passionate place that inspirational people seek out.
You enjoy yourself more, get more things done, and therefore have more free time for yourself.
Yep cake and eat it time.
But what is flowcoaching and why is it the thing that even if we don’t get coached in it, we have all experienced it in our lives time and time again.
How The Dots Joined Up For Chris
Well its that amazing state that you can find yourself in when you literally lose hours at a time when performing a task.
You get so engrossed in the activity that you look at the clock and think “God it feels that I just had breakfast and it’s lunchtime already!”
Well, it might have been a while since you last felt that feeling whilst working in your current job or occupation.
And that is where our guest comes in.
In a nutshell, he is a business, leadership and talent coach who helps you to figure out what you do best and then work with you to do it better.
So how do we get ourselves into this state if we spend the majority of our time thinking “ooh just got five minutes until the next thing i have to do!”?
And what is the part of the business that took him by surprise as he built it to where it is today?
Well lets find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only “Mr Flowcoacher Chris Randall.
Show Highlights
During the episode we discussed such weighty topics with the Flowcoacher such as:
Chris shares his belief that you should prototype yourself, and get that version out to the world as soon as possible.
Why focusing in on the “becoming the best you can be” leads to strengths you didn’t know you had.
Chris reveals the steps that we should all take to set time boundaries in our lives so that we can kick start the state of flow.
and lastly……….
We do a deep dive into the financial difficulties that can bring all businesses to their knees.
How To Connect With Chris Randall
Return To The Top Of Flowcoacher Chris Randall
You can also check our extensive podcast archive by clicking here– enjoy
Full Transcription Of Flowcoacher Interview
Intro [0:00]
Life shouldn’t be hard life should be a fun filled adventure every day. So now start joining up dots tap into your talents, your skills, your God given gifts and tell your boss, you don’t deserve me. I’m out of here. It’s time for you to smash that alarm clock. And start getting the dream business and life you will, of course, are dreaming God. Let’s join your host, David Ralph from the back of his garden in the UK, or wherever he might be today with another JAM PACKED episode of the number one hit podcast. Join Up Dots.
David Ralph [0:40]
Yes, hello there. Good morning to you. Yeah, I know exactly where I am. today. I’m at the back of the garden in Join Up Dots headquarters talking to a guy who was passed on the show back in 2014. It’s unbelievable. He is he’s like he’s etched in my brain because as soon as I spoke to him, I thought I remember him. I remember every little thing about him, all the bad things, all the good things. And we’re going to bring those to the show. Now he was on episode 256. So you can go back and check out the first show. And during the show, we discussed how he got his coaching business up and running. And the steps he took to find the niche or the niche. I liked niche that suited him best. Now he provides his life changing method for load coaching, where he shows the world how to lead a highly successful and well rewarded life, doing what matters most to them. He believes as I do, but it can also transform any business into a happy, creative and passionate place that inspirational people seek out you enjoy yourself more. So you get more things done. And therefore you have more free time for yourself. Yep, it’s their cake and eat it time. But what is actual flow coaching? And why is it the thing that even if we don’t get coached in it, we’ve all experienced it in our lives. So time and time again, it’s an amazing state that you can find yourself in. When you literally lose hours at a time when performing a task. You get so engrossed in the activity. But you look at the clock and think God, it feels I’ve just had breakfast and it’s lunch already. Well, it might have been a while since you last felt that feeling whilst working in your current job or occupation. And so that’s where our guest comes in. In a nutshell. He’s a business leadership and talent coach who helps you to figure out what you do best, and then work with you. So you do it better. So how do we get ourselves into this state? If we spend the majority of our time thinking, Oh, just got five minutes to the next thing I have to do? And what is the part of the business that took him by surprise as he built it to where he is today? Well, let’s find out as we bring onto the show, to start joining up dots with the one and only Mr. Flowcoacher Chris Randall. Good morning, Chris.
The Flowcoacher Chris Randall [2:50]
David. Good morning. I’m really well, thank you. And thank you very much for having me back. It was wonderful. First time we spoke, and I’m really looking forward to chatting again.
David Ralph [3:00]
Bloody hell, eight years that does it. It blows me away. It blows me away. I remember everything that we spoke about. And I haven’t listened to it recently. That’s how much it sort of etched into my brain.
The Flowcoacher Chris Randall [3:13]
Yeah, I can’t believe it was eight years ago. And what I did was realising like years ago, I looked into my photos on my Mac, and because you can organise it by year, and just had a quick scroll through what had happened since we last spoke. And that was quite scary and quite wonderful to look through the photos and go Oh, wow. So much. And yet it feels like yesterday.
David Ralph [3:40]
Do you think actually, when you look back on all this stuff, and I’ve been reflecting on this recently, where sometimes we get hit up sometimes up, oh my god, this doesn’t occur. And then I look at it. And I think what I’ve been doing this eight years, and I’ve had ups and downs and I’m still going, it doesn’t really matter. Do look at your own business and think to yourself, it’s really established now or actually, it doesn’t really have to be established, it kind of will always find the next right thing.
The Flowcoacher Chris Randall [4:14]
Great question. I think that for me, I’m at the stage where it feels as though I’m just getting to the point where I’m really really authentically doing what’s me and it’s taken me a long time to get there. And and so it’s it’s it’s about clarity for me with the business it’s, it’s been it’s been working and successful enough to support me to get to the point and give me the time to be able to work out really what is me and what isn’t me.
David Ralph [4:50]
Interesting now, isn’t it? I’m gonna I’m gonna deep dive into that because that’s kind of what you do for others. So why is it taking you so long to to actually define yourself?
The Flowcoacher Chris Randall [5:03]
Well, I think I think it’s, it necessarily takes time. It’s the discovery and learning about self is, is, is experiential. It’s, it’s not just a thought process of all, I think I’m not that anymore, I might be this. It’s about taking that out and road testing, road testing it. So this is something that I that I work with clients, and I encourage my clients to prototype yourself. It doesn’t, you don’t have to be the finished article, you don’t have to be luxurious looking, it’s not the thing, you’re going to put in the shop window, but go and test go and prototype yourself. And I do the same. And I think it’s really important for me to live by the same. The same advice that I’m giving to clients, which is go out and prototype itself and see what works, see what doesn’t, and it doesn’t all work. And some bits of it do, I guess the the key is to notice what has worked and to do more of that to drop the stuff that doesn’t work with the for me or with the caveat of it’s not about finding something that works. It’s about finding something that works, and is me, is authentically me.
David Ralph [6:24]
I have a guy that I’m working with in Berlin called robber and he’s a lovely guy. And I asked him to basically a client potentially came across to him as we’re getting his business going. And it was at that stage of great a potential client. But what the hell do I offer them, they don’t they’re like reaching out, but I actually haven’t got anything defined. So I said to him, you know, just write a letter, go back and pretty much say that I’ve just started, I knew, I know, I’ve got the experience, it’s not going to be formalised, but you know, let’s work on something together. And he sent it back to me. And he said, you know, do you think this is a riot? You know, is this overkill? And I just said to him, send it out. And we can find out, you know, just send it out and see if it works. It works. And if it doesn’t, it doesn’t. And then it’s all feedback. And that’s what you’re saying about prototyping yourself. It’s the ability to gain feedback in real life environments, so that you can go, yeah, it didn’t work. Let’s think about why it didn’t work. Is there a better way of doing it? But if it does, and it’s just something that you’ve proved together, and it flies, then hey, that’s the state of flow. You see what I did there? Chris, I connected, I connected with your talents. By the easy, it’s just naturally, you know, don’t put any effort into it. Just do what feels natural.
The Flowcoacher Chris Randall [7:50]
I think yeah, is there’s a key step as well before and which is there’s going to be a certain amount of fear around prototyping itself. And there’s, there’s usually no that definitely was for me, there still is to say it’s done for me of fear of if I if I just offer that if I just write it to give you to talk about your example, if I just write that letter, what if they say no, you have no clue what you’re doing? Well, the very least if they’re gonna there’s gonna be some trust because there was real vulnerability and authenticity in that letter. And so it the prototype itself was about recognising that there is a fear there of is this gonna work? How’s this gonna work out? What if they do? What if they’re out like that? And it’s, it’s, it’s coming to terms with that they’re building a relationship with it, which is key to flow as well. Which is, is that me? Is this is this really all that I am? That was something that was running through my mind and rather than is that all that I am now there’s a confidence and a surrender to Yeah, this is me. I’m actually working for me. And with that, that, as you said, brilliantly segments once that comes into flow, because if it’s me, I’m not making it up. I’m not playing a part. I’m not trying to do something. I’m doing what comes naturally. For me.
David Ralph [9:19]
I think there is a movement. I know there’s a movement, Chris, towards V. I mean, one thing, do it as good as you possibly can. Now when I started the show back in 2014, it was a kind of be everywhere, row crap at the wall. It doesn’t matter, but you’ve got to be everywhere. But now it seems to me through people like Greg McEwen who wrote the essentialism book and and a load of sort of business gurus. Both hit the nail on the head where it’s if you want to be a podcaster and just be a podcaster try your hardest to be the best you possibly can. Because push comes to shove, I probably be the fast track to success more than trying to be everything.
The Flowcoacher Chris Randall [10:08]
Yeah. And strategy strategy is a smart strategy for for individuals and smaller businesses, and especially individuals who got web businesses, web based businesses. If I’m running a huge organisation, then my strategy is I want to try and do everything for everybody. And that makes sense. But for a lot of people, I guess, probably,
David Ralph [10:34]
but does it make sense? Does it make sense? I don’t know if it does,
The Flowcoacher Chris Randall [10:39]
um, would you like to go to Tescos, and they only have cheese.
David Ralph [10:43]
If they were the cheese experts, then I’d be perfectly happy with that.
The Flowcoacher Chris Randall [10:49]
And that’s why I think there’s room in the market for both, just don’t be in the middle.
David Ralph [10:55]
And you can, because when you go into a supermarket, well, we give that example, Okay, you go into a supermarket, it’s always fresh flowers, as soon as you walk in, and fresh vegetables, you know, they have these psychological things going on all the way through, that makes us buy, okay. And we accept that we are going to be out but to get the weekly shop bear, but with an actual business, like you would create an I would create, surely it’s better to become the cheese expert. More than you know, the next Amazon, surely it’s better to create multiple businesses focusing in on just one thing, but becoming the best at that, isn’t it?
The Flowcoacher Chris Randall [11:40]
Well, so to move it away from supermarkets, so I’m sure you know, Simon Sinek. And start with why and he jokes about Apple, and brilliant, brilliant face that Simon does is start with why and it’s not about selling computers, it’s that we have a belief in, in we have a belief in in creating intuitively LED products, and we just happen to make computers here we are well, product. Apple’s products is a very, very diverse now, you can you can get a huge amount from them. And yet their niche is it’s beautifully designed. And it’s in print. And it’s incredibly intuitive and creative, creatively designed. So they’ve combined they’re the nature of you know, what Apple is, you know what that brand stands for, but actually, there’s a diverse offering. And I don’t see that, as I want to say I totally agree with you that there is an also a place for for individuals and organisations to say yeah, we just do this. And this is what we do. And we do really, really well I think those two sit together. So Apple strategy clearly is diversify their product range so that they can get as many people to buy their products as possible. But yeah, their brand that what they stand for is very, very niche.
David Ralph [13:12]
My son was telling me about air pods, just the air pods. That’s like, you know, almost a trillion dollar business on its own, you know, just and you think, wow, these little headphones, and my kids are always saying, oh, I want the new air pods for Christmas. And I go What’s about with your other ones? Oh, no, there’s the new ones out. And I think this is genius, how they created this this business, but makes you want to replace perfectly good stuff that you’ve already got. You know, and that is one of the things that I can’t get to the bottom of is it psychology? Is it mysticism is the alchemy? I don’t know. But we’ve all these things in our lives are perfectly okay. They will do the job. But no, we want the next good thing.
The Flowcoacher Chris Randall [14:00]
Yeah, yeah. The difference between want and need. Do I need a new pair of headphones? No. Do I want more latest?
David Ralph [14:08]
Ones? Yes, yeah. Now one of the things I did, which I’m going to throw back at you and one of the things that Simon Sinek talks about in that presentation, which God that must be about eight years ago now. And we’re still talking about it. It’s all right, to focus in on your why. Well, that’s a journey, isn’t it? Because I am now pretty much no my wife. But I think on the first five, six years of Join Up Dots. I think I was I don’t think I’ve really defined it. And once I understood what I wanted, and my absolute belief that every single person listening to Join Up Dots should and there’s no doubt they can have a six figure online business giving them lifestyle time and location freedom. You know, I’ve got a total belief that it’s not hard to do. And that’s my way trying to get that message out to the world. But it took me a while to get that. It and I think that’s one of the problems, isn’t it? So why to say start with your wife, but you’ve got to, you got to go through the journey to really understand what you’re here for.
The Flowcoacher Chris Randall [15:19]
Yeah, yeah, absolutely. And for me, it comes, it comes down to comes down to knowing myself inside out. If I if I’m, if I’m running a business, if I want to take a business from an idea to a six figure online business, than I need to know, how I, what my mentality is and how I react and respond in different situations, and how is that going to help me and hinder me, am I resourced? emotionally and mentally to be able to take that guide, it is totally agree with you, David, it’s a it’s a journey, it’s not a, it’s not an on off switch. In my experience, it’s not, it’s not an on off switch anyway, it’s a journey. And I have to be resourced for that happy fit enough to take that journey. And if I’m not fit enough, I can have the best idea in the world, I can have the most effective execution process and implementation and I don’t think it will work. I think that that journey to self discovery of knowing myself inside out really ties in the flow, because it’s, there are parts of me, that will help me and there are parts of me, and I’m talking about my psychology that will hinder me. There’s a partner that wants to just forget about thinking about I’m planning, just just take action and get on with it and get going. And that’s great when I’m on my bike, but but sometimes things need to be planned out. So if I try and deny that that part of me exists, then it’s going to cause trouble for me unconsciously, it’s going to trip me up later on in the journey. But if I accept that there is part of my team that’s along for the ride, which can act out a little bit, then I’ve got to employ that part of me in a different way that takes the best of what it brings, and holds the more destructive part of it and says, You don’t need that, but encourage the best parts of it. So that that get up and go that right now is the time to get working get going that part of that part of me, I really want. And when I when I when I can harness all of these different parts of me, because I believe there are all these different parts and in my psychology and my mindset, if I can harness them all together, if I can, if I if I’ve got this team of parts of me all working as if they’re doing great jobs, and they all know what they’re there for, and they can all contribute. And then it’s a fantastic, it creates the success it creates flow. The way the way that I that I often ask people to realise to visualise this is David, have you ever seen a dog taking a person for a walk? Absolutely, yeah, imagine that you’ve got a pack of 20 dogs, and they’re all pulling the person along well, getting to know myself and being in flow. And the journey is a lot easier when there’s a pack leader. And all of the dogs are behind following like, well trained, but also enjoying themselves as the dogs that they are there’s the sheep dog one, there’s the little, little Hunter dog, there’s the is the safety dog as a Bernard it’s always different dogs as the sled dogs the pulling along, they’re all they’re all doing their job. They’re all happy as dogs, they don’t want to bark and bite anybody. They don’t want to act out. They don’t want to run after objects, people unnecessarily it’s that that’s what I’m talking about
David Ralph [18:45]
next year from Oprah. And we’ll be back with Chris,
Unknown Speaker [18:48]
the way through the challenge is to get still and ask yourself, what is the next right move? not think about, oh, I got all of this stuff. But what is the next right move? And then from that space, make the next right move, and the next right move and not to be overwhelmed by it because you know your life is bigger than that one moment. No, you’re not defined by what somebody says is a failure for you. Because failure is just there to point you in a different direction.
David Ralph [19:19]
Now somebody like Elon Musk, he’s known to be having five minute sessions. Everything’s bollocks in five minutes. He has five minutes meeting the next five minutes next five minutes, and that’s how he focuses it. And where I optimise at my best is when I forget about time, and I just get into a task. It’s like today, podcasting. I will be doing podcasting for about eight hours. And at the end of it, I’m absolutely knackered. Well, it doesn’t feel like eight hours. I’ve just kind of got into the conversation and click some buttons and made sure that I’m hitting the right time and and everything just kind of follows towards me. Now in life, we are very much Ah, I’ve only got five minutes. I’ve got to do that. And then I’ve got to do that. How would you get people away from that to actually get into the state, but we want to be in the flow state when things just become naturally easy and effortless. And when you look at the work that you’ve created, you think, God, that’s genius. That’s really brilliant.
The Flowcoacher Chris Randall [20:24]
So, in a nutshell, clear boundaries, having a clear yes and no, really helps. No. Yes, I can do that. No, not right now. Having a clear, clear thought and thinking and planning of, this is what my priority is right now, this is what is going to take me further towards my end goal if I do it right now, and being clear on that. And, and, and the vulnerability to feel how important all of that is, and feel to be alive in the moment and to go, Yeah, this is the right thing for me to be working on at the right time. So all of those combined to this is my mission right now. This is absolutely me. Clearly bounded on can focus on this. And, and then you say it’s like, it’s like riding the like, like surfing a wave. And suddenly it’s the end of the day. And it’s Oh, wow, that was amazing. I got so much done in Yeah, I’m knackered. But wow, what a day.
David Ralph [21:27]
I remember, this is one of the things last time I don’t go on to Facebook at all. But I remember years ago, I put a post on there. And, and you responded. And basically, I had done an online seminar of something, I can’t even remember what it was. But I remember doing it and thinking, I mean, I’m in this, I really in this, you know, and I know exactly what the guy’s gonna ask me. And I knew every bit of information. And I felt like I was lighter. And once I finished, I felt like I could almost run down the garden and just leap and fly. It was like, energy pulled me up. And I did this post. And I remember you typing going, that’s one of the best descriptions of the state of low that I’ve heard. And it was that feeling of lightness, it was effortless. It was like, you know, like when people write songs. And they always say, if I’ve worked too hard at it is not a good song. And all the best ones just come to me. It’s like, I’m merely the vehicle. I’m very much aware of that in online business. And I’m very aware now but if I feel like I’m slogging too much, leave it, leave it. So I do such a little amount of work compared to what I used to do, until I get myself into that state of Oh, I know what I’m going to do. And I’m quite excited about this. Boom, let’s go. It’s something that we should look at the excitement factor.
The Flowcoacher Chris Randall [22:56]
Yeah, absolutely. It’s flow state, you have to be passionate about what you’re doing. And it can’t be manufactured passion. How are you this morning? I’m great.
Unknown Speaker [23:09]
Not really great, honestly.
David Ralph [23:11]
Like you say, that sounds like constipation more than
The Flowcoacher Chris Randall [23:17]
you have? Or is the fellow from Ted LaSalle. Do you watch TED last?
David Ralph [23:21]
Oh, I’ve watched both series. And I don’t normally watch a series but I binge that one.
The Flowcoacher Chris Randall [23:27]
Who’s the character who was the captain and then and then becomes a coach. Right? Yeah, that’s it. Yeah. Well, we
David Ralph [23:34]
can we can we can you?
The Flowcoacher Chris Randall [23:37]
Fine. Yeah. And I’m guessing some of his language isn’t appropriate for this podcast. But yeah. Well, what I loved about your description there was that it was clearly that you’re doing work, which you clearly loved doing. And it’s, and it’s you, it’s authentically you. And your purpose for doing it. What I saw as your purpose of doing it was completely aligned with the universe. And it’s, yeah, I’m in service to these people. And I’m giving from myself. And it feels totally natural because it’s me and it’s my stuff. And it’s my experiences and not pretending to be something more and I’m not, I’m not holding my back and being keeping myself small. I’m sharing my gifts and and yeah, and I don’t think anybody can help but love being in that state. And that’s what I was what I was alluding to with the vulnerability side of things, it’s open your heart and feel how fantastic it is to actually do that kind of work. And it’s so addictive, and others respond to it so much more with the same passion. Wow, that was amazing. That really touched me. I really felt it wasn’t. It was was charged and fell and yeah, Wow, fantastic. Yeah, loved it. That was an amazing description, but
David Ralph [24:57]
people going to work and I used to go to corporate gigs all the time. And I used to dread it. Well, I didn’t even dread it, I just kind of put up with it. And then I used to stand up and do training courses and presentations. And that was my flow state that was kind of, oh, I’m into this, yeah, I’ll totally control this room, and then it would kind of finish in the rest of it would be a dirge. Now, a lot of people out there, they’re not going to know their why they’re not going to know their passion, they’re not going to know how to be authentically BIM. Because they operate in a situation where the business controls the way they operate is a kind of reverse fake it till they make it in a negative way you fake it, because you know, the business wants you to be like that way, instead of sort of enjoying yourself and acting in a sort of Contra way to everyone else.
The Flowcoacher Chris Randall [25:51]
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I totally agree. So in that situation, speaking to those people directly, start by identifying what your strengths are, as my advice, I can be doing work, which is not, it’s not my purpose, which is not really aligned with me, which I’m doing it to pay the bills, and there’s an ability now, things are about taking responsibility and making the money needs to be made. And within that, still, you’ll recognise their, their strengths and weaknesses. And the strengths are usually a really strong indicator of where your purpose and passion and your WHY might live. And so the question that I, that I, that I put to people is ask, what is it that I need to play more to my strengths in this role? And then hopefully, what that facilitates is a conversation between employee and employer have to give your example, David, you know, I really love the part where I’m owning the room while I’m making the presentation. What do I need to do more of that? What can we how can we, how can we work together so that I can do more of that. And that creates the value that you as an organisation need as well. And I think if if the employer is reasonable and fair, then they’ll want to have that conversation.
David Ralph [27:13]
That’s the problem, though. Most of them aren’t reasonable or fair. You know, they just want you to come in, I used to really have a laugh. And I was fortunate, I started that way. So people knew I was going to be like that, you know. So it’s quite difficult for somebody to go in and go, Well, I’m gonna start being authentically myself. If I haven’t operated away, I used to creep up behind people, and flick their ears and then run away. I used to take screenshots of their computer. And so when they came up, they thought it was like a Word document. And I couldn’t get it to work because the desktop had changed. You know, I used to do stupid things all the time. And people kind of expected me to do that. Because I’d always done it, I kind of set my stall down. But to sort of change halfway through that’s, that’s hard.
The Flowcoacher Chris Randall [28:03]
It’s it’s a recalibration and the way that I put it, so sometimes it’s just about just really just turning the lens and bringing things into focus. And sometimes it’s a realisation that by asking the question, what do I need? It’s in, right, David, it’s, I’ve got to leave this organisation. I trained as a solicitor hated it. absolutely hated it. I couldn’t express myself at all. And, yeah, I needed to leave. And that that is that sometimes that’s that’s the answer. And I think there’s a lot of employers that are trying their best, but they’re not able to provide what, what people need, for one reason or another. I think intentions are usually good, that aren’t your are some organisations might just No, this is just never, ever going to fit is never going to give me what I need to be able to play more to my strengths and find flow. is it’s not about being reckless and saying I’ll do one, it’s, it’s, it’s about that was
David Ralph [29:06]
me. That was my that’s how I set it out.
The Flowcoacher Chris Randall [29:10]
I wasn’t far off that. It didn’t work out brilliantly. So it’s Yeah, and it’s okay. Well, now I need a strategy. Now I need to work out. Ask the question, what should I be doing? And that’s where people like you and I come in and we can help people to make a make up those choices for themselves.
David Ralph [29:29]
Now, what we love about your business and what I love about so many people’s business, businesses, as the essence of it is clear. The essence of it is totally understandable. But how would you market it? This is what I always look at people. I think if I need you, Ben, it’s right for me. But how do you go into an organisation and say, right, using my skills, I can get your staff into VISTA? Because soft skills are quite hard to market, I used to find it very difficult in the old days, even if I taught somebody a hard skill, then the company kind of would go Oh, yes, we need that. But a soft skill, different ballgame how to market?
The Flowcoacher Chris Randall [30:15]
Yeah, yeah, it takes a lot of time and consideration to get this, to get this effective it for me, it’s about focusing on outcomes. And I’ve got, I’ve got to show that I’m measuring the effect of the work that I do so promising outcomes, and I’m measuring what’s going on with the work that I’m doing to show that the outcomes, we’re moving towards the outcomes, and we’re achieving the outcomes. And those outcomes are not necessarily tangible. It can be that your people are happier, and will how do you measure that? Well, you can ask them. And it can also be the outcome of well, happier people sell more kits, what’s your revenue there? Since we started doing this work? So it’s, it’s it’s a tricky one, because there’s a lot of organisations that are quite fearful about the idea of saying to their people, Well, now’s the time for you to just to discover what your true purpose and what you’re really here for. And I already said, Oh, gonna be walking out the door. Yeah. And there’s a fantastic company that I followed for a little while brother, UK. And, and the end of brother UK column, his name is on Twitter. And he managed to build a business where they seem to harness both the capacity for people to say, Yeah, I want to do a job that I really love doing, and really support them in the same time as hold on to their people. So that is possible.
David Ralph [31:50]
A lot of companies. Yeah, a lot companies do is I like Google have sort of light blue sky rooms and stuff in, in sleep zones. But what I always think about these companies is, after a while, its effectiveness just becomes like normal. It’s like, you know, if you really need to go to the toilet, and your office hasn’t got a Toilet, toilet in it, it’s gonna be brilliant. And you’re gonna go wonderful. That’s what we needed. Excellent. But after, you know, three weeks, six weeks, you don’t think of it as anything special. It’s just what is there. And so when you go in, and you train them, obviously, there’s a period of bounce, when the staff are sort of coming back to their desks going, Oh, I’ve really enjoyed that Chris knows his stuff. And that’s amazing. But how do they keep that, you know, that toilet still being front and centre for weeks and years and don’t just sort of dwindle back to sort of not noticing the skills that you’ve given them?
The Flowcoacher Chris Randall [32:51]
Well, there’s the saying it works if you do the work, which is that taking advantage of that bounce when they go back to the chair and are full of enthusiasm and inspiration of I’m going to do if those people go back there without a clear plan of this is what this is what you need to do to translate it into action over the next days and weeks and months, then, then that that momentum is going to be lost. And it’s it’s about building that momentum and then and then measuring. Okay, Have you have you done what your plan was? And it’s not about expecting that every part of the plan is going to be done? Of course, it’s more it’s about working? Why didn’t you do that? Not from blaming point of view, but from seeking to understand why didn’t that work for you? Great. Okay, so then then the plan is, is that translation from? I’ve, I’ve got the tools, I am resourced, and then making it right, what do I do with this? And again, I’ll get back to that prototyping itself. That’s when the fear can come in. And I feel really inspired to do great things and what if it goes horribly wrong? It’s okay, learn to learn to have a relationship without fear. So you hear it but it doesn’t affect your capacity to actually you know what? I’m not trying to be I’m not trying to be perfect. I’m just trying to be good enough. Good enough for now, and safe enough to try as well go for good enough for now. safe enough to try give it a go. I give my give myself permission to make mistakes and fail. It’s okay. It’s part of the learning.
David Ralph [34:27]
Yeah. And after a while, safe enough to try it doesn’t really apply. Yeah, cuz because you kind of know that. Yeah, that was stupid. I wasted so much money there, but I am still moving forward. I’m a great believer now. And I say this to lots of people. I am 51 years old. I’ve said this on the show. I have made billions of decisions, probably trillions of decisions. I have had moments when I’ve decided to cross the road and the car was faster than I thought and I’ve had to jump back at the last minute It, you know, and I’m still moving forward, you know, nothing has actually stopped me. And I think to myself now, but with anything that we do, that doesn’t work, it’s not going to be a game changer. I really think I can’t imagine anything, but I do. But I couldn’t go, you know, example I’ve got, I’ve got a shop that I run, I’ve got a car spares business. And we had cashflow issues a couple of months ago, terrible time. And it was the time when the tax had to be paid. And so the accountant had to be paid and we had to tax and then we had already, the suppliers invoices coming in, and I didn’t have the money. And there was about three days, I thought, why I have to subsidise this with me on cash. And then I thought nope, slippery slope, I’m not gonna do that. I’m just gonna let the business die. If it’s if the cash flow is not coming in, then hey, it’s at its time. And little by little, it kind of found the money. And we sold some things that we weren’t expecting and takes became better on a few days, you know, and then now we’re up and running again. But there was certainly two nights where I thought to myself, This is it, what am I gonna do you know? And now I think to myself, just let it happen and see what happens.
The Flowcoacher Chris Randall [36:17]
Yeah, well, it’s it’s really, that’s really powerful. I’ve been in a similar situation where I’ve got bills to pay and, and significant bills to earn, it’s I don’t know, up to up to 24 hours before the due, I don’t know how I’m gonna pay this bill. And, and the universe delivers in not necessarily in the way I was expecting, but it delivers. And it’s it’s, yeah, it’s, I’ve, it can be really scary. And at the same time, it’s a wonderful, powerful trusting. Yeah, wow, many people struggle to do that. They put their own money in. So Good on you for doing that.
David Ralph [36:57]
When you do put your own money in. The first thing you’ve got to have with all businesses, I think, is an exit strategy. And my first thing is always financial exit strategy, you know, anything that I invest into the business, I think to myself, first thing I need to do is get that back out, and then get that back out, get that back into my own accounts and stuff. And then we’re sort of a level playing field. But I’ve now got the thing. I’ve got the investment and stuff. Now, when you started your business back in the early days, do you think, Chris, that you played the tight game? Do you think that actually you didn’t invest as much in it as you could have done? You slowed the growth down? You know, I’ve been watching a programme on Discovery, Richard Hammond from Top Gear in the grand tour. And he started his own business, which is a classic restoration business. And he’s had to put 250,000 quarter of a million of his own money in and his wife was saying, you know, you shouldn’t be putting your own money in, he said, Look, if we’re going to build it with the profits coming in, it’s going to take 10 years, I’ve got to put the investment in. And when you see the comments in the sort of the underneath the show notes of it, you get people go, Oh, he’s worth 45 million, it doesn’t matter what’s 250,000 and stuff. And I think you’re missing the point. A business shouldn’t take personal money, a business should thrive on its own two feet. And if that’s the case, it’s not a business. Now, go back to my original statement when you started. Chris, did you accelerate your development in the business? Or did you sort of go, you know, tight routes, because I certainly went tight route, I look back on it. And I think I could have I could have shave years off it by just throwing a bit of cash in it and then getting the cash back out later.
The Flowcoacher Chris Randall [38:50]
I made the classic mistake, I I use my own money in the business and thought I was using it to accelerate but actually what it was doing was empowering my procrastination and inability to find a clear niche as we were talking about for an actually is when the money ran out. And it had to wash his own face that the decisions got really clear about this is the priority. This is what we’re working on. And this is how it’s going to work. And so yeah, I made the mistake and learn from it. So and so you had
David Ralph [39:27]
like too much money. So the creativity and the Agile thinking wasn’t part of the startup. It was literally we can buy our way out of it.
The Flowcoacher Chris Randall [39:38]
Well I set up I’m going back to 2008 2009 when I was been building and running a recruitment business in the city and is successful enough to add enough money in the bank to be able to live for a couple of years without without worrying too much but and and I thought fantastic I’ve got I’ve got an investment to be able to really work on what I’m going to work on and discover. And, you know, I got some really good things out of that period. But what I didn’t have was the edge of necessity of this has to work. This has to work now, everything has to has to be productive. And I think that’s really important and valuable. So
David Ralph [40:21]
did you think you slowed down been in that those two years that you didn’t have to work? Did you think that mentally you kind of relax too much?
The Flowcoacher Chris Randall [40:30]
I think I think I was mentally 100 million miles an hour, but in every single direction at the same time. And it goes, and I went, when the money was running out, it was a can’t do everything in all the different directions all at the same time. I’ve got to stand for something otherwise, this is never gonna work. Yeah. So it was a rather expensive mistake, but that I put it down as that was my education was the cost of my education.
David Ralph [41:03]
And that’s brilliant, what you said, you have to stand for something, you know, you’re not saying this is my why you’re saying I’ve got to put a flag in the ground and go from this point onwards, right or wrong, I’m gonna go in that direction. Because I, you know, I totally did in the early days, I was all over the shop, I really was. And you know, I was on Facebook, and I was on there. And I was on there. And I was trying to build this community and vacuum unity, and, and it just took its toll on me. And then when I had health issues, I slowed down, and then lockdown came along. And it really slowed me down to the point that I struggled to get going again. And then when I did get going again, it was like, Okay, what needs to be done. It wasn’t a case, like everything to be done, it was just like that just sit there just like a preset. Let’s just sit there and think what really needs to be done. And at the bottom line, it’s about how can I provide the greatest value to the right people in the story? I don’t care what anybody else says, once you get to that point. And where are those people being you’re cooking on gas?
The Flowcoacher Chris Randall [42:18]
And I would add by doing something I love as well.
David Ralph [42:23]
Yeah, but Well, here’s a caveat to that. Okay. I love making money. I’ve realised now that I love making money. It’s not a nice thing to admit. But I’ve just launched a new business this week, electric charging points with my brother. And that was something that came along, I saw the opportunity we built it, we’ve now launched and we’re sort of running back. I don’t give a toss about electric charging points. I really don’t. I do like the thought of having extra money coming into my bank account on a monthly basis. So can people be as pragmatic about that? And still, it takes the Chris Randall do what you love box?
The Flowcoacher Chris Randall [43:05]
Um, yeah, I mean, I’m not it’s not it’s not exclusively Do you love that you love having the money coming into your bank account? And it’s creating options for you choices for you to do to do things which you which you do care passionately about? So I’m guessing that right?
David Ralph [43:26]
Sometimes, sometimes it just gives me options to not do anything.
The Flowcoacher Chris Randall [43:31]
Yes. Which is, which is which is you care passionately about that as well. Yeah. Yeah. So it’s, it’s, it’s missing an element of purpose, as in, how am I serving the world by doing this, but I can’t see anyone arguing against electric charging points is not serving the world is serving the world. In a world. It’s, it’s, it’s, I see it as the as a necessary pre step to flow, which is finding flow is a hell of a lot easier if you’ve got resources and money in the bank than it is if you’re panellists and have to say whatever job is, is being offered.
David Ralph [44:11]
Now something just before we lead on to sort of a sermon on the mic, and everything that brings the show to an end, one of the things that I’ve discovered I’ll be interested in your point of view on this recently is I’ve started listening to I knew your beats, which are the people out there that don’t know it’s like weird white noise, but they play different frequencies into each year and your brain kind of been great firm and it gets me into clarity. And I used to always have the radio on, or I would have some kind of music going on. And then I went to classical thinking, that’s the idea, you know, but now I go to YouTube and I plug in these kind of zoning noises and I find it kick starts me into flow. i It’s like the door weapons in the world around me doesn’t exist anymore. And I’m just in on the task. Is that something that you’ve heard all these things that you’ve used?
The Flowcoacher Chris Randall [45:10]
Yeah, there’s binaural beats. I think I refer to that with people before as whale music. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. Yeah, I’ve definitely heard of that, I think is a really important lesson for my facilitation in answering your question, which is, just because it doesn’t float my boat, nor is it something that I think I would do for myself doesn’t make it doesn’t mean that it’s not valid for the individual who’s using it. And it’s an it’s really important. If someone saying this helps me then save great go with that. Absolutely. And respecting the individual saying, Yeah, this works for me. Personally, I prefer music sound film soundtracks, because they’re really emotive. Get me into an emotional state of what our what wherever I need to be or, and I find really empowering. But there’s no one size fits all. I’m really not a believer in one size fits all. And it’s whatever works for you. Yeah, and go for it and try it.
David Ralph [46:12]
And that’s the key thing, isn’t it? Try it. Try it without risk, as you say,
The Flowcoacher Chris Randall [46:16]
yeah. Yeah. Give it a go. What’s the worst that can happen? Work? Oh, well, he’s found that out.
David Ralph [46:21]
Yeah. And if you know, if it costs Yeah, and then look at trying to reclaim those debts back, you know, just just keep on, just move forward. But make sure that you’re doing it for the right reason. I think that’s that’s the bottom line. It may not be your right reason at the beginning, but it’s the right reason for somebody. And that’s where the value piece comes in. Just focus in on who you are aiming to help. And you can’t go far wrong, I think.
The Flowcoacher Chris Randall [46:49]
Yeah, that’s, I think that yeah, just start, because you’re never gonna find out if you don’t start?
David Ralph [46:54]
Well, you heard these words back in 2014. And guess what, I’m still playing him. And here he is, again, Steve Jobs. Of course,
Steve Jobs [47:02]
it was impossible to connect the dots looking forward when I was in college. But it was very, very clear looking backwards. 10 years later. Again, you can’t connect the dots looking forward, you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something, your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. Because believing that the dots will connect down the road will give you the confidence to follow your heart, even when it leads you off the well worn path. And that will make all the difference.
David Ralph [47:36]
Now, obviously, you’ve been on the show twice. So you’ve heard those words twice. You’ve probably heard them multiple times in the last 1015 years. But do you feel like off the well worn path doesn’t apply anymore? Do you feel like no, I’ve created my path? Now this is concrete. I know what where I’m heading?
The Flowcoacher Chris Randall [47:55]
Yeah, it’s very, very much more the latter. Yeah, I’m really, I’m really clear about what I’m doing and what my path is. And at the same time, whilst holding a healthy capacity to be proven wrong on that. No, I
David Ralph [48:09]
haven’t learned that lesson over. Anyhow, here is the Sermon on the Mount, when we’re going to send you back in time to have a one on one with your younger self. And this time, you can’t go and choose who you just speak to, I want you to choose to the Chris, who was last on the show back in 2014, episode 256. So we’re going to play the music. And when it fades, why would you give that guy who last appeared on the show? Well, we’re going to find out it’s a sermon on the mic.
Unknown Speaker [48:42]
Here we go with the best bit of the show the Sermon on the mind, the sermon on.
The Flowcoacher Chris Randall [49:02]
Wow. So eight years ago, I think the most important thing for you to understand and to realise really feel into is that I’ve got your back, that you’re not alone in this. That no matter how scary things get, or lost or unknown, you feel that you are you can rely on me to give you my time and my support. And within that. There are times when you’re going to feel like you’re not good enough. And on that part of you. That is it’s not good enough. It’s okay. You don’t have to pretend that it doesn’t exist. Because as I said, you’re not alone. There’s many, many people out there who feel the same way as a lot of people struggling with that and you The way forward is to is to is to is to listen to that part and say, Okay, what’s the message you got for me? What’s the learning that I can take care of that, that will provide the can provide the medicine, the energy for you to say, well, actually, you know what, I’m going to prove that wrong, oh, I’m gonna do something about that. And also realise that what a lot of people are looking for, they’re looking for empathy. They’re looking for somebody to, to be vulnerable enough that they feel that they can connect with. And if you don’t show that you’re, you don’t show your own vulnerabilities. If you don’t, if you don’t, if you don’t show them, your own weaknesses at times and difficulties and challenges, then other people are not going to be able to connect with you on such a deep level and connecting with people on those on these matters. Really Matters really matters is what’s what’s fear. Grief, and an anger are, are the emotions that drive people. So be okay with those. It’s totally okay to be scared at times. Fear can be an amazing friend, fear helps me every single day to work out. problem solve what I need to do. A brief helps me to understand to really appreciate what I love, because I might lose it. And my anger really inspires me to get off my butt in this world, get things done and get stuff done. So accepting all of that, realise it’s going to be a bumpy journey, there’s going to be lows as well as high as really, really enjoy the highs. Take a lot of joy from love. Have fun. Let yourself go free a bit sometimes. And above all, know that I’ve got your back.
David Ralph [52:01]
Yeah, great, simple advice. And that goes to everyone out there as well. There’s always somebody that’s got your back, don’t worry about it. So Chris, Mister flow coach, what’s the number one best way that our audience can connect with you, sir?
The Flowcoacher Chris Randall [52:16]
So you can connect with me on my website, WWE flow coach.com. Or you can find me on LinkedIn or Facebook or Twitter and get in touch if there’s, if there’s some if there’s some leadership, coaching that you feel would be useful for you or your people, and get in touch, if you’re struggling to figure out okay, what am I doing my life? What am I doing? What do I do with my career? What’s the next step for me get in touch, I promise you that I will listen. And you can have a free 45 minute session with me to work out if it’s something that we can work on together. And if it is, then we’ll fit it in to whatever you else you’ve got going on in your life and your business right now.
David Ralph [53:02]
Right, and we’ll put the link on the show notes. So it make it as easy as possible for you to get URL. Chris, thank you so much for spending time with us today, joining up those dots. And please come back again, when you have even more dots to join up. You know, it’s gonna happen, Chris, you know, it’s gonna happen, because I believe that by joining up those dots and connecting our paths is the best way to build our futures. Mr. Chris Randall, thank you so much.
The Flowcoacher Chris Randall [53:26]
Thank you so much, David. Thank you very, very much. It’s been wonderful again.
David Ralph [53:31]
Mr. Chris Randall aka flowcoacher. So yeah, 2014. And it’s interesting to go back and listen to those episodes, because I can hear that confidence is more control. The people have gone through certain things, they realised where they’re heading and what they’re doing and stuff. It’s very interesting to connect the two episodes to see that difference. And it is it’s down to that, that certainty, you can just hear it in their voices. And Chris was certainly in that state, the flow Koecher so you can go over to the flow Coach a.com and check out his website. And of course connect with Chris, great guy, and I hope to have him on the show again soon. Okay, for all you guys out there we are busy building an online community haven’t gotten it quite right yet. Where we’re going to teach every single one of you to make six figures a year that is the given. And it will be free content coming out to you it will be email support is everything that we can do to convert Join Up Dots from a podcast into a video TV Online Support Platform. Okay, so keep an eye out for that. And that will be pushing you forward giving you tips, advice, strategies to earn six figures plus online each year. Very easy to do, if you want to do it. Until next time you look after yourselves and we will see you again stay sexy Cheers. See ya. Bye bye.
Outro [55:04]
David doesn’t want you to become a faded version of the brilliant self you or 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 to download this amazing guide for free and we’ll see you tomorrow on Join Up Dots.