I Offered £11,000—On One Condition

27:23We put 500 videos into the AI. You can now ring me. And it sounds like it. It's my bloke. We've already done this, and within the past two months, that advice has helped us come to a£500 ,000 valuation. You rang Simon AI? Yes, we've used it. Brilliant, by the way. Absolutely. Okay, I've got to turn the timer because I'm not talking about this forever. Well, first of all, well done for using a free tool that helped you, and that makes me scalable, right? I've helped people seven years' worth of knowledge through that voice app. I haven't got seven years to give to people, so you've used something that saved me time and also helped you.

27:55I really believe in what you're doing on this side. This is where AI can be really positive. So tell me right now, where are you at with it? Because that AI that I built, it cost me£5 ,000 a day to run. So how are you going to do it? Yeah, so we've come up with a very good model. Basically, we're building an in-house app development team. So they're creating this app. We've run all the numbers. We've figured out how can we offer a good service to users, especially if they're going to be using multiple times throughout the day, to minimize the cost to them. And so that trainers are profitable with just two clients.

28:26Right. But I have to say, right now, the software and technology that I'm using, the cost base every time someone rings me is high. So do you know about that? Yeah, I do. So we know about AI tokens. I've worked in the technology field in emerging industries. We understand the cost that is associated to tokens and how it works when the AI needs to save a history about the person so it understands their allergies, their needs. We've taken all this into consideration. There are incredible AI technologies out there. that we can use, we can implement them into our tech stack. So we're leveraging their production, we're leveraging their efficiencies into our app.

29:04Okay. So what is it you actually need? So actually, to be honest, we're growing so much faster than we thought we would. I mean, I'd love any networking opportunities, any advice. But really, I'd like to offer you, because you've helped us so much, I'd like to invite you down to my home gym to do a personal training session with me. Right. If you're open. Yeah, yeah, I need more fitness. Fitness is good. Where do you live? Don't give the exact address. I only live about an hour from London. Okay. Yeah, less than an hour from London. Yeah. So my time is the most valuable thing I've got. I thought there was someone telling me to stop.

29:37But I will try to get involved. I think, first of all, I do want to do a training session, definitely. But more importantly, what practically do you need? Because sometimes when people say, give me a bit more of a practical thing I can do. I mean, me going to get a personal training session, great. But how's that going to help your business? Sure. So actually in terms of the business, networking would be very helpful. You met with iShowSpeed. If we can have him as a trainer on the app. Okay, I met him. I don't have the authority to get him. I understand. I saw the video where you had to fight through to get to him.

30:06Yeah, my bodyguard tried to beat me up and I managed to get through. But you need influencers to promote. By the way, even if I, I mean, I could message someone like iShowSpeed, but there's literally like, you have to be so succinct. Simon, please promote this. If you do, I'll give you 10 % of my business. People like that, they're so popular. Everyone's after them. We've got an influencer on our side. He's got over 2 million followers across social media platforms. Give him a shout out. His name's Efrain Lisk, Dr. Abu. You can find him on Instagram. He's got lots of contacts in the fitness world and the social media world.

30:37So really networking. And any advice you can give us, we'd love to hear from you. We're currently doing the co-founders round of investment. So we're going to raise about 30 ,000 to 40 ,000 pounds. We're giving co-founders 1 % so that they're in the business, they're invested. and these people are bringing them... Well, 1 % is not enough, by the way, for co-founders. I'd rather have, personally, I think this whole... We've got a strategy for growth equity and all this kind of stuff. Yeah, but keep people incentivize 1 % and you're going to dilute, right? It's likely you'll raise more money. So just keep in mind...

31:10We are looking at restructuring the company. We're taking all this into consideration. I'm giving you advice like you asked. Maybe not the advice you want. But just be a little bit careful with the equity side, right? Make sure... If you give someone 1%, that's fine. but remember they're not going to feel like a proper owner. Absolutely. We want to give them more opportunities to get more equity as time goes on. Great. Vested equity, equity based on criteria. That will make a huge difference. Absolutely. If you just want them to, like, you know, I show speed is not going to be active. You might do some posts and it will blow your thing up.

31:35Yeah. 1%, 2 % fine. I do think influencer ownership is the future of the influencer world as well. So I would want to invest in something I care about. It's awesome what you're doing. I will give you a bit of criticism, and that is you be much clearer what you want from people when you sit down with them. I want to network. It's a very broad thing. Here you are networking. So what? You want to meet someone. You want to actually do a particular thing. Name names. Make it really easy for me to help you. Right? Appreciate you, though. I actually am interested in investing. Can I ask a quick question?

32:07Sure. I want to make you an offer. All right. Would you rather have 50 pounds or a copy of my book? Using my own line against me. And actually, plot twist, the 50 pounds we got from your referral code to Tide Banking. Oh, there you go. So you used Thai banking with the code Simon, did you? Yes. Sounds like an ad now, doesn't it? And we got£50. And you got£50. All right, definitely your book. Fantastic. I offered someone£10 ,000 on my book, and they took the book. And I promise you it was not set up. I never met that person in my life. Every single day of the week, I take your book and support you, my friend.

32:40Congratulations. Thank you very much. Well done for helping people.

32:47Next streamer, what's your dream and how can I help you? By the way, I just have to mention, I'm sponsored by High Level here, guys. Everybody, if you want to build a business, you should get a sponsor to help you. So I make money doing this podcast, thanks to High Level, which is a CRM program. It helps you manage your email marketing. I use the product. I believe in the product. And I'm proud to say that they sponsor this show. And I take the profit from that sponsorship, and I give it to people to fund their dreams. So just a quick round of applause for our sponsor. Yeah, give them a big shout out.

33:19so what's your dream and how can we help you so my dream is to help people not to feel what i felt when i was younger not seen not heard no appreciating that there was no support there was no help there was no advice i needed a friend a guide a mentor a father no one was there through my life for everything i went through i had to become all those things to be able to change my life because when i was growing up there was i had the paper but then i have the pen johnny had these ideas i wanted to do all these incredible things but everyone didn't believe in me said that it's not possible for someone like me to achieve things and I have for all these years I've dedicated my life to be able to help others one of the things I never realized when I was doing my job to my wife one day explained it to me she said you do for others what you needed and that's my job so one of my biggest jobs is to help people discover their genius so I work in schools colleges universities travel all up and down the country doing this but I feel I can do more and for me today is coming with this idea and concept is, can someone help me do more?

34:20And that's having a platform, having been able to spread this wider, to be able to help people, to give them the tools so they can help themselves. That's my biggest thing. All I needed when I was younger, some advice, some tools, some guidance. And then I was ready to run and ready to change my life. And I know I can do this for so many because I've done, I've been doing this for 20 years. And I think now it's the time to go to the next level. And I think this is where you come in. That was exactly 60 seconds. Incredible round of applause. And it was not rehearsed. Unbelievable. I feel like you're like a hipper, cooler, better looking version of me.

34:54Yes. So first of all, let's just give you a shout out. If people want to follow you and find out about you, what's your handle? Toby Gournjak MBE. Oh, you've got an MBE? I'm an MBE. I don't have one of those. That's awesome. Well done. Congratulations. Thank you. First of all, anyone that wants to help people, you've unlocked this magic thing right just tell people what it feels like when you help people some people might not understand this how powerful it's one of the most incredible things when you see somebody who came in they couldn't even look you in the eyes and then one day they're walking down the street where they're all known home on their own car they've got a family a dog all the things most people think oh it's what you're going to get some of us believe that it's impossible for us to achieve and then for them to have that is one of the most magical moments when you see them and especially when they come back with their kids and visit you and go, Toby, look, this is my life now.

35:47Changing people's lives. It's such a powerful. Well done. Yeah, round of applause for that. Definitely. Thank you. I would say, and I mentioned this in my book, so if I tell you this, this is basically the whole point of the book. You don't need to buy the book if I tell you this, which is basically like if you want your dream to come true, just help someone else with their dream and your dream will come true. It's just that simple. Just take five minutes to help someone else. Now, I know a lot of you in this audience, I know a lot of you help people. But the more people you help, the better your life is.

36:16Sometimes the way we've been taught at school, sit down and do an exam on our own. A is success and D is failure. And you're on your own doing that exam. That school system has taught us to think that everything's about self-personal achievement. And in reality, we're a community. We can't do it. No one's self-made millionaire. No one. If anyone's got that in their bio, block them today. It's not possible. They had help. right and so i think what you're talking about really resonates with me of course yeah so um what what help do you need you help a lot of people but what do you need the two things that i need to be able to do everything that i would love to do and literally i would work every day of my life because this is my life i love doing this job number one is having investors and sponsors that would sponsor the kids opportunity because as you know funding all around the country is gone for young kids there's nothing for the youth and i feel this is what we're missing so I think these big organizations all around the country could help sponsor a child position.

37:09Give me some names of who you want to sponsor. Nike. So you've got all the sports brands. Nike, one of our dreamers over here, Caitlin, she got Nike as a sponsor recently. Go tap her up. She knows the people. She got them on board as well. So she knows what to do. Who else? I don't know. I can't think of anybody else. Just say Virgin. Virgin, yes. I love Virgin. All right. Well, let me see what I can do. The Virgin team are here. So I'll introduce you. Who else? That would be amazing. I don't know. I haven't thought that far. I just thought I'd come here as a freestyle. Right? Always be ready.

37:41I tell you an interesting trick on social media. Recently, I called out Prime and said it was a shit product that was trying to get better. I've seen that. And I said they were sponsoring Arsenal. And I said, stop wasting money on Arsenal and sponsor the fans that have dreams. Yes. So we have two kids that have dreams. And now, after me saying that Prime is crap but getting better, they're now sponsoring kids. Oh, sick. So basically, maybe do some content as well. Right? to get them to sponsor you, I think people will be surprised how people will react to that. So, for example, as well, the founder of Calm is here today.

38:12I don't even know the audience. The founder of Calm here. But there'll be a lot of founders here today. So literally walk around with a sandwich board saying, sponsor me and you'll help people. Because these brands, a lot of them, not Calm, but a lot of brands don't help people. So if you give them a chance to help people and you get the right person inside that company, getting sponsorship is easier than you think, right? so how many brands have you approached in your career I haven't yet I'll just do this because I love how I do you have to start approaching them again I'll mention my sponsor again you should use High Level yeah I'll check out High Level I'll be chasing them down but they will help you manage your data manage all your contacts and reach out with you and that's the other thing so the number two thing is having a social media not social media but a platform where people all around the world could access me yeah without me having to travel so yes sometimes I would love to travel two days a week just be all over the place all over the country but then wildly have you got a communal You're using Instagram now, I'm assuming, right?

39:04And TikTok. Yes. Right. Are you using the community buttons on there? Not yet, no. So there's a community button on Instagram. Yes. Basically, I've got a community of 100 ,000 core fans on my Instagram. So I've got my Instagram followers, and then I've got my core fans on Instagram. It's just hit over 100 ,000. That's a community management group, which is free to use as a tool. But I'm sure at some point Instagram will add a fee for it. But right now it's free. You should build a community product. I will. I mean, all you actually need is 100 people that love you, and then they promote you and support you.

39:32Probably know someone at Virgin, you know what I mean? Like I know Richard, see? So like that sort of thing, right? I think use those free community tools and build a community, not a following. Yes, 100%. Thanks for coming up and doing what you do, man. Appreciate you. Thank you, lots of respect.

40:01what's your dream and what's your problem come on up welcome to the stage everyone welcome our new entrepreneur come and join you're instantly standing out peacocking we call this right visually interesting go ahead tell us your dream take the mic okay um so my name is joe i'm a mum of six and i'm recently diagnosed adhd and when this happened it was probably an adhd thing to do i just thought right i'm going to go on social media share my story um tell everyone how i felt about it and i felt like i'd been given a map for the first time my life and i've been inundated from women who feel shame guilt masking people pleasing um when they're really little same as me they've told off when you've got um dyslexia or adhd autism you're told off a lot more than normal children and it sets shame into your bones and so basically i've decided i want to bring out my own clothing range for adhd this is the hat and the first coat i am enough and i want to basically I've got IMA ADHD on the back of my coat.

41:01And I just want to inspire women to be themselves, stand in their own light, and to be proud of who they are. Because actually, neurodiversity is a superpower if you use it right and you have the right tools. So I want to be stood at a bus stop and inspire you through my clothing. I want to be in a supermarket here. I want women to rise and love themselves. And that's my dream through the clothing. The second dream is to... Time up. Right, okay. By the way, I'm being a bit strict on the time today. That's fine. Because you know what? I want you to be able to do the whole thing in 60 seconds. Yes.

41:32Because you might get in a lift with Richard Branson, like I was once. Yes. Have I mentioned that? But you need to get this pitch to 60 seconds. It's the best bit of advice I can give to you. Yeah. Quickly tell me the second part, because I want to hear. Yeah, it's just, I would love to do really big events globally where there's women, ADHD women, neurodiverse women on the stage, sharing how amazing they've done in their life. Right. Like, really successful people. Like, your story, we know that you say you're dyslexic, and people go, wow, but you're Simon. I want to inspire, especially that going to schools, young people come to the big events, dressed up and go, look at me, I'm her.

42:05I love your passion. I see myself in her. Can I ask you, why only women? For me, I am a woman and I had a really strong single mother and she had six jobs. And I know so many women who feel that they're not enough. And there's so much, again, we can't get old. We've got to have a certain body, look a certain thing, Botox, all of these things. and they're crying out and they just don't feel good enough. I'm doing it because I am a woman and I'm an ADHD woman and I'm a mother and I am a strong woman. I get it, yeah. Feeling it. Look, I'm here to give an opinion. It doesn't mean I'm right, okay? But I've been told to turn the timer because my opinions can go on.

42:47But I love you. I've just met you. You've just got this amazing energy. Thank you. I love the clothing brand idea. Everybody's launching a clothing brand these days. You actually have something, you have a differential. And if it's the style I'm seeing right here, you're also unique, right? Yeah. I do have, and it's just my opinion, I do have like a personal thing and also a market thing when it comes to like only women. Men have ADHD too. Yeah. Men have the same problem you're talking about. And as a man, I haven't been diagnosed with ADHD, but I probably got it there. I just think you kill off 50 % of the market when you do it.

43:26I love that you said that. I'm sorry, because people on TikTok, men know, they're all messaging me as well. So at first I thought, would a man want to... 100%. And now I've realised. There's a market. Yeah, I've seen it. And don't kill 50 % of the market, just from a business point of view. So here's my suggestion to you. I've got an idea. Find your equivalent man version. Well, this is a strange... I'm co-founder. You want a co-founder. So you stay focused on the female side. And by the way, owning a niche, doing the female side at the first... By the way, it's now pouring with rain, which means...

43:53Everyone come into the tent. Come on. Come on. Yeah. poor dreamers in the queue. Just a suggestion. Maybe someone's listening right now who is you, but a man. They could do it with me, yeah. And you do it with you. I think there's something really powerful in knowing your demographic, right? Yes, yeah. But I really hate exclusion by mistake. Yeah, I agree. Right? Yeah, I agree. And I think that there's no reason why you can't do both. No. Because ADHD is similar symptoms in both men and women. Yeah. I don't think there's a need to just cut off a whole market. it um what do you need exactly well my first ever pair of customized trainers that i've ever done for anyone was for you right and i sent them to your office and they've got have i seen them no and they've got all your quotes over there where are they they're apparently they're in your office they're in my office oh okay yeah do you know what first person i've ever done for in my life i'm gonna find you when i get back i'm gonna have to do an unboxing video i've got yeah i think we counted 6 ,000 parcels in a room above my gym at home.

44:54So I've got to go through them. I will find it when I get back in the next few days. I promise you I'll find it. Is it in a white box? What's it in? Yeah, it's brand new Nike Air Force because I'm into hip-hop. So they're hip-hop streetwear. Okay, I'm going to find them and I'm going to make that part of this video. I'm going to show them. Okay, amazing, yeah. I'm going to make sure people... Thank you for making them for me. I'm so sorry I didn't see them. No, no, that's fine. But I'm also... Now you're demographic. So it makes sense that I wear them. And you were the first one. Yeah, I'm your first customer.

45:21So that's great. And it's a man. How much were the shoes out of interest? What, the action I paid for. So I paid£120 for them. And then obviously my time, I'd done them all up. Okay. So I'm working with another dreamer called, I'm going to get her brand name on, Custom Shoes by Daisy. Yeah, I saw her video. Yeah, yeah. So her last video got 20 million views. And she's getting orders for her shoes. I'd like to collaborate with you and her. I'd like to introduce you with her. And we'll make an 88 shoe where we can auction off. and use that money to help fund your dream. So I'll connect you with her and we'll do something.

45:54I love what you're doing and I feel your passion, which is so important. And thank you for coming up and sharing your dream. Really appreciate you. Thank you so much. Big round of applause. Bless you.

46:10What's your dream, man? What's your problem? Take a seat. I'm a writer. and when I was 17 I ranked in a competition, went out to LA, I met all the big agents and managers, pitched my work because they said, you know, as long as it's copyrighted, no one will steal it, no one steals anything today. And so I thought, okay. Open AI, stolen everything, by the way, but go on. And then I came back to England, loads of progress and then my dad had an aneurysm. Oh, gosh, I'm so sorry. Thanks. And then I just basically started becoming his carer, working two jobs because he was the breadwinner of the family.

46:43and then I was working a shift in blockbuster video when I watched the trailer to my own movie coming out without me and it went on to make nearly 800 million dollars oh my god what was the movie I'll tell you afterwards happily oh just because they're still alive so I plan to one day find them wait okay can we do it now should we start the process I mean what the hell yeah go on say the movie it will get me a lawsuit before I have the money to deal I will use my own money to protect you from the lawsuit hold on I don't want you to have to go through legal trouble so I can fund it I'll whisper it to you

47:28no way

47:40that has blown my mind I know, long story short I tried to fight them and everything but then my dad got throat cancer back to back more important things to do and then when he died I just went off the rails oh god I'm so sorry I just tried really hard to I captured lightning in a bottle once and I was like can I do it again and I spent the next 20 years trying that and um I believe I have I've got work better than what they stole and so I'm ready to now move to that next phase alright, why, yes I've just released I've just released some music and also I've got a song here that you said about mountains earlier yeah so there's a part in this song that I stopped what's your dream let it be seen let it break through What's your reality seems?

48:40What's your fire? What's your sky? What's the mountain you were born to climb? What's your dream? Say it proud and say it's true What's the reason a storm breaks you? You can't be broken You're the being that races night So we can see What's the silence you lose?

49:11Wow. So, you wrote that and... Is that you singing? No, AI. AI. It's got a very Lion King vibe to it to me. Yeah, the great thing with AI, I've found, is it gives you the opportunity as a writer to hear it long before you've had to invest£10 ,000,£15 ,000,£20 ,000. Yeah, great. So I've been utilising that a lot with songs. A lot of poetry I've moved over to. So what is it you need next? What do you need? Mainly just some help to... I said the wrong things the last few years and lost an account with a million followers and now I can't seem to generate more than 500 followers. It doesn't matter if I live stream Jesus and Nazareth coming down the pair of Nike, I'm not getting anybody.

49:50Whoa, that would be a good video, though. It would be good for everybody else but me. Sorry, you lost an account that had a million followers? Yeah, just because of the stance I took in COVID and now it just feels like my megaphone is on zero. What account? Which company was the accountant? it was across a bunch I had Twitter obviously X now well now Elon's involved you can say what you like so you probably get that back well I mean I'm half joking but like Facebook was it a Facebook account I'm thinking I know the social media systems I'm wondering if I can email them and ask them to give the account back I'm wondering just an idea yeah maybe I mean the thing is I want to move forward I've got so many better works to deal with and I've also got a solution to solve what happened to me when I was 17 so that it can't happen to anyone else again.

50:34Right, okay. But I just won't ever mutter. I'm just so cautious now about where I share things. Yeah, I understand. Once bitten, twice shy, you know? Okay, so I'm just trying to understand now what you need. So first of all, I'm happy to promote this. So that's a given. What other practical thing can me and the community listening do to help you? Just follow me. Okay, so what's your handle? My handle there is Pure Blood Pariah. I'm owning it, I'm owning it. Pure Blood Pariah? That scary name is a site. It's as scary as it gets. Right, right. Especially at the top. Right, all right. But you don't match that brand.

51:10You seem really nice. I am, but then I have an alter ego. You have an alter ego. Wait until you hear the rap. I'm terrified. Right, okay, you're terrified. All right, okay. All right, so we'll put the link down below in the podcast as well. And if people are brave, then they should follow you, they say. And if they're not, they should still follow you. Yeah, yeah, follow me if you want. And it doesn't matter if you don't. I'm going there. I would just say again though I think it's really healthy sometimes to move on from things that have happened in the past I've only ever had two lawsuits and both of them, basically my wife talked me out of doing it and it saved me three years of my life, both times I'm so happy I didn't pursue it I would have won, I would have been right, all of those things I had everything to win but the guy said you will get one day in any newspaper they don't convince to tell to not run the story and you'll have a six million dollar legal fee to pay you.

52:02But have you got six million dollars? No. So you're fucking fine then aren't you? They can't get blood out of a stone or a pariah. Well that's it. You know like part of me wants them to sue you, it would be the biggest mistake they ever do. Right? As long as you, see what a lot of we're talking about this offline. Because I am genuine, I would legally back you because I don't like hearing that, that someone stole your idea. That's the worst thing you can do ever. Right? Someone can evolve an idea but stealing it is wrong. So another time. but healthy to move on to your new thing. And thank you for making that amazing song.

52:35Appreciate you, man. You're welcome. Good night. All right. So real quick, while we do a reset, I'm going to take some questions from the audience real quick. If you have any questions about business, that's the only thing I know. I'm not good at anything else, so don't ask me about anything else. Only good at business. If you have any questions about business, I can quickly answer them. While we reset the cameras and batteries and we'll carry on with the dreamers, which is a massive queue but we're going to have to get through it all so you let me know when the 10 minutes is up because I get excited about answering questions can we get a microphone in the audience anyone got a question?

53:17I don't know why I didn't pick you I'd take that personally I'll let you pick Jay people put up you pick what's the number one thing you do to sell a functional drinks brand? What's the number one thing I do to sell a functional drinks brand? I'm a bit biased. I think, well, you've got two choices. The founders lead from the front, right? So you get out there on social media. I think you did a post to the doorbell, didn't you? I think I've seen this. Have you posted this or you did a pitch? Maybe a little bit on LinkedIn or Instagram. I think I've seen the brand. What's it called? Oom. Oom. Mushroom.

53:52Okay, Mushroom. Okay. Have you trademarked it? Yeah. You hesitated. It's done. All right. It's done. Okay. So I actually have a theory about the future, which is like if you look at trillion-dollar businesses in history, in recent times it's like Facebook, right? They get all this attention. They become this trillion-dollar company. And then products laid on top of things like Snapchat and Instagram became trillion-dollar companies as well. They attracted attention. The new trillion-dollar business is influencers, right? So if you look at the Mr. Beasts of this world launching his own chocolate brand or KSI launching his own drinks brand, these guys didn't invent that drink.

54:34Someone who invented that drink went to them and said, we'll give you equity, let's partner up. And then they promote the hell out of it. And influencers are the new trillion dollar brands. So you want to find someone that aligns with this product, has the same moral code as you, and is willing to put their back into promoting it. So if you haven't got a following, you just need to know someone with a following. I always say, I don't need a boat, I just need a friend who's got a boat. Same with social media. You want to find someone who you really believe and then do not stop until you get hold of them.

55:03Do not stop until they're promoting your brand and give them equity in the business. Because most influencers on a basic level, even people like MrBeast and KSI, level one is they get sponsorship. Which is very fleeting because they get paid to promote something, but the long-term income from that business they don't get. They spend a lot of time promoting it. they get paid once and then they don't have the ongoing upside of brand value so i would get an influencer anyone you want oh there you go you i gave you advice and you did it instantly or

55:38right who's the influencer oh boring boring all right it's not a science you want to deliver just yet is it anyone i know Yes, probably. Okay. Johnny, who does all my brand deals, ask him. He does all my contracts. And I think he might be coming today. He's not coming today. All right. So get hold of one of my colleagues after it and get them to introduce you to Johnny, who does all my brand partnerships. And he can share some of the contracts with you and give you some best practice so you don't get caught out. Because it's not public knowledge how to do these contracts. And a lot of these influencers promise the world and then don't deliver.

56:15That's the other side. You've got to be careful that they actually do deliver what they promise. And so the very quick structure I'll give you, just make sure you do this, right? You want to set the price for what they do marketing-wise, right? So High Level, my sponsor for this podcast, which I set a price of what it costs for them to sponsor, okay? It's kind of a market rate, a best practice market rate. And that's quite – you can figure that out by asking other influencers of similar followers what they charge for a post, for example. and then you figure out how many times you want them to post and you have a price.

56:46Let's argue and say, for argument's sake, say it's half a million pounds to post on their socials for six months and blah, blah, blah, right? And then you take that half a million pounds and you convert it into equity, but you separate it as a separate contract. So you say equity is half a million pounds, let's say, right? And then they pay that, theoretically, and then you pay them the half a million for the social media posts. You see what I mean? But two separate contracts. You understand what I mean? There's one other thing I would suggest that you do, and you get them to put actual cash in.

57:16Now, it depends on who they are. If money's no longer their objective, cash won't hurt as much. But if you don't get a little bit of money from them, they've got nothing to lose if it doesn't work, except a bit of time to do a few posts. And then the final thing, your product sounds like a non-alcoholic, right? Okay, so don't get Ricky Gervais on it, because he loves alcohol and he's promoting an alcoholic product at the moment. I'm a big fan of Ricky Gervais, a big fan. But I'm just saying, conceptually, you want to see in the market who matches your brand. And if someone's pushing alcohol all the time, do you really want them suddenly pushing?

57:47I say that. Ricky Gervais is an investor in Canowater. So it can work. But I'm just saying, you probably want to go and think about who's aligned to your business. And who can actually be naturally aligned to it. Mushroom products. This is how big I think. David Attenborough. Why not? I bet he'd love a bit of equities. He's still going nonstop, that guy. but think big and make sure you structure the contract that way does that help you? and Johnny will give you more details and we'll give you our contracts that we've done in the past you pick because I feel bad I'll let someone down

58:27Simon I have a podcast sorry, is it really close? I have a podcast called What I Wish I Knew Sooner and I'd love to know what you wish you knew sooner

58:41um what i wish i knew so many things oh i could there's so many things i mean hindsight is a wonderful thing i mean it might be obvious some of these things but like your partner in life is going to be your biggest predictor of success or failure i got so lucky with my partner we've been together 23 years and she's actually here somewhere she without her i just wouldn't be successful you've got to pick your partner really really carefully and i know that sounds obvious but like on these dating apps everyone seems doing these i would first question i'd ask is what's your dream when you meet someone like are they going to back you when you do something mad are they going to back you when you lose all your money like i've almost been bankrupt a couple of times luckily i never have i managed to avoid it but my wife would stand right by my side and be like it doesn't matter simon doesn't matter we'll get a smaller house we'll have no car it doesn't matter i like walking anyway i mean she's literally said that to me so i think i think you know that person backing you and believing you, no one can do it on their own.

59:37You really need to have the right circle around you if I was extending it. It's not just about your partner, but it's also the circle around you. And honestly, you just have to really be vigorous about not having the wrong people around you and not just settling for the wrong person in your life. That partner needs to back you. Honestly, that's probably the number one thing. I've learned it in hindsight. I got lucky. I didn't know to check what my wife's dream was and whether she'd back me or mine. I just got super, super lucky. And luck's a huge part of success. And the other thing I'd say, luck is a mindset.

1:00:11You've got to believe you're lucky. So if something bad happens, you've got to think, well, that happened for a reason. It's good luck over time. Bad luck and good luck are both still luck. So people just need to keep that in mind. And you're going to have bad luck in business. Like I had a business fail called Devashard. I didn't go bankrupt because I could cover the loss, but I lost a million US dollars on that business. And at the time, I was devastated. I'm like, I'm a failure. I'm not as good at business as I thought. And slowly over time, I realized it was meant to fail because I had the wrong business partner.

1:00:40And if I'd stayed in business with them, it would have been awful. So I like, thank God it failed. But it took me about two years to have that realization that that bad luck was actually good luck over time. So that's probably another thing. Hope that's useful. Yeah, thank you so much. You are welcome. So Kimia, tell me when the time is up, by the way. We'll reset, Jai. Okay, one more. Hi, Simon. Yo. Hi. I'm a head chef and portrait photographer. I'm having problems scaling my business because people just want me to photograph them. And I've hired other people to do the jobs before now, and they just don't come up with the results.

1:01:20That's the main issue that I'm getting, and getting people in front of my camera. I do the, some of you might know me I do the Great British Entrepreneur Awards we do all the UK Startup Awards and I love photographing founders and stuff like that and most people don't have a great LinkedIn headshot so that's my problem scaling and getting people in front of me and two things, one I want to shoot your headshot and two, who can you put in front of me that I can photograph that's going to give me a bit of traction did I mention I know Richard Branson he needs a headshot let me see what I can do I think so why do you want to scale what is scale anyway sorry I need the microphone back J-Tor I don't know what scale means everyone says I want to scale and honestly I look back at my career when I first started my agency business with my wife 23 years ago I wish I hadn't scaled because I had a nice little business three days a week I was going to the beach we started dating each other then we got married then we had a baby and I don't know why I decided to scale because now it's mental.

1:02:25I grew this crazy company, but why? So I want to earn more money so I can spend time. I've got a nine-month-old baby girl as well as older children. I'd like to spend some more time with them, but I want to be doing quality work. Okay, so I'm going to tell you a little bit of... This might not fit what you want to hear because I can definitely try to introduce you to Richard, okay? See, I call him Richard now. He's going to turn up. It's going to be embarrassing, isn't it, because I keep mentioning him. He was my hero growing up, so I can't help it. Anyway, I think with what you're doing, sometimes you should write down what your goals are.

1:02:58You just said something interesting. You want to spend time with your kids. Totally get it. I would bring your kids to photo shoots. I would include your kids in the photo shoots. I would get them to take photos. You know what I mean? Like, my kid was on stage with me earlier. My kid gives me feedback on the videos. My kid is in my live streams. Right? You want to spend more time with your kid, get them involved in the business. My daughters, daughter is 15 and my cameras frequently go missing. Exactly. So you said you find it hard to find people to take photos. Well, take photos with your daughter.

1:03:30I think your goal in your business sometimes it's misaligned because I could get you loads more headshots, right? You're just going to be away from your family more, not less. You see what I mean? So this goal needs to be clearer. Now, if you're saying you can't find people that are good at photos, that's a business opportunity to train people to be as good as you. I just started teaching for Canon last year. Well, there you go. Canon sponsoring it. So at the moment. That's a no. No. Ask them. Yeah. So people forget to ask these brands to sponsor you. If they give you five grand a month, it's not even a tax round down for them.

1:04:03Nothing. Five grand a month for them, nothing. Listen to me. People think brands, you think there's a lot of money for you. It is. For a brand, it's a mistake they made in their accounting on a Tuesday afternoon at three. Right? ask them for money you haven't asked them maybe you're just in awe that canon have said yes to something ask them to sponsor you okay all right and then you get five grand from them and then you work with your kids like you want you'll spend time with them now yeah that's it that's the answer you don't need to get more customers all right i'm pretty sure you've got enough customers thank you i won't crack the richard joke again no more that's it that joke's over all right