You can try. Or you can be your best. Too many of us try to be our best by trying to be what others want us to be. And this is true for many many businesses. And is so true in content and marketing strategy in a digital era. If you don't optimise, you can't get indexed. If you don't click bate, you might not be liked, shared, or followed. If you don't pay for views, you can't optimise for conversion. No one will find you. But what if you thought about your audience last, what if you did your best most passionate work knowing it was your best. Surely your best work would inspire those that need you to find you. This is a long game. If you have a deep knowledge of a subject, you have a deep knowledge of spotting signals and signs of change. This is how change happens. People who really love their work, tell others what they do, these stories inspire. You can LEAD people to new places. Here's Todays Podcast Thanks for listening Phil (Founder and Director of DX3.co.uk) #team #people #growth #argybargy https://www.dx3.co.uk/free-guides

Where are you now? Where do you want to go? There is always a way, but we don't always know which way is best. Here's one of my examples, in 2004 I built a CRM database, it was primitive, a PC-based Microsoft Office Access database that I'd got the back end customised so it could connect to the internet and send emails "automatically", seems simple enough hey. BUT I didn't quite see the significance of it at the time. I was building this before Mailchimp, before Hubspot, before Salesforce, before WhatsApp....  But I didn't see it. I'd built it because I wanted to start and maintain a relationship with my clients. I wanted my clients to come to me, inbound rather than me always going to them outbound. I wasn't being lazy. I wanted to be timely. I wanted my clients to feel I was always available. An email from me and my company was welcomed, embraced, and often replied to. The response made me feel special and wanted. BUT these emails pushed me in a direction. The direction I hadn't planned to go. And I grew my company. and grew and grew. I was still building and using the database, I'd called it ELVIS after a database I'd worked on at Virgin. BUT I still didn't see how valuable it was to me and my company. And I didn't for a minute think how valuable it would be for other companies. I didn't think. I was leading, but by being so far ahead I felt I needed to slow down, growing fast was costly. I started slowing down, I started allowing others to catch up with me. I eventually found myself behind...... mmmm.... When you lead, make sure to look around, make sure you know where you are, and make sure you decide to stay ahead. Just make sure you know how far ahead, don't leave that to your competition. Here's Todays Podcast Thanks for listening Phil (Founder and Director of DX3.co.uk) #team #people #growth #argybargy https://www.dx3.co.uk/free-guides

The strongest option. Take 7 lego blocks, the same size but different colours. Take some time to think about your business. Take a moment to prioritise the blocks by colour. Did you think.... which colour did you like most.... or did you think which colour was most important if it was part of your business? The latter thinking is VERY hard. We're building now. So, take some time to look at the blocks. There is no rush. Just look carefully at what you have. Switch off the noise, you do this well and given time the blocks in your hands CAN become strong, but the noise has to be off. You must own your opportunity. NOW MAKE THOSE BLOCKS STRONG. The noise will try and distract you from the task. You might think it's too simple. You might think this is just play. You might think, you can't think. This is not play, you're looking for the strongest option. Here's Todays Podcast Thanks for listening Phil (Founder and Director of DX3.co.uk) #team #people #growth #argybargy https://www.dx3.co.uk/free-guides

When I get started all I can tell you is how long it takes doesn't matter. "Little by little, by little" I want the idea to be perfect. But perfect is like the plastic plants - there are many but non matter. It is in building little by little we grow. And sometimes, it's easier. I was shifting some strategy ideas today, they were complicated, and it never got easier. I love the way ideas do that, hang together that is, hold tight, asking for the effort. This is how growing a business is. Commitment and vision. Passion for the future. But what we know is coming keeps us building. When you fall in love with the little by little, by little way, you end up visualising what's ahead. Do the building. Keep doing it. There is no quick way. Here's Todays Podcast Thanks for listening Phil (Founder and Director of DX3.co.uk) #team #people #growth #argybargy https://www.dx3.co.uk/free-guides

So you have an idea, and you want to build a business around it. You've worked out the elements that you need to invest in. You've worked out what the inputs are and what the outputs will be. But it will only become a business when you invite people to try it out. Recently I had the opportunity to visit a Michelin-star kitchen. THEY KNOW WHAT THEIR INPUTS ARE. THEY KNOW WHAT THEIR OUTPUTS ARE. What pulls it all together is the team, their skills and a vision. Some businesses never get to the point where the inputs and outputs are clearly defined - before trading begins. This leads to a test and learn system. But that can cost time and be expensive. It can be testing on people. It's a small test, but grab a box of lego. Come up with an idea of something you'd like to build. Seek out the parts you need, build it, and then look at what you have when you've finished. Think about what you have at the end. Would you make more of the same thing or would you think more about it before you got started building more. Just a thought. Here's Todays Podcast Thanks for listening Phil (Founder and Director of DX3.co.uk) #team #people #growth #argybargy https://www.dx3.co.uk/free-guides

Over the festival period of 2022 I spent some time thinking about our impact on the place I call home, and in doing so what effect we have had on the planet, and continue to do so. I watched a movie called "Don't look up" - a movie that showed how we can all be sold a different truth by those that lead us, a truth that ends badly, very. It's known that climate change is gaining traction. It's known that some parts of the world will be affected faster than others. It's known that a huge percentage of us live very very close to the sea edge (70% of the world's population). It's known the sea doesn't have to rise much for millions and millions to be displaced. How much effort are businesses putting into their impact on the planet? Here's Todays Podcast Thanks for listening Phil (Founder and Director of DX3.co.uk) #team #people #growth #argybargy https://www.dx3.co.uk/free-guides

Today I was walking and thinking, there is nothing unusual in that. But today I was thinking am I walking on my own, or is someone walking with me. So I did the first 50 daily podcasts, and I know someone is listening to them, I can see it in the analytics provided by anchor.fm the podcast service provider I use. But I haven't yet met any of those listeners, we'll to be honest I know of 2, but I haven't seen them or met them face to face. It feels like I'm on my own, learning to survive in a new place, a place I know people will come to eventually. It's like the Martian movie, the character played by Matt Daimon is left behind but knows "if he survives" someone will eventually come and meet him. Like many things, it's hard to survive, and it's hard to be found, that is until you're found. Before that day comes I have to just keep going, taking small steps. I hope your listening, and if you are it would be great if you were to send me a message. Here's Todays Podcast Thanks for listening Phil (Founder and Director of DX3.co.uk) #team #people #growth #argybargy https://www.dx3.co.uk/free-guides

The resting rowing boat In a boat shed, there is a boat, it lives on the top rack. No one uses the top boat now. The boat is waiting. Like so many businesses there are boats all around, waiting to be used, waiting for a crew. Waiting for the days of racing, effort, and acceleration. A waiting boat, waiting to win. Here's Todays Podcast Thanks for listening Phil (Founder and Director of DX3.co.uk) #team #people #growth #argybargy https://www.dx3.co.uk/free-guides

My quest to refine my thinking on all things system thinking marketing takes me to a whole new level, I'm off to visit/ work a bit at a 1-star Michelin restaurant. There is something pure about the best systems, each and every part works on its own, BUT is made better when it comes together with all the other parts. Many parts - One system. If a brand wants to build a truly powerful relationship with its customer, looking at all the parts of the brand and then assembling them as one original creation takes time and skill. Michelin Stared restaurant kitchens are serious systems. The delivered item is, COMPLETE. Oh and on today's podcast I also talk about my troubles with Facebook, and how Twitter is settling down now some 8 weeks after Elon bought the company and turned it upside down, or inside out, depending on how you see it. Here's Todays Podcast Thanks for listening Phil (Founder and Director of DX3.co.uk) #team #people #growth #argybargy https://www.dx3.co.uk/free-guides

So it's nearing Christmas and the kids are walking about movies to watch. I got thinking if I was to watch a movie that encapsulates how I like to think about building digital businesses it would be Mary Poppins, and most notably because of one word that I think says so much. supercalifragilisticexpialidocious It's a made-up word but we all know what it means... It means - Something wonderful! Here's Todays Podcast Thanks for listening Phil (Founder and Director of DX3.co.uk) #team #people #growth #argybargy https://www.dx3.co.uk/free-guides

Oh I'm sorry but my McDonalds and Big Mac facination is becoming fever pitch. This weekend I didn't have a Big Mac, but I was tempted. In search of a greater understanding of the McDonalds restaurant system I wanted to learn more about there approach to digital business strategy, shopping from anywhere OR omni channel, OR omni delivery, OR Omni experiance. I read an article before I headed out, it said in summary "Omni channel increases sales" but I wanted to know just how, would this mean I'd buy 2 Big Mac's!!!! The UK and Ireland McDonald restaurants are investing £250M (OMG!) in 2022/23 to uplevel the Omni channel experience, that's no small change. But what will I notice, what will I see? Will it make my Big Mac bug any bigger........ Here's Todays Podcast Thanks for listening Phil (Founder and Director of DX3.co.uk) #team #people #growth #argybargy https://www.dx3.co.uk/free-guides

With an economic downturn there comes opportunity. But, that opportunity comes for those that do the best for the top end or those that do the best for the bottom end (we're talking about businesses). The problem is what happens if you're somewhere in the middle? In the middle, there are transactions. In the middle, there is competion, lots. In the middle, your renting customers. In the middle, your retention is limited. So do you stay in the middle or engineer out and up or out and down. Or do you stay where you are, waiting for the market to close and gaps appear. This week I was talking to a business owner, wish company has a turnover of £25m annually, their biggest competitor is wren Kitchens. What Wren has done is set up camp in the middle market, and is tactically taking market share up and down the value chain. How do you respond we discussed. He said "we've been going for over 40 years, but we've never told our story". I said if you can find people to understand your back story, to see that you are experts, show that you have been listening to your customers for 40 years, and ONLY deliver a high-end the best of service, you'll bring people towards you. Who you are, what you are, and where you come from is a back story to build, so get building. #team #people #growth #argybargy https://www.dx3.co.uk/free-guides Here's Todays Podcast Thanks for listening Phil (Founder and Director of DX3.co.uk)

I watched the movie "The founder" about McDonalds, and I saw the system. I wanted to learn more about systems in bars and restaurants because systems create business models, and the best business system models go worldwide. But how do you learn a system. How do you learn again. How do you reset. How do you restart. And how do you get a chance to see the world through the eyes of someone else. How do you learn start-up. The only way to do it is to START at the bottom, a place where no one expects anything from you, but all that is expected is that you turn up, do the do, and come back the next day. It's not a strategy for those not prepared to graft, to be honest and to see the opportunities in everything. You have to knuckle down. You have to think simple. You have to not think, you're not paid to think. You have to learn the system, someone else's system. You have to learn to be trusted. Most importantly you have to give more than you get, you have to care more that others want. You have to wait. And wait. And wait. Until you're trusted. I joined a small high-pressure start-up team, to learn from the bottom up, a new business unit, the 89th location in the UK, it wasn't Mc D if you wondering.... I join as a new starter. on a new starter zero hours contract. #team #people #growth #argybargy https://www.dx3.co.uk/free-guides Here's Todays Podcast Thanks for listening Phil (Founder and Director of DX3.co.uk)

Weird as it may seem but I left Facebook and Instagram for 3 weeks and hears what happened. I wanted to know if they would miss me. I don't think they are going away, but their appeal might. But social media channels grow and contract, just like friends. And growing and contracting is not a bad thing. They say most people only really ever have 25 close friends, to add in one more, you have to lose one. *They = experts btw They also say that no room can function with more that 150 people in, more that that its a crowd. Dumbar Number btw. And at this point I ask why is it that WhatsApp only allows 256 members to a group, it loses shape well before that number. Anyway back to Facebook and Instagram, so what changed if anything. I had more time, obvs. I worried less about FOMO, obvs. I didn't grab for my phone the moment I woke up, what a relief. But and most importantly... During this time the algorithm changed, what that my doing or are they changing things.... again. What changed was the timeline, prioritised FRIENDS..... OMFG! Facebook become what it was when it started. A place to see what my friends were doing and in turn I would hope they could (if I posted) see what I was doing.... but I doubt that it works like that on my friends side.. But I can be optimistic... even tempted to post.... The question is, if I go back again, will it all revet to suggested posts and sponsorship.... #team #people #growth #argybargy https://www.dx3.co.uk/free-guides Here's Todays Podcast Thanks for listening Phil (Founder and Director of DX3.co.uk)

How do you create a daily contact engine? How do you create a podcast every day? How do you write a blog every day that helps to inspire a growth mindset? It's simple. Think about the one thing that can change how you and others see your world. Today rather than talking about digital business strategy or parts of what makes a good digital business strategy work I was pondering the subject hook of this blog and podcast. The hook is the one thing that will help you to STOP and read my piece and then perhaps be so inspired that you want to listen to my daily podcast to learn more. The hook is the first line that you'll read if you see my posts or blog or podcast listing. I've been wondering how do we stop, how do we read, how can a hook stop you in your tracks. I was looking for the simplest thing, one word that will change everything. But then. I thought perhaps it's smaller than a word, perhaps a simple comma would do the trick. Which reminded me of a book I'd read some years ago, Eats, shoots and leaves. The comma changed the book title from a crime thriller about someone eating the shooting someone maybe a miss placed word "leaves"... But when you put the comma in, it becomes a book about a panda, eating shoots and leaves.... The power of a comma. #team #people #growth #argybargy https://www.dx3.co.uk/free-guides Here's Todays Podcast

Last night my 15 year old son came back from school, with results from his first mock exam. His first big test. He hadn't done as well as held hoped, in fact he had done worst that most in the class. He was embarrassed, pained, confused and angry. I said to him these are feeling about control, and outcome, and sometimes you will fail to control what you want to see happen, even when you've done everything you can to make the outcome right. I said sometimes YOU MUST fail to learn. I said sometimes YOU MUST succeed to learn. I said sometimes YOU MUST try, knowing that you might fail. I'd learnt many years ago, that failing opens up opportunities, and we don't allow failure to happen enough. When it does, you have to think hard about why it happened, what can change to make it work, and give it another go. James Dyson, made 5,126 prototypes of his vacuum, and HE FAILED 5,125 times. Dust yourself off and get back on the ride. Failure is something we all need to learn about, some of us need a helping hand to see it as an opportunity. #team #people #growth #argybargy https://www.dx3.co.uk/free-guides Here's Todays Podcast

So digital experts will tell you that you can be a success overnight if you do everything they tell you to do. But do you have time to do everything, the one thing these experts will find hard to tell you is, to do everything takes TIME, lots and lots of time. David Hieatt from Huit Jeans tells a different story, one that takes time, he tells stories, and the more you learn about his stories the more you're hooked. He tells stories through his email, and thousands have signed up to it, to learn about his way of telling a story, he even from time to time talks about the company he runs - Huit Denim Co, what is fascinating about David, is he creates a super niche brand, then adds in a story, and he goes deep. He's building an army through his email, and one pair of jeans at a time he is changing the world of jeans. When you go deep on something simple, everyone goes with you, it takes time, and it's not a get rich quick way, but it builds movements, people that follow and people that tell the story for him. Like us, we see what he is doing, we think it's brilliant, we do bits of what he does, we're part of his heavy-lifting gang, and given time you'll do the same, maybe for us. #team #people #growth #argybargy https://www.dx3.co.uk/free-guides Here's Todays Podcast

Just how do you retain your customers if you are a bar, pub, or club? You need to take your customers on a journey of simplicity, and go deeper into YOUR story, what makes YOU unique. You need to think about your WHY, why do you exist, is it just to serve food and booze or is it more. You're there to offer an experience, learning and fun, a safe place to discover new things. How do you active your customer again and again and again? It comes from edutainment. Education and entertainment. #team #people #growth #argybargy https://www.dx3.co.uk/free-guides Here's Todays Podcast

When you first start a new digital business strategy/ business strategy you'll have a plan. A business plan is a document that articulates to all stakeholders what you want to do, what you want to see happen and who can do what bits. But, a business plan is also just a promise. A promise about what you will do. We've recently been working with a client who has a solid growth plan. They make sure they invest in the setup, they get set up, and then they start trading. And after 3 weeks they then contract resources, tighten up systems, fine-tune who does what, and invest in training the new team about their job and roles, they also make sure everyone is happy, even though there is more pressure to get things working. In effect, people have to do more in less time, but that tightens up the system, and people do get paid for the over time, but the RIGHT people make things work within a permitted timeframe. Things go from being a business promise to being a set of measurable tasks and actions. From there they build demand, customer demand, growth demand, and then they build more capability in the resources. Step by step, by step. Hour by hour, by hour. Make it work. #team #people #growth #argybargy https://www.dx3.co.uk/free-guides Here's Todays Podcast

When I worked at QXL Ricardo (a global dot com auction platform that took on eBay for the Uk and western European countries), we went from 26 staff in one country to 819 staff in 13 countries in the wink of an eye. It did seem from time to time crazy, long hours, big ideas, growing teams, and lots of cash burn. But that period didn't last. Eventually, cash became important, revenue growth became important, and what people did became important. When it did we all had to slow down and do some grow-up thinking. Slow thinking about customer growth and customer retention. We found that happy customers came back time and time again, and the unhappy ones left and didn't come back ever. So we gave some thought to how we could grow whilst also retaining customers. We eventually realised that if we focused on how to retain customers first, then how we got new customers second, would lead to many new customers. Happy retained customers helped us to find new customers. We helped them tell their stories, and we rewarded them for it. #team #people #growth #argybargy https://www.dx3.co.uk/free-guides Here's Todays Podcast