From Bedroom to Boardroom | With Rob Spence

Sometimes Settling Is Winning: Why I Took £2,500 Instead of £12,000 | Episode Thirty OneRob has just settled a debt dispute. He's accepted £2,500 from someone who owed him closer to £12,000. He knows he had the case. He knows he probably would have won. He settled anyway — and he's going to tell you exactly why, and why he'd do it again.What We CoverThe NumbersBy the time court fees, legal fees, late payment charges, and breach of contract penalties were factored in, the amount owed was approaching £12,000. Rob's solicitors were confident. The evidence bundle had already been prepared and sent to the court. The only thing outstanding was the court fee itself — and Rob kept holding off, hoping the other side would see sense.They didn't. He settled for £2,500.The Evidence Was Overwhelming The debtor had accepted the quote in writing. Agreed to the terms and conditions. Paid the first month's invoice — which, per those same T&Cs, constitutes acceptance of the full agreement. Not a single complaint was raised during the campaign. Complaints only materialised the moment Rob started chasing payment. One allegation — that Rob had changed his T&Cs live on the website while the debtor was reading them — collapsed the moment Rob provided a timestamped record showing no changes had been made since January 2026. The response? Accusations of harassment and threatening behaviour.Why He Settled Anyway Three reasons:The mental load. The dispute was bleeding into everything — his outlook on business, his mood at home, his ability to focus on clients who deserved his energy. That's not a price worth paying for any sum of money.The enforcement risk. Winning in court doesn't guarantee getting paid. These are people with a history of closing limited companies and opening new ones. A court order against a dissolved company is worth nothing. Even a win could have led to months more fighting, bailiff costs, and potentially nothing at the end of it.The opportunity cost. Rob has a full book of clients who love working with him and a spreadsheet of prospects who want to. Six to twelve more months fixated on the wrong people is six to twelve months not spent on the right ones.Closing the Chapter The money landed in the bank the day this episode was recorded. Rob wishes them well — genuinely, he says — and means it in the sense that he hopes never to encounter them again. The chapter is closed. He's moving forward.Key TakeawayWinning isn't always the point. Sometimes the most powerful business decision you can make is to cut the toxic weight loose, take what you can, and redirect your energy somewhere it actually compounds.Massive thank you to my partners - make sure you give them some love:Paragon Creative Studios - www.paragoncreativestudios.co.uk monday.com - https://try.monday.com/9fu602qtcgca Xero - https://referrals.xero.com/i5kqkglg3n3w-nx0cim Apollo.io - https://get.apollo.io/b3kjbubqrsvl

Your Results Don't Define You: A Letter to My Younger Self | Episode ThirtyGCSE and A-level results season. Rob has a message for anyone who opened an envelope this week and felt their stomach drop — and for anyone who's ever let a set of grades convince them their best days were already decided. Spoiler: they weren't.What We CoverThe SATs Test Cast your mind back to Year 6. Remember how enormous SATs felt? The revision, the panic, the weight of it all? Do you actually remember what you got? Rob's point: those results determined which set you went into at secondary school, and that's about it. He argues the same logic applies to GCSEs, A-levels, and — more controversially — degrees.Rob's Own Story He did well at GCSEs. Nine of them, four A's, three B's, two C's (the D in Design Technology was the teacher's fault, he maintains). When it came to A-levels, things unravelled. He missed his first week with tonsillitis — looking back, probably nerves — fell behind immediately, struggled to catch up, and then the real pressures kicked in. No money at home. His father was unemployed and dealing with significant depression. The family was genuinely struggling. When a full-time job came up, it made more sense than studying for qualifications he wasn't sure he even wanted.He walked away. No A-levels, no university. For years he felt like a failure — watching friends go off to study while he swept up at a garden centre, embarrassed and quietly devastated.The University Question Rob has never wanted to go to university, and he's blunt about why. Three years, much of which is wasted. Enormous debt. A degree in a subject the market may not want. He knows people with first-class degrees in business who have a shocking grasp of how business actually works. That's not an argument against higher education — it's an argument for being honest about what it delivers versus what it costs.What He's Built Without It Multiple businesses. A strong reputation in his industry. Skills built through experience, self-study, books, and doing the work. His qualifications don't appear on his sales deck, and no one has ever asked. What got him here was graft, curiosity, and showing up.The Actual Message If you got the results you wanted — brilliant. Keep going. If you didn't — please don't panic. You have forty to fifty years of working life ahead of you. Careers change, people reinvent themselves, and the internet has made self-education more accessible than it has ever been. YouTube, books, the Open University, podcasts — the tools are there. What matters is finding your passion and being willing to put in the work when you do.Key TakeawayYour GCSEs, your A-levels, your degree — they are one small chapter in a very long book. Don't let a set of results at seventeen tell you what the rest of it looks like.Massive thank you to my partners - make sure you give them some love:Paragon Creative Studios - www.paragoncreativestudios.co.uk monday.com - https://try.monday.com/9fu602qtcgca Xero - https://referrals.xero.com/i5kqkglg3n3w-nx0cim Apollo.io - https://get.apollo.io/b3kjbubqrsvl

Zero Enquiries for Eight Weeks: What a Dirty Website Taught Me About Trust | Episode Twenty NineTwo to three inbound enquiries a day. Then overnight — nothing. For eight weeks. Rob tells the story of how a malware attack, a negligent web guy, and a GoDaddy runaround cost his business tens of thousands in potential revenue, and what he eventually did about it at half nine on a Tuesday night with half a bottle of champagne inside him.What We CoverFrom Two Enquiries a Day to Zero Paragon had spent years building a website that genuinely worked. Regular inbound calls, emails, consultation bookings — a consistent pipeline flowing in. Then the site got hit with malware. Not just taken offline, but blacklisted by Google entirely. Nobody could reach it. No traffic, no enquiries, nothing. Eight weeks of silence.The Malware Problem The malware was nasty — it was pushing visitors to install malicious software, which is why Google blocked the site outright rather than just flagging it. GoDaddy removed it using their own software and told Rob they'd reported the fix to Google and he'd be back up and running soon. He heard that for three to four weeks. It wasn't happening.The Cousin Rob had been paying a family member — a cousin he's known his whole life — to maintain the website. Not a big job. Update the plugins. Monitor uptime. Flag anything that goes wrong. Simple.He wasn't doing it. GoDaddy confirmed that if the plugins had been kept current, the malware wouldn't have been able to get in. If the malware hadn't got in, the site wouldn't have gone down. If the site hadn't gone down, Rob wouldn't have lost weeks of pipeline. The cousin's response when confronted? A voice note — shouting, swearing, effing and jeffing. Brave from behind a screen.Rob Fixed It Himself Fed up, slightly tipsy, and done waiting — Rob Googled the fix, submitted the request to Google himself at half nine in the evening, and had the site live by half one in the morning. Five or six hours. Done.He's annoyed at himself for not doing it sooner.The Three LessonsTrust but verify. Rob's biggest weakness is trusting people to get on with things without checking in. That's fine in theory — but you have to build in some kind of check, especially when the work is invisible and the consequences of failure are this serious.Don't assume things are above your pay grade. Rob talked himself out of fixing this earlier because it felt technical. It wasn't. A couple of hours of Googling sorted it. Don't let low confidence hand control to someone who isn't delivering.Your website is your business. For many companies — Paragon included — the site is the main route to new customers. Neglect it, leave it unmonitored, and you're one attack away from a very quiet few months.Key TakeawayTrusting people is fine. But trust without accountability is how you hand someone the keys to your revenue and never notice when they lose them.Massive thank you to my partners - make sure you give them some love:Paragon Creative Studios - www.paragoncreativestudios.co.uk monday.com - https://try.monday.com/9fu602qtcgca Xero - https://referrals.xero.com/i5kqkglg3n3w-nx0cim Apollo.io - https://get.apollo.io/b3kjbubqrsvl

It's Not the Mistake. It's the Recovery | Episode Twenty SevenRob sent a meal back at a restaurant on Saturday night. He doesn't do it often, and he doesn't take it lightly — especially given his background in hospitality. But the story that followed turned into one of the clearest customer service lessons you'll hear.What We CoverThe Night in Question Rob, his fiancée, and their almost-one-year-old headed out for a casual Saturday dinner at a favourite local venue — nothing fancy, but reliably good value and a nice atmosphere. What followed was a cascade of minor problems: thirty minutes to get a drink, wine glasses delivered with no glasses, and then a plate that arrived with someone else's dinner baked onto it. The dirty wine glass that arrived shortly after was the final straw. Rob sent the food back, asked for a fresh glass, and said he'd come in at the end of the meal for a refund.He was clear with the young lad behind the bar: it's not on you, mate. There was one member of staff, a wedding on, a queue at the bar. Management should have been on it.The Recovery At the end of the night, when Rob went to the till expecting a refund on the one dish he'd sent back, the manager refunded the entire bill. The full £55. His fiancée's meal, the chips, the wine, the lot — all of it. Rob had been willing to pay for everything except the food he'd sent back. They went further.Why That Decision Was Brilliant Rob was already prepared to return. The refund sealed it. Now he'll recommend the venue, tell people where it is if they ask, and go back specifically because he wants to pay them for a good experience.This is the principle of reciprocity in action — one of the most powerful drivers of buying behaviour. You do something for me, I want to do something for you. A customer who has a problem handled generously is often more loyal than one who never had a problem at all.The Amazon Comparison Some businesses make you fight for a refund. Proof of this, evidence of that, three emails and a photo. Amazon doesn't. Something wrong? Refund sorted, done. That frictionless recovery is a core reason people keep going back. The lesson scales from a local restaurant to a global retailer.The Question for Business Owners When a complaint lands, what's your instinct? To defend, dispute, and delay? Or to look honestly at what went wrong and ask: what do I need to do to keep this person? The time and energy spent arguing with a customer rarely wins you anything. The goodwill you generate by handling it well can pay back many times over.Key TakeawayCustomers don't expect perfection. They expect to be treated well when things go wrong. A mistake handled with grace builds more loyalty than a flawless experience that's taken for granted.Massive thank you to my partners - make sure you give them some love:Paragon Creative Studios - www.paragoncreativestudios.co.uk monday.com - https://try.monday.com/9fu602qtcgca Xero - https://referrals.xero.com/i5kqkglg3n3w-nx0cim Apollo.io - https://get.apollo.io/b3kjbubqrsvl

You'll Never Get Slagged Off By Someone Doing Better Than You | Episode 26An impromptu one — but sometimes the unplanned episodes are the best ones. Rob's had a run-in with a hater this week. Not a faceless internet troll, but someone in the Leicestershire business networking community who's had it in for him for a couple of years. He's telling the full story, naming what she did, and using it as a jumping-off point for something every entrepreneur needs to hear.What We CoverThe Universal Entrepreneur Experience No matter how successful you become — whether you're Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, or a small business owner in the East Midlands — there will always be people who slag you off. People who preach positivity, champion mental health hashtags, and then quietly go about undermining anyone doing better than them. Rob's seen it everywhere. This week, it landed on his doorstep.What Actually Happened A lady in the Leicestershire networking circuit — who works in business development for a college and has also authored a novel — has had it in for Rob for two to three years. Every time Rob promotes his networking event, Fresh Networking (running since 2019), she responds within the hour promoting a rival group. Fine. Rob has no problem with that.What crossed a line: she went onto Fresh Networking's Facebook page and commented on a "Meet the Member" post, tagging a competing networking group and implying Rob had stolen their idea. A direct, public dig.Rob responded calmly and professionally, pointing out that Fresh Networking has celebrated its members since day one in 2019. He then messaged the lady directly — friendly, measured — and got blocked. She deleted the comment. He has the screenshots.The Backstory Two or three years ago, Rob went out of his way to support this woman. He bought her book. He had her on his other podcast, How I Failed in Business, to promote it — and by his account it was one of the best episodes he ever recorded. Later, a separate guest mentioned a piece of light-hearted banter involving her — completely in context, completely in jest — and that episode happened to go out before hers. She was upset. Rob pulled the relevant segment within hours. Her own episode was never aired and remains on a hard drive. He did everything right. She's been bad-mouthing him ever since.The Lesson Here it is, plain and simple: you will never get slagged off by someone doing better than you. Elon Musk isn't scrolling Facebook to complain someone's copying his ideas. Jeff Bezos isn't walking into bookshops demanding to know why they exist. The hatred flows downhill — from people who aren't where they want to be, aimed at people who are moving in the right direction.Rise to it if you have to — but do it calmly, do it with receipts, and let the quality of your work do the rest.Key TakeawayHaters are a byproduct of success — not a sign you're doing something wrong. If someone's going out of their way to undermine you, ask yourself one question: are they doing better than you? The answer will tell you everything you need to know.Massive thank you to my partners - make sure you give them some love:Paragon Creative Studios - www.paragoncreativestudios.co.uk monday.com - https://try.monday.com/9fu602qtcgca Xero - https://referrals.xero.com/i5kqkglg3n3w-nx0cim Apollo.io - https://get.apollo.io/b3kjbubqrsvl

Two Years In and Just Getting Started: A Fresh Chapter for Paragon Creative Studios | Episode Twenty FiveAfter two heavy episodes, Rob made a deliberate decision to keep this one positive. No complaints, no court cases, no politics. Just a genuine milestone and a renewed sense of excitement about what's coming next.What We CoverHappy Birthday, Paragon Creative Studios Two years ago to the day of recording, Rob received the keys to the studio space in Countesthorpe, Leicestershire. Paragon Creative Studios (PCS) was born — not all at once, but bit by bit, piece by piece, gradually built into what it is today.To mark the occasion, Rob and the team have just invested in a refresh. New reception desk. New white and cream sets. Plans for additional sets in the pipeline. The studio is looking cleaner, fresher, and more capable than ever.An Honest Admission Rob holds his hands up: PCS has effectively been treated as a side hustle. Given everything else going on in the business, it hasn't received the attention it deserves. But he's sitting on an asset that could genuinely thrive — and he knows it. That changes now.What Reignited the Passion Two things:First, competition. A contact of Rob's has just opened a new studio in Leicester — and it looks great. Rather than feeling threatened, Rob says it's given him exactly the rocket he needed. Being pushed by someone doing good work is a good thing.Second, content. Rob's hobby content around movies and physical media has pulled him into a deeper understanding of cinematography, social media strategy, and what makes content actually work. All of that is now feeding back into how he thinks about PCS — and it's exciting.What's Coming A redesigned website, an overhauled social media presence, new sets, and a renewed push to make PCS the go-to content studio in Leicestershire. Watch the socials.If You're in Leicestershire Whether you need a space for a podcast, talking head videos, social media content, or photography — PCS has the kit, the capability, and the know-how. Rob would love to welcome you in.Key TakeawaySometimes the thing that reignites your passion for a business you already own is a competitor doing well, a hobby that teaches you something new, or simply a milestone worth celebrating. All three landed at once here.Massive thank you to my partners - make sure you give them some love:Paragon Creative Studios - www.paragoncreativestudios.co.uk monday.com - https://try.monday.com/9fu602qtcgca Xero - https://referrals.xero.com/i5kqkglg3n3w-nx0cim Apollo.io - https://get.apollo.io/b3kjbubqrsvl

Read the Room: Why Our High Streets Are Dying and Who's to Blame | Episode Twenty FourFollowing last week's raw, difficult episode, Rob is back — still frustrated, still honest, but this time pointing his anger somewhere specific. Businesses are closing around him, and he wants to talk about why.What We CoverKnight and Garter — Leicester Loses a Good One Knight and Garter, one of Leicester city centre's last genuinely good independent restaurants (run by award-winning operator Sam Hagar), is closing. Not because of bad management or poor food — but because business rates imposed by Leicester City Council have become unsustainable. On top of VAT, rising food costs, fuel costs, NI increases, minimum wage hikes, and a drop in footfall — the business rates were the final straw.The High Cross Hypocrisy The same Leicester City Council recently wrote off approximately £3 million in business rate debt accumulated by the High Cross shopping centre. A generic chain-store mall that — by Rob's count — has around 30% of its units vacant. The contrast is stark: independent operators who actually make Leicester worth visiting are being squeezed out, while a largely empty shopping centre gets its debt wiped.The Big Difference Company Also in the news: the holding company behind the Leicester Comedy Festival has struggled to pay its comedians and has now been locked out of its own venue after falling behind on rent. Rob connects the dots — if people aren't coming into the city centre, venues can't trade, can't pay rent, can't keep the doors open. The ripple effect hits staff, suppliers, local breweries, and everyone downstream.Simpsons, Birmingham It's not just Leicester. Simpsons — a Michelin-starred restaurant that held its star for 25 consecutive years — has also closed, citing the same unrelenting cost pressures. When businesses of that quality and reputation can't survive, something is seriously broken.The Bigger Argument Rob's point is simple: you cannot have workers if there are no businesses to employ them. Councils that keep raising rates while letting city centres decay are killing the very ecosystem they depend on. The answer isn't another event in the town square — it's making city centres accessible, attractive, and worth the trip.A Direct Invitation Rob calls out Sir Peter Soulsby of Leicester City Council by name: come on the podcast. Explain the thinking. If anyone working in local government or high street regeneration is listening, Rob genuinely wants to hear the other side.Massive thank you to my partners - make sure you give them some love:Paragon Creative Studios - www.paragoncreativestudios.co.uk monday.com - https://try.monday.com/9fu602qtcgca Xero - https://referrals.xero.com/i5kqkglg3n3w-nx0cim Apollo.io - https://get.apollo.io/b3kjbubqrsvl

The Hardest Day in Eight and a Half Years | Episode Twenty ThreeNo studio. No plan. Rob is recording from his car, minutes after letting three members of his telemarketing team go. In eight and a half years of running his business, he's never had to do this before. This is as raw as it gets.Note: the audio quality reflects exactly where and when this was recorded. That's the point.What We CoverWhat Just Happened Three good people — Rob's words — have just lost their jobs. He's clear it isn't their fault. He largely takes the responsibility himself, while also naming the factors that backed him into this corner.The Two Clients Who Didn't Pay Regular listeners will recognise both of these:The first signed a six-month agreement, allocated Paragon's resources were built around that contract — and then walked away three months in, with no legitimate cause. Because Paragon had already invoiced for the work, HMRC expected VAT on income that never arrived. Rob is taking them to court.The second signed a three-month agreement. Paragon delivered results, went above and beyond, communicated throughout. The complaints only surfaced when Rob started chasing payment. He's taking them to court too. He has the contract, the evidence, and every confidence he'll win both.The Economic Backdrop Non-paying clients don't operate in a vacuum. National insurance increases, rising wages, business rates, utility bills, insurance — the costs of running a business have climbed significantly. Rob spoke recently to a charity whose bottom line had increased by half a million pounds year on year from these rises alone. Add the natural summer slowdown in sales and marketing, and several pressures converged at once.How It Feels Rob is genuinely struggling with this. He's not trying to make it about himself — he's very aware that three people are going home today without jobs — but he's honest that this is the hardest thing he's had to do since starting the business. He doesn't know how larger companies cycle through redundancies repeatedly. To him, this isn't a number. It's people's mortgages, their families, their dignity.He ends with a direct apology to those who lost their jobs today — and a promise to himself that he'll do everything in his power to never be in this position again.Massive thank you to my partners - make sure you give them some love:Paragon Creative Studios - www.paragoncreativestudios.co.uk monday.com - https://try.monday.com/9fu602qtcgca Xero - https://referrals.xero.com/i5kqkglg3n3w-nx0cim Apollo.io - https://get.apollo.io/b3kjbubqrsvl