Jack Golden. ‘A Journey Through Business’

Big decision this month. Deciding on s builder and how to pay them. I guess all small projects with builders come down to trust. That's why I've initially gone with a day rate.

When I started this blog, it was meant to be about my own business. Instead I’ve been focused on my family’s restaurant business and still not even properly started my own. Once a month videos now until I have more stuff going on.

Great triathlon with me Mrs. Starting to catch the bug for triathlons. I just love race day!

My current morning routine could be a whole lot better. I’m thinking exercise, meditate, breakfast, study, plan day, GO!

Putting in the hours at the restaurant. Simple. Boring

I’ve been setting goals since 2016. They change over time and I am constantly updating them, adjusting how I set them and also looking over previous goals to see which ones have been achieved or not.

Harsh title but I’m disappointed with myself. Procrastination has gotten the better of me. I have too many ideas floating about in my head. Need to decide on 1 thing and say no to everything else.

A great few weeks. I’m carrying out the practice set by T Harv Eker of never complaining, even in my own head to myself!

We think of Innocent smoothies as being a big, popular company dominating the smoothie market and so it’s great to rewind back and see their humble beginnings (which includes hand delivering their homemade smoothies with labels stuck on via sellotape.

I waste 50 quid on a very unmemorable domain name, then over a family meal, my daughter comes up with ‘lovely shrubbly’ tagline: ‘non-alcoholic bubbly’. Genius! I love it!

My lemon and ginger shrub is deemed acceptable by the family. It’s now on the menu at the restaurant as drink of the day and feedback so far has been very positive

I’m guessing this is where I start if I’m wanting to start a drinks brand.? Lots of experiments

A culmination of things we’ve been working on at the restaurant has lead to record profits. I’m delighted and this takes the edge off all the stresses and strains of a family run, independent restaurant.

I’ve been looking at how the American shrub companies are doing it and I’ve started listening to the stories of other drinks companies. This week it was the guy who founded Jimmy’s Iced Coffee.

I am guilty of not focusing on ‘The One Thing’, so reading this book was often quite depressing as I realise I need to cut lots out and say “no” to many of the pipe dreams I currently have. The book talks so much sense and I think I’ve read it at the perfect time in my life. I needed this wake up call.

Working closely with my 82 year old father in the family business has at times been difficult and there have been many disagreements. But there have also been things he has taught me and traits in him I hope to emulate.

Why do parents place a huge emphasis on their children doing homework in school but then not do the homework themselves? Do they think school years are the only years in which one can learn? Do they think that as adults there is no longer a prize for doing homework?

I’ve leveraged my position as a current restaurant manager to sus out the current UK shrub drinks market by getting some samples, (from my soon to be competitors), delivered to the restaurant.

What’s great about this book is the progression. We all currently know Amazon to be an all powerful, global beast of a business, but let’s go back to its first step, (conquering the world of online book sales). How can anyone not spare the time to read the incredible story of Jeff Bezos and Amazon? If you are interested in business, this book is a must. Read it in the same vein Jeff Bezos read Sam Walton’s book on the rise of Walmart.

This week I had to do another sacking at the restaurant. It’s never easy but I have a process I use now which works well. I also show a flash back to some more shrub experiments I did when I first started thinking about making drinks.

‘Shrubs’ or ‘drinking vinegars’ have a history, interest, health benefits, limitless flavour combinations and a long shelf life. Plus, they have a kick reminiscent to alcohol.

A legend among self improvement books. Timeless ways and tactics in dealing with people, whether in relationships, socially or in business. A lot of it seems obvious and easy but as the old saying goes, ‘things that are easy to do, are also easy to not do’. Or something like that?!...

My neighbour rejected my offer. Bastard. But it’s my fault though for not making it look more attractive or putting it across better. Can’t shake the idea of shrub drinks out of my head. I should look into it further....

Our new dog, Billy, from Bromsgrove Blue Cross Rescue Centre, has joined us. He’s great and he’s also broken down the barriers between my daughter (from a previous relationship) and my girlfriend. I couldn’t be happier.

Did a metal welding course. I’m still thinking about and doing preparation for the business ideas I shared at the start of this blog. Two of which were making furniture out of waste materials and making houses out of shipping containers, both of which would require metal welding.

I’m excited to give my full, formal offer to my neighbour to buy their house on ‘exchange with delayed completion’ deal. I’ve made it quite generous because if he says yes, I can do a full double extension and refurbishment of both of our properties, adding huge amounts of value to both. Then, after that, sell my current home, in order to get the money needed to ‘complete’ the purchase of his.

Author Simon Zutshi was one of the first to bring large scale property educational events and courses to the UK. A bit of a legend in the property investment world and author of this great book. In a similar style to many other property books I’ve read recently, it gives an overview of various strategies and touches on the usual subjects such as HMOs, buy and hold, power teams, deal sourcing and focuses on way to buy ‘below market value’ from ‘motivated sellers’.

This week I went to the PIN (Property Investors Network) meet-up in Bristol. I did this because I need some extra cash for the project I have planned. I thought if I put myself out there at one of these things I might find a handy mortgage broker and I did! Happy days.

Rob Dix and Rob Bence are my current man crush es?! Their property podcast if f**king great. After reading this book by Rob Dix, (given to me by my beautiful girlfriend for Christmas), I immediately read it again! Then I downloaded his follow on book (Complete Guide to Property Investment) on Audible and listened to it. Then immediately listened to it again!

Time for a yearly, restaurant deep clean along with many other thankless tasks that get done when involved in a small, family business

My neighbours property has just gone on the market. I’m already planning an extension on my own property but it occurred to me that this is also the perfect time to do his as well! I’m now busy thinking of how I can structure a deal whereby I agree to buy my neighbours property for a set price in the future (18 months time), I then extend both properties (adding heaps of value), I then sell my property and use the proceeds to buy his for the price we agreed on before I’d carried out the extension and refurbishment work. I feel this could be a massive opportunity for me. Let’s see who this one plays out...

I’m a fan of Samuel Leeds. He’s got lots of interesting videos on YouTube. The book is mega short but I really enjoyed his way of looking at things. Focus on HMOs and high rents.

My new favourite app Audible lets me listen to books on the go. Time commuting is now time well spent. Books, books, books. I’m book mad me!

These ladies will give you their take on how to buy a deal, add value, then sell for highest price possible. Flipping great book! (Sorry). I only wish they’d dig deeper on what it takes to make a successful flip and less on the other property related topics.

This week I’ve been mostly washing up at the restaurant after having to sack our kitchen porter for telling us he was ‘ill’ then working you cash in hand fir someone else! Bastard. I tracked him down outside his new place of work then ambushed him. “Mataeuz, thought you were I’ll? Yet here I find you washing up at another restaurant?! Well you’re sacked now! Here are your belongings, good luck in your new job”. Bastard.

Old gem of a book (first published 1926) on how to accumulate wealth and riches. The lessons learnt from ancient Babylonians on how to manage your own personal finances are brought to life through short stories based on those found on the clay tablets excavated from Babylon by archeologists. Can the principles of this ancient civilisation still hold true in modern day society? Yes! Is the answer given by one of the archeologists who discovered the tablets and applied what they learnt to their own life.

Getting myself ready for the final exam of my accounting course. Just finishing some revision on =FORMULAS within Microsoft Excel. I’d like to progress onto level 4 after this and become a chartered but I’d have to get a job at an accountancy firm first. No chance of that while the restaurant is still going so will have to wait. The job security of and experience of being a chartered accountant will be good for me to have under my belt. Something to fall back on if the shit ever hit the fan.

99 chapters on human behaviour. Why do we do it to ourselves? I’ve chosen to talk about my six favourite chapters but I could have talked all day long on this book.

Had a few architects over to quote on how much they’d charge to manage my house extension/renovation. It’s amazing how much you can learn from salespeople. I’ve learnt so much already about how this renovation is going to work and what’s possible.

Lots of short stories of how businesses such as Moonpig, GoCompare, Spareroom, Made.com, Zoopla and JustGiving started up.

Sticking to the plan is boring me. The plan being, work at the restaurant, complete the accounting course and gain experience in making furniture. Patience.

This book is one of my faves, which isn’t saying much as I’ve only just this year really started reading books! But still, I enjoyed this book. Small, seemingly insignificant choice, compounded over time = success/failure

I have no idea about furniture but..... I found a great place that recycled wood. ‘The Wood Recycling Project’ in Bristol is a fantastic little social enterprise. They rely on volunteers, however, after 10 volunteer shifts, I get taught how to use all the tools they have in their workshop! Perfect! Bit of volunteering followed by making furniture out of recycled wood.

Book review of Setting the Table. A couple of great concepts I can implement at my parents restaurant and also take forward into the future.

I've had to slightly step away from my parents restaurant. Frictions between me and my Dad. He's 82 bless him and still wanting to be 'the boss'. This is natural although fustrating for me. What lessons can i take from my current situation?

My first ever book review. I haven't done the book justice but it's my first ever review and i hope to get better. Part of this Journey Through Business is about continuous learning so where better to start than by reading the work of people who have already acheived the things i hope to one day.

Coming up with a business name. More tricky than I thought! I want it to be non-restrictive, memorable, short and to have an a available website domain. Initial thoughts are ‘Underdog Enterprises’ as I love the underdog spirit and always support the underdog when watching sport. And ‘JackieDarlings’ a nickname given to me by the most embarrassing parents in the world.

Great week. I get and share some advice given to me personally from one of the most successful businessman in Britain.

Been experimenting with sleep. Done a few weeks on a strict 6 hour per night max. Feel like shit. I’m happy to occasionally go without sleep and work tired, but I think trying to go to bed earlier and aiming for 8 hours might be a better option.

Indecision, indecision, indecision. With so much work involved in starting a business and how much time will inevitably become invested in it. But at some point I know I need to commit and say, “I plan to do... X”. Also, the idea of making houses out of shipping containers is stuck in my head. Annoying. But with the shortage of affordable housing in the UK and the fact that the house building industry not able to keep up with demand, isn’t it time we thought outside the box on how homes are built?

This week I get some grief from my lad mates for creating this blog. I learn a lesson in trust. And I complete a half Ironman triathlon