Neil Martin · Beats, Business & Life

Business

The cover of The Chimp Paradox by Steve Peters, centred in a thin gold frame on a midnight blue background under the words From my bookshelf, with the line “When you decide to do something, remind yourself that it is commitment not motivation that matters.” beneath it

The book that explains the voice in your head: The Chimp Paradox

Why the emotional part of your brain usually wins, what Steve Peters means by your inner chimp, and why commitment matters more than motivation.

Illustration of the front of an old arcade cabinet in a dim games room, a glowing coin slot with a small stack of coins resting on the ledge beside it, ready for another go

Fear of failure is really fear of not being loved

Business

On episode 36 of The PropShow I was asked why people fear failure. I think it goes deeper, and a bit of Sonic the Hedgehog helps explain why.

Illustration of a striped hammock strung between two apple trees in a quiet back garden, an open paperback resting in it and a closed laptop and mug on a small garden table nearby

Build the life first: how to make business owners happier

Business

Christopher Watkin asked me how to make business owners happier. My answer started with their life, then the business that gives them that life.

Illustration of a wooden shape-sorting board on an office desk, round pegs sitting neatly in round holes while one square peg rests beside an empty round hole, lit by soft morning light from a window

How to motivate millennials: take the word out of it

Business

Christopher Watkin asked me how estate and letting agents should motivate millennials. My answer started with turning the question back on him.

Episode 038: The One About Culture

Business

Nigel on unwritten ground rules, and the call from a director on holiday that made my first day at a new job.

Illustration of an estate agency counter with rows of house keys hanging on brass hooks and a small wooden ballot box beside them, a single folded slip resting by the slot in soft morning light

Do the property portals have too much control?

Business

Christopher Watkin asked me if the property portals run UK estate agency. My answer was that agents gave them that power, and every pound spent is a vote.

Illustration of the front door of a red brick terraced house beside a small tree that carries autumn leaves, frosted twigs, spring blossom and full summer green on different branches, with a few fallen leaves on the step

Social media for estate agents: tell stories in four seasons

Business

On the Letting Agent Podcast I gave agents my four seasons way of telling a business story, and why it has to be told for the people reading it.

Episode 037: Have An Awesome Day and Don’t Kill Anyone

Business

How I say goodbye to my daughter at school, and how Nigel turned it into a chat about loving the people you work with.

Illustration of a smartphone on a small tripod sitting on a tidy office desk, next to a bunch of house keys with blank paper tags and an open diary, in soft morning light

Letting agents and perfectionism with Christopher Watkin

Business

Christopher Watkin asked me why letting agents are such perfectionists. We got onto highlight reels, embracing the suck and why your first bad video should stay up.

Illustration of a small camera on a tripod standing alone at the top of a grassy hill at dawn, a narrow country lane winding down through green fields towards a distant cluster of trees

Why promises to yourself matter most, with Jamie Atkinson

Business

On Jamie Atkinson’s Entrepreneur Junkie Movement I’d just done 24 hours of training in two days. We got onto the promises that count, and why I go in a level.

Illustration of an old ironing board set up in a 1980s living room as a pretend shop, with a cardboard box of faded house details, a tape measure and a small notepad on top

Why kids don’t dream of being estate and letting agents

Business

Christopher Watkin asked me why nobody grows up wanting to be an agent. I told him about my mum’s ironing board, a box of house details and a tape measure.