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The Exceptional Business Podcast

The Exceptional Business Podcast

Written by: Helen Dowling
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About this listen

The Exceptional Business Podcast is for business owners who are tired of gimmicks, quick wins, and being told to “just post more content.”


Hosted by Helen Dowling, Managing Director of Exceptional Thinking (http://www.exceptionalthinking.co.uk), this podcast dives into the real mechanics of growing a profitable, sustainable business — from generating high-quality leads and running better sales conversations, to leadership decisions, mindset shifts, and the lessons you only learn by actually doing the work.


Each episode is practical, honest, and grounded in real experience. No hype. No buzzwords. Just clear thinking, real examples, and ideas you can apply straight away — whether you want a steadier pipeline, better clients, or more control over your business growth.


If you value quality over quantity, relationships over shortcuts, and results over noise, this is the podcast for you.


If you'd like to talk to us about qualified lead generation, please go to www.exceptionalthinking.co.uk/contact

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Helen Dowling
Economics Leadership Management & Leadership Marketing Marketing & Sales
Episodes
  • The Real Cost of Chasing Cold Leads (and How to Fix It)
    Feb 20 2026

    In this 20-minute 9:30 Advantage session, Helen breaks down why sales teams underperform when they’re fed cold, unqualified leads — and what to do instead. She explains the hidden costs (wasted hours, demoralisation, bad forecasting) and the common trap of pushing salespeople to both set appointments and close deals — two very different skill sets. You’ll learn a four-part fix:

    1. Introduce BANT with a shared definition of a qualified appointment and independent scoring (Budget, Authority, Need, Timescale; pass threshold 4.5/6).
    2. Front-load qualification by publishing and following a simple, five-step process everyone can explain — from kick-off to weekly reporting.
    3. Stop making closers book their own calls — use a dedicated appointment-setting motion (or a partner) so sales spends time closing, not chasing.
    4. Run a consistent weekly cadence with follow-ups and a scorecard that tracks meetings → proposals → wins, so the pipeline becomes real, not wishful.

    If you’re done with “more meetings at any cost” and want quality conversations that convert, this episode shows how to rebuild your system so great salespeople can actually sell.

    👉 Ready to fill your diary with qualified appointments and lift your conversion rates? Visit www.exceptionalthinking.co.uk/contact to chat.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    22 mins
  • Why We Use Go High Level to Run (Almost) Everything in Our Business
    Feb 6 2026

    In this episode of The Exceptional Thinking Podcast, Helen lifts the lid on the CRM platform that’s become the backbone of her business — Go High Level. After years of juggling multiple tools for CRM, email marketing, scheduling, and social media, she explains how moving to an all-in-one system has saved time, reduced costs, and improved client management.


    You’ll hear:


    • Why Go High Level replaced tools like AWeber, Hootsuite, and Acuity in one centralised platform
    • How to import and organise your contacts without overwhelming your system
    • The powerful automation features for email, SMS, WhatsApp, contracts, and follow-up sequences
    • How to use tags, opportunities, and task assignments to keep leads moving forward
    • Extra capabilities like membership sites, funnels, client portals, quizzes, surveys, and AI-assisted messaging
    • The hidden costs you need to factor in — and why Helen still thinks it’s worth every penny

    Whether you’re looking to automate more of your client journey, consolidate your tech stack, or simply gain better visibility over your pipeline and team activity, this episode will help you decide if Go High Level could work for you.


    👉 Want to see how Exceptional Thinking uses Go High Level to help book qualified appointments for clients? Visit www.exceptionalthinking.co.uk/contact.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    11 mins
  • The Power of Process: How to Systemise Your Business and Step Out of Day-to-Day Operations
    Jan 30 2026

    In this episode of The Exceptional Thinking Podcast, Helen shares how a clearly defined process transformed Exceptional Thinking — streamlining operations, simplifying training, and enabling her to step out of the daily running of the business.


    Drawing on her own five-step appointment-setting process, Helen explains how documenting each stage — from kickoff meeting to weekly reporting — has created clarity for the team, improved client understanding, and ensured consistent quality. She also reveals how breaking down each area of the business into smaller mapped-out processes makes onboarding new team members faster, easier, and more effective.


    You’ll learn why “every client is different” is often a myth, how to spot common patterns in your work, and how to turn them into repeatable systems that can be followed by all. Helen also shares lessons learned from implementing processes, including the tweaks and changes needed to get them right — and why, without them, owners often stay trapped in the operational grind.


    If you want to free yourself from constant firefighting, scale your business without chaos, and focus on growth, this episode will give you the practical first steps to make it happen.


    👉 Want to see Exceptional Thinking’s five-step process and find out how we can help you book qualified appointments consistently? Visit www.exceptionalthinking.co.uk/contact.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    11 mins
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