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Working On It

Working On It

Written by: Brad Staines
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 What if growing your business didn’t mean sacrificing your time, your health, or your freedom? Working On It is the podcast for service-based founders who want to scale without burning out. Each episode brings you honest conversations with experts, operators, and mentors - the same kind of people who’ve helped shape successful businesses from the inside out. We dive into the systems, strategies, and habits that drive performance - and show you how to build a company that works without you always having to be there. It’s about clarity, leadership, and reclaiming control - of your time, your team, and your next chapter. If you're focused on building a business that runs without you - and a life that works because of you - then you're in the right place Careers Economics Hygiene & Healthy Living Management Management & Leadership Personal Success Psychology Psychology & Mental Health
Episodes
  • Redefining Poker as a Tool for Corporate Team Building and Skills Development

    Redefining Poker as a Tool for Corporate Team Building and Skills Development
    Jan 14 2026
    In this episode, Jo shares with Brad her remarkable journey from investment banking to founding Aces High, a corporate team-building initiative that reimagines poker as a skills-building experience without the gambling aspect. She discusses the profound personal challenges she faced, including the loss of loved ones, which prompted her to seek a more meaningful career. Jo highlights the parallels between poker and business strategy, emphasizing the importance of patience, discipline, and the ability to assess risks. KEY TAKEAWAYS Life's challenges, such as personal losses, can serve as catalysts for change. Embracing these moments can lead to significant personal and professional growth, encouraging individuals to pursue their passions and take calculated risks. Poker teaches valuable life skills such as patience, discipline, and strategic thinking. These skills can be applied in business settings, helping individuals navigate high-stakes situations and make informed decisions. Recognising when to cut losses is crucial in both poker and business. It's important to assess situations objectively and make decisions that minimise potential losses rather than stubbornly holding on to failing ventures. Maintaining a calm and composed mindset is essential for effective decision-making. Practicing mindfulness can help individuals respond thoughtfully rather than react impulsively, especially in high-pressure situations. Engaging in activities like poker can boost confidence and assertiveness, particularly among women. By creating inclusive environments and encouraging participation, individuals can develop skills that translate into professional success and personal growth. BEST MOMENTS "I think sometimes it's the cracks that let the light in, right? It's those moments where you think, well, actually, what is important to me?" "Poker teaches you about patience and discipline, statistics and picking your moments." "I realized I've got aces and there was no way I was folding." "It's about authenticity. I absolutely would have had that what if, and I probably wouldn't have forgiven myself." "You don't need to gamble to take the value from poker." HOST BIO Brad Staines is a founder in the thick of it - but by design, not by default. As the face of Aquamark Cleaning, he’s built a multi-million-pound operation with 30+ team members, strong systems, and a culture that gives people space to grow. He’s still involved in the business a couple of days a week - but only doing the parts he genuinely enjoys: building relationships, growing the brand, spending time with the team, and spotting new opportunities. The day-to-day grind? That’s been handed over to a structure that runs without constant firefighting. Brad’s also found his rhythm outside of business - with a deep commitment to physical and mental training. Whether it’s strength work, early morning runs, or cold plunges, he’s a believer that how you show up for yourself shapes how you show up as a leader. Working On It is where he brings it all together - growth, grit, and getting better every week.
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    1 hr and 1 min
  • From Stripper to Fitness Coach: Gav's Unconventional Journey into the Fat Loss Code

    From Stripper to Fitness Coach: Gav's Unconventional Journey into the Fat Loss Code
    Jan 7 2026
    In this episode, Brad sits down with Gav, a fitness expert with a unique background in sports science and a 17-year career in male stripping. Gav shares his unconventional journey into the fitness industry, detailing how he transitioned from entertaining audiences to becoming a personal trainer and eventually moving his business online. They discuss the complexities of weight loss, emphasising the importance of understanding calories in versus calories out, and the psychological aspects of dieting. Gav highlights the significance of changing one's identity to achieve sustainable weight loss, discussing how mindset and discipline play crucial roles in long-term success. KEY TAKEAWAYS Achieving and maintaining weight loss requires a fundamental change in identity. Individuals must see themselves as someone who engages in healthy behaviours, such as exercising regularly and making mindful food choices. Weight management fundamentally revolves around the principle of calories in versus calories out. To lose weight, one must consume fewer calories than they burn, but this equation is influenced by various factors, including metabolism, activity level, and the thermic effect of food. High protein intake is crucial for weight loss and satiety. Increasing protein levels can help individuals feel fuller and more satisfied, making it easier to adhere to a calorie deficit. Motivation can get someone started on their fitness journey, but discipline is what sustains long-term success. Building discipline involves saying no to unhealthy choices and developing habits that align with one's health goals. Finding the right caloric intake for weight loss is often a process of trial and error. It's essential to monitor how one feels and responds to different calorie levels, adjusting as necessary to ensure sustainable progress. BEST MOMENTS "Calories in, calories out, is a very simplistic way of describing a quite complex equation that is always going on. But it is absolutely 100% true." "The perception of hunger is very different to one person to the next." "If you don't believe that I'm someone that gets 10,000 steps a day, or hits the gym three days a week, you'll never have that six-pack." "I like to be quite aggressive in the first two weeks. If we can get someone to lose five, six pounds in the first two or three weeks, their level of trust has just gone through the roof." HOST BIO Brad Staines is a founder in the thick of it - but by design, not by default. As the face of Aquamark Cleaning, he’s built a multi-million-pound operation with 30+ team members, strong systems, and a culture that gives people space to grow. He’s still involved in the business a couple of days a week - but only doing the parts he genuinely enjoys: building relationships, growing the brand, spending time with the team, and spotting new opportunities. The day-to-day grind? That’s been handed over to a structure that runs without constant firefighting. Brad’s also found his rhythm outside of business - with a deep commitment to physical and mental training. Whether it’s strength work, early morning runs, or cold plunges, he’s a believer that how you show up for yourself shapes how you show up as a leader. Working On It is where he brings it all together - growth, grit, and getting better every week
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    45 mins
  • Building Cathedrals, Not Just Laying Bricks: The Importance of Vision in Life

    Building Cathedrals, Not Just Laying Bricks: The Importance of Vision in Life
    Jan 2 2026
    To kick off the new year, Brad interviews mindset coach Paul, who shares his remarkable journey from a challenging childhood to becoming the youngest cruise director in the world. Paul reflects on how his early experiences in acting and a desire to escape his past shaped his mindset and fuelled his ambition. He discusses the transformative power of positive thinking and the importance of evolving one's mindset to achieve personal goals. KEY TAKEAWAYS The journey to becoming a mindset coach began with a desire to escape a challenging childhood. Engaging in acting provided an early outlet for self-expression and exploration, which later translated into a passion for helping others change their thinking. Exposure to books like "The Power of Positive Thinking" and "The Power of the Subconscious Mind" ignited a belief in the potential to control one's thoughts and emotions, leading to significant personal and professional achievements, including becoming the youngest cruise director in the world. The importance of experiences over material possessions is emphasised. True fulfillment comes from meaningful experiences and relationships rather than simply accumulating wealth or status. A structured approach called "Engage" was developed, consisting of six steps: Evolve, Nirvana, Grace, Action, Grit, and Education. This framework guides individuals in transforming their mindset and achieving their goals. Emphasising the need for resilience, the discussion highlights that challenges are a natural part of life. Viewing setbacks as feedback rather than failures is crucial for personal growth and maintaining a positive mindset. BEST MOMENTS "I came to the understanding that you can become anything you want if you can control your thinking and your emotions." "I decided to believe in myself, and it was the most apparent thing ever, because I made up in my head that I was going to prove him wrong." "If you're a miserable person, it doesn't matter where you go in the world; you can go to Mexico on holiday, and you'll still be miserable." "It's really funny that something when you're a child can shape the rest of your life." "The key to success is to live in what I call a state of grace and grace is the system to do this." HOST BIO Brad Staines is a founder in the thick of it - but by design, not by default. As the face of Aquamark Cleaning, he’s built a multi-million-pound operation with 30+ team members, strong systems, and a culture that gives people space to grow. He’s still involved in the business a couple of days a week - but only doing the parts he genuinely enjoys: building relationships, growing the brand, spending time with the team, and spotting new opportunities. The day-to-day grind? That’s been handed over to a structure that runs without constant firefighting. Brad’s also found his rhythm outside of business - with a deep commitment to physical and mental training. Whether it’s strength work, early morning runs, or cold plunges, he’s a believer that how you show up for yourself shapes how you show up as a leader. Working On It is where he brings it all together - growth, grit, and getting better every week.
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    1 hr and 29 mins
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