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What One Thing?
One business. One lesson. Every week.
Real businesses. Real stories. Real-time.
What One Thing? is the straight-talking weekly podcast for growing UK businesses with a team who are on the move — building, scaling, and figuring it out as they go.
Join co-hosts Hayley Baxter (Corbar Accounting) and Phil Davenport (Affirm IT) as they chat with fellow business owners and share their own lessons from the journey — the things they wish they'd known, the wins, the wobbles, and the one thing that made the biggest difference.
Each episode is 15–25 minutes of real-world insight, a few laughs, and practical takeaways to help you grow a better business — without the fluff.
🎙️ Expect:
- Honest interviews with business owners on the grow
- Topic episodes on key business challenges
- Straight answers, no jargon
- One clear lesson, every week
👀 Also on YouTube — because yes, it’s filmed too.
📍 Based in Derbyshire, speaking to businesses across the UK.
New episodes every week — follow to catch the next one.
What One Thing?
Taking Radical Responsibility in Business: How Jo Simpson Survived the 2008 Crash
What do you do when your business looks successful on the outside… but the numbers tell a very different story?
In this episode of What One Thing, Hayley Baxter (Corbar Accounting) and Phil Davenport (Affirm IT Services) talk to Jo Simpson, an accountant who grew multiple businesses – including two multi–seven-figure ventures – before the 2008 crash exposed just how fragile things really were.
Jo shares:
- How she realised strong revenue was hiding weak financial foundations
- Why she spent months blaming the government, banks and everyone else before accepting that nobody was coming to save her
- The “stop it and tidy up” approach she used to face every number, cost and commitment in both life and business
- How honest conversations with suppliers, clients and even HMRC helped her keep going when most businesses folded
Phil and Hayley use Jo’s story as a springboard to talk about:
- The difference between blame and responsibility for business owners
- Why knowing your numbers and having solid IT systems is essential if you want a resilient, scalable business
- How strong relationships – with suppliers, clients and your team – can carry you through a recession, a pandemic and everything in between
If you’re a business owner in the East Midlands (or anywhere else) who wants to grow and sleep at night, this episode will challenge how you think about responsibility, risk and leadership.
What One Thing Podcast – with Phil & Hayley
Each week, business owners share the one thing that made the biggest difference in their business journey — and hosts Phil (Affirm IT Services) and Hayley (Corbar Accounting) dive into the lessons, laughs, and lightbulb moments along the way.
If you’re a UK business owner looking for real stories and practical insights on growth, leadership, IT, and finance — this is the podcast for you!
Connect with the hosts
Phil Davenport | Affirm IT Services
LinkedIn
https://affirmit.co.uk/
Hayley Baxter | Corbar Accounting
LinkedIn
https://corbar.uk/
Follow What One Thing
Listen & watch on: https://www.pod.whatonething.uk/
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