Episode Details

In this episode, Brad dives deep into the fascinating intersection of psychology and branding with Claire Marshall, founder of Brand Mixology. Claire shares her unique journey from corporate recruitment to hypnotherapy, and ultimately, to helping founders build powerful personal brands. We explore why ‘yellow pages’ advertising is dead, how our primal need for human connection influences buying decisions, and why AI should enhance, not replace, your authentic voice. 

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Success comes from owning your unique blend of experiences, skills, and personality quirks. 

In an era of AI-generated content and endless ads, consumers crave authentic human connection. Building trust through a personal brand is more effective than shouting the loudest.

True accountability isn't about being told off; it's about having a support system or community that validates your progress and keeps you moving toward your goals when motivation wanes.

Avoid ‘throwing spaghetti at the wall’. Use Claire's ‘Vivid Framework’ (Vision, Identity, Visibility, Innovation, Data) to ensure every marketing action aligns with your core business goals and customer needs.

Don’t ignore the numbers. Regularly reviewing simple metrics, like engagement or consistency, can reveal what’s actually working, allowing you to pivot before you waste resources on ineffective strategies.

BEST MOMENTS

"You can only see the journey when you join the dots backwards."

"Success comes from your own mix of experiences, of the trial and error, and also of what makes you unique."

"You don't ask somebody to marry you on day one... [that's] probably not the most effective strategy."

"All data is good data. I think sometimes people don't want to look at it because the data can be stuff you don't want to hear, but actually that's the good stuff to hear."

"If you can really own who you are and what you want that life to be... take that stand aside from what is considered the 'safer route'."

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.