North Star Conversations | Unlock Your Potential, Performance & Purpose

Episode Notes
In this episode, I sit down with Sarah Abel, founder of TNB (a leading UK apprenticeship training provider) and headline sponsor of Ahead in AI, our upcoming event on November 10th, 2026. We talk about her winding path through roughly ten failed businesses before finding success in the hair and beauty industry, the childhood trauma - her father's suicide and becoming a full-time carer for her mother by age ten - that quietly shaped her drive for decades, and the belief she had to unlearn: that everything was hers to fix. Sarah shares the pivotal coaching investment that took her business from £400k to £1 million in two years, the profound recent challenge of her husband's dementia diagnosis, and why she believes AI education is the single biggest opportunity - and threat - facing small businesses today.
Don't miss the opportunity to take the first step towards a more fulfilling life. Book your complimentary clarity call today and discover how Will Polston can help you achieve the success you deserve. 💡 https://willpolston.com/book-a-call/
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Video Chapters
00:00 - Introduction, and TMB as headline sponsor for Ahead in AI
01:11 - The £18,000 AI qualification businesses can access for free or near-free
02:39 - How old was she when she started her first business?
03:07 - About ten failed businesses before finding what worked
04:08 - Not seeing the value of paying for education when she was young
04:33 - Learning to sell through network marketing at Amway
05:13 - Teaching Avon reps to sell through parties instead of door-to-door
06:38 - Realizing she was making someone else rich, not herself
06:58 - Walking into a nail salon and buying the business on the spot
07:37 - £75,000 in debt at the time she took the leap
08:12 - Her only employee walking out with half the client base
08:40 - Pivoting into body piercing for a better revenue stream
09:21 - Building "That Nail Place" through word of mouth
10:04 - Scaling into multiple salons
11:06 - Realizing she was training her own future competitors
12:03 - Meeting Keith and stumbling into the apprenticeship model
13:14 - How TMB began, back in 2008
14:31 - Expanding from nail apprenticeships into leadership training
15:36 - Deciding to move beyond hair and beauty to scale further
16:35 - Learning to write standout government tenders
17:08 - Getting onto the training provider register
17:32 - Landing a £500,000 government contract
18:10 - Why personal development felt pointless to her when younger
19:37 - The real ROI she's gotten from personal development
19:57 - Discovering business coaching through Clubhouse
20:45 - Investing £56,000 in coaching on a £400,000 business
21:07 - Growing to £580,000, then £1 million within two years
21:48 - Realizing her limiting belief was believing she wasn't good enough
22:44 - The coach's comment that finally got through to her
23:24 - Introducing the "feather, the brick, the bus" concept
24:13 - Considering retirement and a sale offer for the business
25:22 - Noticing something was seriously wrong with her husband Andy
27:07 - A beach epiphany in Tenerife: the belief "I have to fix everything"
28:10 - Her father's suicide when she was seven years old
29:10 - Vowing to protect her mother from further pain
29:43 - Becoming a child carer at age ten
30:10 - Finding her mother collapsed on the floor at fourteen
32:14 - How trauma fueled - and limited - her drive in business
33:11 - The pride of seeing former trainees go on to succeed
33:46 - The wake-up call: "Why are you always trying to save everyone?"
34:00 - Andy's diagnosis: frontal temporal dementia at 62
36:39 - The concept of direct vs. indirect mentors
36:59 - The single most valuable lesson from coaching: her North Star
37:23 - Her North Star having to change this year
37:43 - Breaking down in tears at a business event after the diagnosis
38:05 - Realizing she didn't have to be "the carer" or "the CEO"
39:31 - A message from a former student that redefined success for her
40:20 - Legacy as something you build now, not leave behind
41:18 - How TMB evolved from hair and beauty into AI education
41:40 - Discovering AI through a friend and the book "Scary Smart"
42:24 - Finding UK funding and creating the AI Practitioner qualification
43:17 - Why people are right to be scared of AI - and why education is the answer
45:11 - Falling behind competitors without realizing it
45:35 - Being compared to Amazon-level service, whatever your business
47:09 - Daniel Priestley's marathon analogy on falling behind with AI
48:01 - How the £18,000 AI qualification actually works
50:42 - The free 90-minute AI audit for business owners
51:42 - The difference between using ChatGPT and truly implementing AI
52:22 - Building custom AI tools that replace £100k of software spend
53:22 - Why most business owners just need a clear plan
54:15 - Where to find TAB Skills Training and the AI apprenticeship
54:40 - Ahead in AI ticket sales selling out within hours
55:03 - How to connect with Sarah
55:27 - Final reflection: "Can I change?"
56:12 - Her advice: get educated, build belief, close the skills gap
57:00 - Closing remarks
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Relevant Links For the Viewer and Citations
Website - https://www.willpolston.com
Instagram - https://instagram.com/willpolston
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/willpolstonmih
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/willpolston/
Twitter / X - https://x.com/willpolston
TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@willpolston
Check out TAB Skills Training: https://aipractitioner.tnbskillstraining.co.uk/aiauditlinktreee
Connect with Sarah on Instagram and LinkedIn: search "Sarah Abel"

Originally aired: May 2025
Episode Number: 234
Going from feeling capable of anything to questioning your own confidence can be a difficult part of rebuilding yourself. 
In this episode highlight of North Star Conversations with Will Polston, On a Mission Podcast Host Ellie McKay explores her journey of rebuilding confidence after experiencing a dramatic change in circumstances. Discover why personal development is an ongoing process, the importance of authenticity and self-reflection, and how focusing on small, consistent improvements can help you become a stronger version of yourself.
Listen to the full episode here: 
https://kite.link/elliemckay

Originally aired: April 2025
Episode Number: 232
Strong relationships, shared values, and a willingness to evolve can create opportunities that go far beyond business. 
In this episode highlight of North Star Conversations with Will Polston, President and Founder of BITA Paul Whitnell shares the evolution of BITA, the relationships that helped shape its growth, and the importance of creating a culture built around integrity, trust, and shared values. Discover how BITA has expanded internationally, why controlling growth is essential for long-term sustainability, and how building the right network can create opportunities for people to learn, connect, and support one another.
Listen to the full episode here:
https://kite.link/paulwhitnell

Episode Notes
In this episode, I sit down with Jacob Lockwood, a former soldier in the Coldstream Guards turned founder of Lockwood Clothing, a British-made outerwear brand built on military-grade design and an unshakeable commitment to UK manufacturing. We talk about the dark moment driving down the M4 that made him realize something had to change, the decision to leave the Army with just 12 months to make his business work, and the terrifying week he came four days from losing his house. Jacob shares the discipline and integrity he carried from 15 years of service into business, his belief that "no one has depression, they have feelings of depression," and why he'd rather keep his manufacturing British than sell his products for a third of the price overseas.
Don't miss the opportunity to take the first step towards a more fulfilling life. Book your complimentary clarity call today and discover how Will Polston can help you achieve the success you deserve. 💡 https://willpolston.com/book-a-call/
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Video Chapters
00:00 - Introduction: soldier, entrepreneur, or fashion designer?
02:32 - Finding your North Star
03:15 - Growing up in a single-parent household in Middlesbrough
04:26 - Falling in with the wrong crowd and being sent to live with his gran
05:38 - The ultimatum that became his saving grace
06:58 - Seeing an Army advert and finding his path
07:34 - Joining the Coldstream Guards and the anti-tank platoon
09:38 - The military values that shaped who he is today, and why your word matters
11:52 - The dark moment on the M4 that changed everything
13:02 - Going home, speaking to his wife Ruth, and seeking help
13:53 - Deciding to leave the Army with 12 months to make it work
14:51 - "Nobody has depression, they have feelings of depression"
16:34 - The failed waterproof jacket that sparked the idea
17:31 - The Falklands story behind his first invention: casualty evacuation stretchers
19:20 - How Covid and the Ukraine war shaped that first business
21:27 - Why military contracts fell apart, and pivoting to clothing
23:41 - Describing Lockwood's products and British manufacturing
24:21 - The functional mushroom brand he launched and sold in 2022
26:19 - How new Trading Standards rules killed the product's core value
27:39 - Why he refuses to manufacture overseas, whatever the cost
30:40 - The debate around what "British made" really means
31:00 - Where he was when the Queen died
34:14 - How signing off from the Army created real urgency
35:43 - Putting his house on the line, and the four days he nearly lost it
37:36 - Asking for help, and getting rescued by his now business partner
39:23 - How to determine who's actually worth asking for help
42:13 - Why coaching matters more in business than in the military
44:01 - How to choose the right coach: four things to evaluate
46:15 - Why coaching, content, and community work best combined
48:50 - Daily habits: cold showers and weekly letters to the King
50:07 - Getting replies from the Palace, and being recognized by name
53:04 - The next 1-3 years, and the goal of becoming a British Ralph Lauren
54:18 - How to connect with Lockwood Clothing
55:11 - Final reflection: the question he wishes people asked him
57:12 - Why business ownership can be lonely, and the value of support groups
58:54 - Closing remarks
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Relevant Links For the Viewer and Citations
Website - https://www.willpolston.com
Instagram - https://instagram.com/willpolston
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/willpolstonmih
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/willpolston/
Twitter / X - https://x.com/willpolston
TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@willpolston
Check out Lockwood Clothing: https://www.lockwoodsmocks.com
Connect with Lockwood Clothing on Instagram: @lockwoodclothing
About Me: I am dedicated to helping individuals and businesses unlock their true potential through expert coaching and training programs. I'm passionate about empowering others to achieve their dreams and live a life they love. Subscribe for more insights and tips on personal development, productivity, and achieving your goals. Let's embark on this journey together!

Originally aired: April 2025
Episode Number: 231
Business failures can teach you some of the most valuable lessons in entrepreneurship, forcing you to reflect, adapt, and rethink your approach.
In this episode highlight of North Star Conversations with Will Polston, entrepreneur, investor, bestselling author, and keynote speaker James Ashford shares how his first business failure taught him the importance of financial discipline, strong systems, mentorship, and building a company that isn't dependent on you. Discover how learning from setbacks, investing in personal development, and simplifying complex ideas can help you turn difficult experiences into the foundation for your next chapter.
Listen to the full episode here: 
https://kite.link/jamesashford