5 Star Focus Programme

Ok so 2020 sucked for pretty much everyone. But how is 2021 going to be better for you?

Hoping & wishing isn’t enough. You need to think AND act positively with real focus, clarity & intention!

After making huge changes in my personal & professional life in January 2020, I ended the year feeling happier, healthier, fitter (physically, mentally & emotionally) & creatively fulfilled by getting clear on what it is that I REALLY want in life & then pursuing it every day. Everything else is a distraction.

After running 3 internationally-renowned Newcastle Startup Week festivals for 600-800 people in 2017, 2018 & 2019, I started living my professional & personal life according to the same 5 themes as my events from 1st December 2019 onwards.

• Monday = INSPIRATION
• Tuesday = GETTING STARTED
• Wednesday = FUNDING & FINANCE
• Thursday = GROWING & SCALING
• Friday = KEEP GOING OR PIVOT

This has worked so well for me I now want to help other people see the benefits of following the same 5 themes by working directly with them on a 1-2-1 basis over 5 days.

I’m not a life or leadership coach but I am an award-winning PRACTITIONER. Someone with proven experience & expertise in building & managing communities online & offline, personal online branding, inbound marketing, content marketing, digital marketing, social media, business development, networking, PR & events for startups, micro businesses, established SMEs, scaleups & large organisations which I've been doing for the past 15yrs.

I am:

• An award-winning SuperConnector of entrepreneurs, intrapreneurs & investors
• Winner of the ‘PROFILE’ category at the North East Times Impact Awards 2019
• Winner of the ‘Collaborator of the Year’ award at Dynamo North East’s Dynamites Awards in 2016 & 2017
• Co-author of the ‘Small Business Marketing for Dummies’ book published by Wiley in 2013
• Host of the ‘SuperConnector Show’ podcast (on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Spreaker, etc)
• Founder, Event Producer & Host of the physical 5-day Newcastle Startup Week festivals, 1-day Newcastle Scaleup Summit & monthly Founders’ Friday events
• Creator of the online Startup Week Community (where the 5-day Startup Week ONLINE events took place in May & September 2020 & where the monthly Founders’ Friday events now take place)
• Owner of two businesses – Plan Digital (Inbound Marketing & Community Engagement Consultancy) & TRYBES (A data-driven signposting & matchmaking platform for entrepreneurs & investors)
• A Spiritual Stoic!
• A 43yr old skateboarder & former semi-pro dance music DJ/producer, label owner & club promoter
• A father to two kids (my son is 11 & daughter is 8)
• An ex-husband (I separated amicably from my wife of 12yrs in February 2020)

I’ve also worked for over 20yrs in the private, public & third sectors either as an employee or consultant for companies & organisations including Sage, British Airways, Shell, Generator, Project North East, Tech North (now part of Tech Nation), Newcastle City Council / North of Tyne CA, property developers & more.

So, if you’re REALLY serious about making some major changes to the way you operate because your old ways aren’t working (they’re not for most people), then I’m inviting you to join my new 5 Star Focus Programme.

How does this work?

My first 5 Star Focus Programme took place with 3 small business owners between 11-15 January 2020.

Each month, I’m now looking to work with up to 5 people (max) over 5 days (Monday-Friday) on whatever it is they need to help them move forward & take things to the next level in 2021.

Every day, we will start with a 1hr Zoom call where we discuss the themes for the day, challenges they are facing & ways they can overcome them either on their own or with my direct help & hands-on support. (Cohort members will be invited to join a group Zoom call too so they can learn from each other).

Ideas & tasks for each day are captured for each person on their own Trello board (online To Do List tool) that we can both access & collaborate on. I then work alongside each person to put specific thoughts into action & help get things done.

Everyone who takes part also gains access to my private online ‘Startup Week Community’ for 12 months which is currently ￡150 per person. (If you’re already a Member I’ll discount the price of the 5 Star Focus Programme by the price you have already paid to join the Startup Week Community).

Who are you?

You already are (or would like to become) at least one of the following:

• An existing or potential entrepreneur / new business owner
• An intrapreneur (someone in a job that wants to start their own business or just be more innovative)
• A business (or political) leader who wants to be more innovative / entrepreneurial
• A creative that needs to learn how to be more business-savvy
• A business owner who has lost their mojo & wants to feel motivated & inspired again
• A business owner who wants to get more organised with better systems & processes
• A business owner that is great at what they do but wants to get better at online marketing
• Someone who is committed to learning & personal development
• Someone who is open to new ideas & doesn’t think they already know it all
• Someone who wants to raise their profile & grow their personal online brand
• Someone who is going through a major change in their personal life & needs some friendly support
• Someone who has had enough of wishing, watching or waiting & wants to start doing!

(I am limiting each cohort to one person per sector / industry type to avoid competition so if you want to be the only person in your field to take part, sign up below before your competitors do)!

How much does this cost?

My new 5 Star Focus Programme is currently ￡500 per person & can be booked directly here or you can email me at [email protected] if you have any questions beforehand or if you’re already a Member of my online Startup Week Community & want the reduced price.

If ￡500 is too much for you but you would still like a 1-2-1 business consultation with me & daily inspiration, advice & support, you can join my online Startup Week Community for just ￡150 for 12 months.

And if you really don’t have any money to spend on your personal development, you can still learn (albeit at a much slower pace) if you Subscribe to my YouTube Channel & Follow me on Twitter, LinkedIn & Instagram.

Whatever you decide to do, let’s make 2021 a truly epic year together!

Paul Lancaster (aka @lordlancaster)