In this episode of the Meet Your Inspiration Podcast, Rich and Meri sit down with James Gardner, a serial entrepreneur and managing director of six businesses, who shares his remarkable journey from washing cars at age 14 to building and selling an international manufacturing company. James reveals how leaving university early to pursue practical experience shaped his entrepreneurial path, leading him through corporate roles in London before co-founding a business with his brother that grew from a dressing table startup to a global enterprise.The conversation explores James's unique approach to business acquisition, demonstrating how he leverages ”other people's money” to buy companies rather than starting from scratch. He shares candid insights about returning to his roots in the funeral industry, where he now owns multiple funeral homes across Kent, implementing innovative practices while maintaining the sensitivity required in serving grieving families.James delves deep into his leadership philosophy, emphasising the importance of people-first management, cash flow discipline, and maintaining a compelling vision. He discusses practical strategies for building trust within teams, including running regular ”ideas and suggestions” meetings that resulted in over 100 implemented improvements in just 90 days. The discussion also covers his passion project, Amazing 3D Goals, where he coaches and mentors aspiring leaders from schoolchildren to CEOs.Throughout the episode, James addresses the mental health challenges of entrepreneurship, sharing his daily routines for resilience, including meditation, journaling, and participating in peer groups like Vistage. He advocates for hiring based on attitude rather than qualifications, explains the complexities of integrating acquired businesses, and reveals why he believes buying a business is statistically less risky than starting one.• Early work experiences from age 11 shaped an entrepreneurial mindset• Left university to gain practical business experience• Co-founded a manufacturing business that expanded internationally• Successfully sold the company to global corporation Sinclair & Rush• Pioneered business acquisition using leveraged finance strategies• Owns and operates multiple funeral businesses across Kent• Founded Amazing 3D Goals for leadership coaching and mentoring• Emphasises people, cash flow, and vision as leadership pillars• Implements staff empowerment through suggestion programs• Advocates hiring for attitude over technical qualifications• Practices daily mental health routines for entrepreneurial resilience• Participates in CEO peer groups for continuous learning• Believes business acquisition offers lower risk than startups• Integrates compassion and innovation in traditional industries• Mentors others in business buying and leadership development00:41 – Introduction to James Gardner03:00 – An Entrepreneur's Early Start05:39 – Launching a Manufacturing Business07:36 – Strategy for Success: Market Gaps09:35 – Expanding the Business to the US12:22 – Persistence and Attitude in Sales15:19 – Acquiring a New Business18:26 – How to Buy a Business Without Capital22:39 – Seller’s True Motivation25:05 – Leadership over Technical Knowledge27:21 – Pillars of Leadership31:14 – Fostering Change with Employee Ideas34:37 – Empowering and Trusting Teams39:19 – Hiring for Attitude42:41 – Integrating Acquired Businesses44:55 – Workplace Culture Integration45:40 – Exploring Diverse Ventures47:44 – Loneliness of Leadership50:30 – Reframing Failure52:04 – Daily Self-Review54:11 – Reading the Room in Business56:12 – Learning to Adapt01:00:32 – Learning from Bad Leadership01:03:15 – Family and Mentors01:05:41 – Continuous Learning and Mentorship01:08:06 – Vistage: CEO Peer Group01:10:17 – Mental Resilience Routine01:14:02 – 90-Day Habit Challenge01:19:35 – Acquiring vs Starting a BusinessI