In this episode of the 1000 podcast, host Ron Placone speaks with Robin Waite, author, mentor, coach, and entrepreneur. They discuss Robin’s upbringing, career journey, approach to coaching, business philosophy, personal challenges, and his thoughts on success, freedom, and happiness.
Below is a comprehensive look at their engaging, honest, and sometimes deeply personal conversation.
Ron is a comedian, writer, and filmmaker based in San Pedro, Los Angeles, known for his sharp wit and restless creativity. A true joke-slinging vagabond, he has toured extensively across the US, Australia, and Canada, with his solo show “Balding is Punk Rock” debuting at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2023. Ron has appeared on the Discovery Channel, CrossTalk, and Redacted Tonight, and is a regular contributor to Status Coup News. His debut comedy album, “Agnostic Holiday”, is in rotation on SiriusXM. In recent years, he’s expanded into film production with projects like the feature Left At Wall, sold-out screenings in the US and London, and upcoming works including Termination Fee (a film and stage play). He also hosts the podcast 1000 w/ Ron Placone, where he interviews inspiring people from all walks of life. Outside of work, he enjoys beach strolls and punk shows, and is an outspoken lover of cats, unions, cannoli, music, hockey, and soccer, while firmly opposing war, capitalism, and corruption.
What We Discussed on the 1000 Podcast
- Embracing Childhood Passions: Robin’s love of immersive play and creative toys laid the foundation for his problem-solving and entrepreneurial mindset.
- Turning Setbacks into Opportunities: An injury ended his rugby dreams but redirected his energy into business, showing resilience in the face of change.
- Learning from Early Ventures: Robin’s success selling rugged tablets on eBay taught him to spot market needs and build ventures even without traditional approval.
- Evolving from Agency Owner to Coach: Burnout led Robin to sell his agency and focus on family, ultimately discovering a more fulfilling path in coaching and mentoring.
- Building a Business on Authentic Connections: From coffee chats to webinars, Robin grew his coaching practice organically by sharing his story and offering real value.
- Redefining Success with Balance: He champions financial freedom, fulfilment, and guilt-free time off, showing that success includes health, happiness, and family time.
- Adapting to Life’s Challenges: A brain tumour diagnosis forced Robin to reprioritise, take action on long-postponed dreams, and appreciate the urgency of living fully.
- Advocating for Mindset Shifts: Through patience, gratitude, and rejecting stress over trivial matters, Robin demonstrates the value of a calmer, more intentional life.
- Inspiring Others to Take Their Shot: His story is a call to act despite fear, avoid regret, and define success on your own terms rather than following conventional paths.
Who is Robin Waite?
Robin Waite is a business coach and mentor based in Gloucestershire, UK. He’s the author of Take Your Shot, a business parable teaching people how to turn passion projects into sustainable businesses.
- Lives in Gloucestershire, described as classic English countryside
- Author of several business books, including Take Your Shot
- Runs his coaching practice, Fearless Business
- Has clients in over 26 countries
Robin's Early Life and Upbringing
Childhood in Gloucestershire
Robin grew up and still lives in Gloucestershire. He describes it as the quintessential English countryside, rolling hills and charming towns.
- Loved immersive play as a child
- Obsessed with Lego
- Played with handmade wooden toys built by his father
- Emphasised the value of "flow" and deep, uninterrupted play
Discovering Rugby
- Played rugby from school into men’s rugby for 15 years
- Loved the culture, camaraderie, and friendships
- Was on the verge of trials for a professional career at 17
- An injury a week before trials ended this path
- A classic "sliding doors" moment in his life
Early Entrepreneurial Ventures
After rugby ended, Robin turned to business.
The Birth of an Entrepreneur
- Late 1990s: Fascination with the early Internet
- School business plan for an Internet café was dismissed by teachers as unrealistic
- Started buying and selling Toshiba convertible tablets on eBay
- Bought for ~£500 each, sold for £5000–£6000
- Realised construction companies loved them for their rugged design
- Made enough money for cars, holidays, and to fuel further ventures
First Limited Company
- In 2004, co-founded his first formal business with a friend
- Built websites, sold PCs
- Marked the start of his formal entrepreneurial journey
Coaching Career: How Robin Found His Calling
Leaving the Agency World
- Ran his agency for ~12 years
- Handled ~180 customers with a small team
- Experienced slow-burn burnout
- “One day I just woke up and couldn’t face it anymore”
- Sold the agency in 2016
- Used the time to focus on family as his second daughter was born
From Coffee Chats to Paid Mentoring
- Initially offered mentoring in exchange for coffee and cake
- Realised he loved these conversations
- Hosted webinars aimed at other web designers
- Unexpectedly attracted his first paying client, a golf pro named Russ
Writing Take Your Shot
Robin’s best-known book grew out of his early coaching experiences.
The Inspiration
- Used his real-life first client Russ as the foundation for the story
- Aimed to replicate the effectiveness of business books told as parables
- Built on his own experiences running and selling an agency
Why the Storytelling Approach Works
- Real emotions drawn from his own challenges
- Designed to resonate with readers who see themselves in Russ
- Readers often say: "It felt like you were writing about me"
Coaching Philosophy: What Robin Actually Does
Coach vs. Mentor vs. Consultant
Robin clarifies the distinction:
- Coach: Asks questions to help clients discover answers themselves
- Mentor: Shares their own experiences and guidance
- Consultant: Does the work for the client
Robin says he blends coaching and mentoring about 50/50, despite “pure coaches” frowning on telling clients what to do.
Keys to Business Success
Robin breaks down success into three core elements:
1. Financial Freedom
- Take charge of your own finances
- Entrepreneurship offers flexibility and opportunity
- Even modest side hustles can help people move away from living paycheque to paycheque
2. Fulfilment
- Work should be something you enjoy
- Robin notes 40% of workers are unhappy in their jobs
- Encourages people to find their passion, even if it takes time and experimentation
3. Freedom and Guilt-Free Time Off
- Advocates for intentional, regular breaks
- Takes Fridays off completely
- Uses it for leisure, family, and relaxation
- Calls this a “muscle” people need to exercise
How to Build a Location-Agnostic Business
Robin advises would-be digital nomads to:
- Start Local
- Networking events
- Build a client base nearby
- Sharpen Your Skills
- Use local clients to refine your offer
- Expand Gradually
- He gained international clients over time through reputation and referrals
Example of Early Hustle
- 38 speaking engagements in one year
- 44 podcast interviews
- 12 networking events he organised himself
- 125 consultations led to 44 paying clients
Thoughts on Being a Digital Nomad
- Acknowledges it’s easier before having children
- Notes that with kids, relocation requires careful planning
- Personally loves Gloucestershire for raising his daughters
- Recently travelled to Dubai
- Found it unexpectedly inspiring
- Realised the importance of taking opportunities before it’s too late
Confronting Health Challenges
Brain Tumour Diagnosis
- In August last year, Robin was diagnosed with a subependymoma
- Grade 1 benign tumour on his brainstem
- It’s slow growing but requires monitoring with regular MRIs
- Surgery would be risky due to its location controlling critical functions
Impact on Perspective
- Forced Robin to stop putting things off
- Renovations at home
- Booking holidays immediately
- Pursuing international speaking gigs
“If there’s a place you want to live, go and make it happen. Don’t delay because the worst thing is regret.”
Mindset Shifts: Handling Stress and Priorities
Lessons from the Diagnosis
- Life became sharply focused
- Learned not to sweat the small stuff
- Shares an anecdote about a man furious at broken Wi-Fi on a plane
Embracing Patience
- Parenting taught him patience
- Says every patient moment is like gaining 30 seconds of life
Reflections on Longevity and Happiness
Keys to Longevity
- Less stress
- More patience
- Gratitude
- Prioritising quality time over material gains
Keys to Happiness
- Admits he’s not sure he’s ever been “truly happy”
- Describes moments of pure joy
- Especially a trip with his daughters watching them play on the beach at sunset
“Finding those moments, and knowing when they’re there, is the secret to happiness.”
Robin’s Gift for Listeners
Final Thoughts
Robin Waite’s conversation with Ron Placone is an inspiring look at:
- Perseverance and resilience
- Reinventing yourself after setbacks
- Building a business intentionally
- Balancing ambition with health and family
- Prioritising what truly matters
It’s a reminder that success isn’t one-size-fits-all, and that it’s never too late to “take your shot.”
