Goals DO Come True with Doug Bennett

Hosted by Doug Bennett

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Episodes

257

Latest episode

Nov 2026

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EN-GB

About the show

Welcome to Goals Do Come True with Doug Bennett, bestselling author, lifestyle financial planner, and international speaker. Each week, Doug will share insights with you from inspiring guests who have already achieved their work-optional dreams. You’ll get a ringside seat into real stories of people who have overcome bankruptcy, built and sold successful businesses, and are now living life on their own terms WITHOUT ever worrying about their finances. By the end of this journey, you’ll be one step closer to unlocking The Work Optional Lifestyle Financial Plan® – a toolkit of all the unique systems and processes you need to craft a lifestyle where work is truly optional. So, if you’re ready to embrace financial freedom, retire early, and do it without constantly pinching pennies, stay tuned for exciting new episodes released every Wednesday.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

November 4, 202650 min

£201,000 From Three Flips in 14 Months (Property Flipping, with Simon & Wendy Lee)

They started in a one-bedroom council flat. Now one 14-month run of three flips made them £201,000, and they say most people lose their profit by doing too much work. Simon and Wendy Lee have 30 years in property and now flip houses on the Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire border. They walk Doug through real numbers, real disasters (a mystery water main, a leaking wet room, a garden full of rotting aviaries) and the FLIPS system they teach: Find your funds, Location, Identify, Problems that only look bad, and Staging and Selling. Key takeaways:• Build a 10% contingency into every deal and roll the unused part into the next one.• Stay local (10 to 15 miles), because one side of a street isn’t worth the same as the other.• Fund it in circles: yourself, your home’s equity, family and friends, then networking.• “Back to brick” is a vanity metric. Most of the profit leaks out through over-refurbishing.• Some problems look expensive but cost very little.• Staging sells. Chapters:00:00 Intro02:46 Council flat to first rental05:27 Why they stopped being landlords06:35 Has the flipping boat sailed? £201k in 14 months09:53 The disasters: water main, wet room, aviaries12:24 The 10% contingency rule15:02 Why they stay within 15 miles17:11 How to fund a flip18:49 “It’s riskier not to buy”: bridging finance21:33 The double-probate deal25:02 What keeps them awake at night28:59 The FLIPS system36:12 Selling it yourself40:52 Your salary is £17 an hour45:19 Not being controlled by a job46:54 How to find them Simon & Wendy Lee:Website: www.realpropertytraining.comInstagram: real.property.people Website: http://dougbennett.co.ukEmail: doug@dougbennett.co.ukLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/financialdoug Download Your “Ten-Step Guide To Financial Freedom” Here:https://bit.ly/Struggle-Success BOOK:https://www.amazon.co.uk/Think-Simple-Win-Big-Business/dp/B09MYXXS88/ Past performance is not a guide to future returns. Nothing in this episode is financial advice.

October 28, 202643 min

It's Win-Win-Win-Win-Win (From Raves to Crisis Housing, with Tabs Wady)

She skipped a Moulin Rouge audition because she was too busy raving. Twenty-odd years later, councils and the NHS trust her to house people who turn up with their lives in bin bags. Tabs Wady trained at Guildhall, worked with Julie Walters and appeared in Kevin & Perry Go Large. Then she let the party lifestyle cost her the career she'd always wanted. Property had been her side hustle all along. With her husband Nick, she bought a rundown care home nobody else would touch, renovated it with babies on hips, and kept going when Nick's body forced him to close his business and their main income disappeared overnight. Today they run crisis housing on the south coast: safe, ready-made temporary homes for people leaving hospital, escaping domestic violence or coming off the streets. Doug asks how it works, who pays, and why her goal setting has come from the heart rather than a spreadsheet. Key takeaways: - Lose the passion and you lose the edge. Directors spotted it before Tabs did. - A risky career forced her into a side hustle, and the side hustle became the real wealth. - One income is one injury away from zero. - Crisis housing can be ethical and commercially solid, with income from local authorities, charities and the NHS. - The fear of being the pensioner buying only yellow-sticker food is a powerful money motivator. Chapters: 00:00 Welcome and introducing Tabs 01:07 Actor, mum and 30 years of property investing 03:38 Growing up with less, and why it became fuel 06:02 So convinced she'd be an actor nobody could stop her 09:44 Auditions with babies in pushchairs 13:51 Raving, Moulin Rouge and shooting herself in the foot 16:03 The stinking care home nobody wanted 17:47 Nick's body gives out and the income goes 19:05 Finding her tribe at Progressive Property 22:12 What crisis housing actually is 28:03 Who pays: councils, charities and the NHS 29:43 Goal setting from the heart, and the yellow sticker fear 40:33 Be happy, and advice to young people Website: http://dougbennett.co.uk Email: doug@dougbennett.co.uk LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/financialdoug Download Your "Ten-Step Guide To Financial Freedom" Here: https://bit.ly/Struggle-Success BOOK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Think-Simple-Win-Big-Business/dp/B09MYXXS88/

October 6, 202632 min

What Other People Think Is NONE of Your Business

Episode: How Confidence Actually Gets Built, with Helen von Dadelszen Helen von Dadelszen, founder of Present Potential Sàrl, admits upfront she's "averse to goals." She and Doug unpack why she's built a successful career and written a book on nerve management and confidence without ever setting a big audacious goal, what actually happens in the body when we get nervous, and why 18 out of 20 clients won't do the two-minute voice exercise she gives them even though they've paid for it. Helen von Dadelszen is the founder of Present Potential Sàrl, a communication and vocal coach who helps professionals in technical, scientific and humanitarian fields speak with clarity and confidence. She's the author of Courageous Action: Your Playbook for Communicating Confidently, One Small Step at a Time, and her approach draws heavily on improvisational theatre and Toastmasters. Helen can be found here: Website: academy.presentpotential.ch Book: Courageous Action — available wherever books are sold Doug Bennett can be found here: Website: http://dougbennett.co.uk Email: doug@dougbennett.co.uk LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/financialdoug Download Your "Ten-Step Guide To Financial Freedom" Here: https://bit.ly/Struggle-Success BOOK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Think-Simple-Win-Big-Business/dp/B09MYXXS88/

June 9, 20261 hr 4 min

Why Most People Never Get What They Want (And the Few Who Do)

Why do some people consistently get what they want while others never seem to get there? In this episode of Goals Do Come True, Doug Bennett sits down with Silicon Valley strategist, executive coach and author Julian Lighton. Having worked with billion-dollar companies and some of the world's most successful leaders, Julian argues that success has surprisingly little to do with talent and far more to do with clarity, discipline, decision-making and understanding yourself. The conversation explores why most people don't know what they really want, how successful people think differently, the importance of resilience, leadership, curiosity and why "doing is being." Whether you're building a business, planning your future or simply trying to make better decisions, Julian shares practical frameworks that can help you navigate what's next. Key Topics • Why success is personal • How to discover what you really want • Why talent is overrated • The role of discipline and consistency • Decision-making as a life skill • The problem with modern education • Leadership and the six traits successful organisations look for • Why most successful people are still unhappy • The power of curiosity • Why the journey matters more than the destination Connect with Julian Lighton Website: https://www.julianlighton.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julianlighton1/ Connect with Doug Bennett Website: http://dougbennett.co.uk Email: doug@dougbennett.co.uk LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/financialdoug Download Your "Ten-Step Guide To Financial Freedom" Here:https://bit.ly/Struggle-Success BOOK:https://www.amazon.co.uk/Think-Simple-Win-Big-Business/dp/B09MYXXS88/

May 19, 202654 min

“I Said Goodbye To My Daughter Before The Stunt”

Dailyn Matthews left an abusive marriage with a two-year-old daughter and rebuilt her life in one of the most dangerous, male-dominated industries in the world: stunt work. Now, after 26 years of falling, fighting, driving, escaping and surviving on camera, she’s also building a second career as an adventure photographer. In this episode of Goals Do Come True, Doug talks to stuntwoman and photographer Dailyn Matthews about survival, reinvention, creativity, AI, motherhood, goal-setting, and what it really takes to keep going when life forces you to start again. From dangerous film sets to volcanoes in Hawaii, underwater photo shoots, vision boards, TED Talk dreams and the power of doing the fun thing first, this is a story about choosing courage over comfort. Key Takeaways Why Dailyn became a stuntwoman as a single mother What it’s really like working in a male-dominated stunt industry The terrifying Houdini water tank stunt How AI is affecting both stunt work and photography Why human connection still matters more than perfect technology How creative vision boards help Dailyn set bigger goals Why “do the fun thing first” might be the best productivity advice you hear this week LinkedIn - Dailyn Matthews Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/dailyn.matthews/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/dailynmatthewsstudio/ Chapters 00:00 – Why Doug invited Dailyn onto the podcast01:36 – Leaving an abusive marriage and starting again03:40 – Breaking into the male-dominated stunt world06:45 – Why reputation matters on set09:17 – Can you really have it all?10:32 – AI, strikes and the changing film industry15:45 – Photography, travel and bringing the world back to her father20:33 – Why AI can mimic nature but cannot create it23:31 – Watching a volcano erupt in Hawaii30:19 – The girl in the orange dress project35:08 – TED Talk dreams and empowering young women37:20 – The terrifying Houdini water tank stunt44:56 – Why Dailyn’s vision boards actually work53:43 – “Do the fun thing first”58:53 – What Dailyn wanted from this podcast Website: http://dougbennett.co.uk Email: doug@dougbennett.co.uk LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/financialdoug Download Your "Ten-Step Guide To Financial Freedom" Here:https://bit.ly/Struggle-Success BOOK:https://www.amazon.co.uk/Think-Simple-Win-Big-Business/dp/B09MYXXS88/

May 12, 20261 hr 2 min

Why Most People Stay Stuck (And How to Break Through) | Paul Becque

Why do some people keep progressing while others stay stuck for years? In this episode, mindset coach and entrepreneur Paul Becque joins Doug Bennett to unpack the hidden patterns holding people back—from self-restriction and distraction to poor goal setting and lack of action. This is a practical conversation about momentum, discipline, productivity and personal growth without the usual motivational fluff. Paul shares lessons from decades in business, personal development and high-performance coaching. The conversation explores: Why entrepreneurs sabotage themselves How dopamine-driven distraction kills progress Why small goals outperform huge ambitions The mindset shift from “go-getter” to “go-giver” How micro-mapping creates momentum and consistency Paul also opens up about going bust three times, taking risks, and learning that success without personal growth means very little. Key Takeaways Most people are held back by self-restriction, not lack of opportunity Scrolling and distraction are programming people away from meaningful work Small consistent actions outperform intense short bursts Productivity improves when you track behaviour without self-judgment Success becomes more sustainable when contribution replaces ego LinkedIn - Paul Becque Website - https://www.engagewithsuccess.com/connect/ Chapters 00:00 Introduction 02:15 Paul Becque’s background and journey 06:42 Why most people stay stuck 11:02 Self-restriction and entrepreneurial blind spots 18:40 The importance of mindset conditioning 24:15 Building better habits and behaviours 31:28 Why discipline beats motivation 43:38 From go-getter to go-giver 50:48 The dangers of mindless scrolling 58:21 Micro mapping and breaking down goals 01:04:03 Boosting productivity through action planning 01:10:42 Final advice for listeners VALUABLE RESOURCES Website: http://dougbennett.co.uk Email: doug@dougbennett.co.uk LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/financialdoug Download Your "Ten-Step Guide To Financial Freedom" Here: https://bit.ly/Struggle-Success BOOK: Think Simple, Win Big is available to buy on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Think-Simple-Win-Big-Business/dp/B09MYXXS88/ Enjoy, and come back for the latest podcast each Wednesday. Thank you for listening.

May 6, 202648 min

Rewiring a Damaged Brain: Darren Jewell's Journey of Resilience

Darren Jewell shares his inspiring journey of overcoming brain injury, embracing neuroplasticity, and inspiring others to unlock their brain's potential. Discover practical insights on resilience, mindset shifts, and lifelong learning. key topics Darren Jewell's childhood brain injury and recovery Neuroplasticity and rewiring the brain The importance of mindset shift from fixed to growth Lifelong learning as a tool for brain health Inspiring others through personal story and public speaking

April 28, 202649 min

250 Episodes In… My Son Still Thought Goals Were “Woo-Woo”

Summary In this engaging episode, Doug Bennett, The Goals Guy®, chats with his son Jace about the importance of goal setting, financial literacy, and personal growth for the younger generation. They explore how goals influence life choices, the role of mindset, and practical tips for investing in oneself. Key Topics The impact of goals on life and career Financial literacy and investing in oneself The importance of mindset and mental health Using AI and online resources for self-education The value of therapy and self-reflection Sound Bites "Goals are a good first step" "Start yesterday, enjoy the journey" "Experience the journey to the fullest" Connect with Jason on LinkedIn VALUABLE RESOURCES Website: http://dougbennett.co.uk Email: doug@dougbennett.co.uk LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/financialdoug Download Your "Ten-Step Guide To Financial Freedom" Here: https://bit.ly/Struggle-Success BOOK: Think Simple, Win Big is available to buy on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Think-Simple-Win-Big-Business/dp/B09MYXXS88/ Enjoy, and come back for the latest podcast each Wednesday. Thank you for listening.

April 22, 202620 min

Before Episode 250… What 40 Years Taught Me About Goals

📝 Episode Summary This episode is a little different. Before episode 250, where my son Jason joins me, I wanted to pause and reflect. After more than 40 years of working with people on money, life, and goals, I found myself asking a simple question… What have I actually learned that’s worth sharing? This isn’t theory. It’s not hype. It’s what’s worked, what hasn’t, and a few moments where life gave me a nudge… or occasionally hit me with a brick. If you’ve ever wondered when work becomes optional, or whether you’re heading in the right direction, this one might get you thinking. 🎯 What You’ll Hear Why most people don’t lack ability, they lack clarity The danger of drifting through life without a clear target A personal turning point after losing both parents within 12 weeks The promise of “things will be great later”… and why that often never happens Lessons learned from being on the edge of bankruptcy in 2010 The common mistakes people make with goal setting What actually works when it comes to building a life where work is optional A moment on the Autobahn at 95mph that changed everything Why “later” might be the most dangerous word we use 🧠 Key Takeaways Clarity matters more than motivation Being busy is not the same as making progress Most people delay decisions that would improve their lives Financial planning isn’t just about numbers, it’s about choices Small decisions, repeated over time, shape your future Life doesn’t always give you the time you think you have 🔑 A Question Worth Asking Yourself If nothing changed… Where does your current path actually take you? And are you happy with that? 🔜 Coming Next Episode 250 is a special one. My son Jason joins me to share what he’s picked up over the years. What landed… what didn’t… and what he really thinks. That one might be a bit more honest than this one. 📌 About Doug Bennett Doug Bennett, known as The Goals Guy® and Director of Financial Freedom®, helps people understand when work becomes optional. Through his Work Optional Lifestyle Financial Plan®, Doug combines over 40 years of experience with real-life insight to help clients build clarity, confidence, and choice. 📣 Connect with Doug If this episode resonated and you’d like to explore your own position, you’re always welcome to reach out. Conversations are relaxed, practical, and always at Doug’s expense. VALUABLE RESOURCES Website: http://dougbennett.co.uk Email: doug@dougbennett.co.uk LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/financialdoug Download Your "Ten-Step Guide To Financial Freedom" Here: https://bit.ly/Struggle-Success BOOK: Think Simple, Win Big is available to buy on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Think-Simple-Win-Big-Business/dp/B09MYXXS88/ Enjoy, and come back for the latest podcast each Wednesday. Thank you for listening.

April 7, 202635 min

Why “Boring” Businesses Are Making People Rich

Is starting a business from scratch actually the worst way to do it? Summary: Jon Ostenson breaks down franchising, the real costs, and why “boring” industries are outperforming trendy startups. Key Takeaways: Franchising reduces risk—but not effort Most opportunities sit in overlooked industries You still need strong operators Entry costs are lower than most expect Action beats overthinking Chapters: Intro What franchising actually is Biggest misconceptions Risk vs reward “Non-sexy” industries Costs breakdown Franchise vs startup Passive vs active reality Best sectors right now Final advice Website:https://franbridgeconsulting.com LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonostenson/ Useful Resources Website: http://dougbennett.co.uk Email: doug@dougbennett.co.uk LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/financialdoug Download Your "Ten-Step Guide To Financial Freedom" Here: https://bit.ly/Struggle-Success BOOK: Think Simple, Win Bighttps://www.amazon.co.uk/Think-Simple-Win-Big-Business/dp/B09MYXXS88/ Come back next Wednesday.