Terry Cook

The Instructor Podcast with Terry Cook talking with leaders, innovators, experts and game changers about what drives them.

Terry Cook

Welcome to the Instructor Podcast.

Terry Cook

This is a show that helps you become an even more awesome driving instructor.

Terry Cook

And as always, I am your slightly robust host, Terry Cook.

Terry Cook

And I'm delighted to be even more delighted that you have chosen to listen because we are continuing season nine, which is all based around technology.

Terry Cook

And who better to have as a sponsor for Season nine than My Drive Time, the industry's premium award winning business management app.

Terry Cook

Find out more@mydrivetime.co.uk but on today's show I am joined by Josh Holleran of Mirror Signal Podcast and we dive into our top five online resources for driving instructors.

Terry Cook

Now, we do step away from some of the more obvious choices, but I'd like to advise you to take a look at some of our suggestions, especially the ones you haven't used previously.

Terry Cook

And you'll find links for all of those in the show notes.

Terry Cook

But just before we get stuck in, I want to take a moment to remind you that it is Road safety week on November 17th and this show goes live on November 17th.

Terry Cook

So I'm going to encourage you to take part in that.

Terry Cook

And one of the ways you can do that is to raise money and raise funds.

Terry Cook

And you can donate directly through the Instructor Podcast link because we are trying to raise £1,683 for break because unfortunately that's how many people died as a result of traffic collisions in 2023.

Terry Cook

So we're going for that number.

Terry Cook

We're already 10% of the way there as I record this.

Terry Cook

So if you head to the website ww the instructor podcast.com@the top of that page you'll find a button that says Donate to break.

Terry Cook

So you could donate yourself, you could raise some money with your driving school, or you could just share this link and get again, get other people donating.

Terry Cook

That would be awesome.

Terry Cook

But I'd really encourage you to do something for Road Safety Week.

Terry Cook

But for now, let's get stuck into the show.

Terry Cook

So welcome to Terry's top five online resources for driving Instructors.

Terry Cook

I'm delighted to be joined by the man who has been missing in action for quite a while, Mr.

Terry Cook

Josh Holler.

Terry Cook

And how we doing, Josh?

Josh Holleran

I'm doing great, thank you very much, Terry.

Josh Holleran

Thanks for having me.

Josh Holleran

I thought I'd been missing long enough to just be forgot by everyone, but here we are.

Josh Holleran

I'm glad to be back.

Josh Holleran

It's good to catch up with you.

Terry Cook

Well, no, I was Deciding to do these top five online resources because it fits really nicely in with this technology season.

Terry Cook

And I thought, who do I know that's spoken to lots of people, so who will know lots of resources?

Terry Cook

And.

Terry Cook

And you obviously came into my mind.

Terry Cook

Well, yeah, pretty close up to the top, if not the top.

Terry Cook

But what I will say before we get into this, I think we've both kind of agreed that we're not going to mention the instructor podcast or Mirror Signal podcast within this because I'm confident that you would have chosen the instructor podcast in your top five.

Terry Cook

And also I would have chosen instructor podcast in my top five, you know, so whatever.

Terry Cook

But I will just mention as well before we start the.

Terry Cook

I think that were talking about this before and I don't think we can actually say this is the top five.

Terry Cook

I don't think this is either of our top five.

Terry Cook

It's maybe five of the best or our kind of personal favorites rather than the top five.

Terry Cook

Would you agree?

Josh Holleran

Yeah, I mean, when you messaged about this, I was like, ah, top five, easy.

Josh Holleran

Then I started thinking about, right, well, what do we mention?

Josh Holleran

Who do we mention?

Josh Holleran

And the list was pretty big.

Josh Holleran

So I've gone slightly different.

Josh Holleran

I know we've spoke about it and there's so many great people that you have on your show and that are doing great things for the industry.

Josh Holleran

So I've done it slightly different and I'm like, well, what do I use regularly as a driving instructor within my business?

Josh Holleran

I was like, well, let's talk about them.

Josh Holleran

And hopefully someone picks up something that can help them within their school and what they're up to.

Terry Cook

Yeah, and I think I've just gone for five of my favorites.

Terry Cook

But again, if I'd wrote these on a different day, it may well have been a different life.

Terry Cook

But just before we get stuck in, as I mentioned, you are the host, the creator, the founder of Mirror Signal Podcast in all these incarnations, officially a podcast.

Terry Cook

Now, when are we back?

Terry Cook

What's the plans?

Terry Cook

What's the future hold?

Josh Holleran

I did want to be back this month, to be honest, but as, as you know it, it takes time to produce the episodes and, and everything that goes on behind the one hour episode that goes out there.

Josh Holleran

So it's been delayed a little bit.

Josh Holleran

I'd like to be back in the new year.

Josh Holleran

I've got a few things that I need to sort out.

Josh Holleran

Life, children, business.

Josh Holleran

So in answer to your question, I don't know, soon, hopefully I am missing it and I'm glad to be here because this is I've missed this, chatting to people and just sharing ideas.

Josh Holleran

So, yeah, as soon as I can.

Josh Holleran

Hopefully the new year, but that doesn't really answer it.

Josh Holleran

I don't know, it's.

Terry Cook

It's interesting to say that about life because I remember a little while ago I posted a past picture up on my TC drive page and I think I shared on my personal page and I think it was Lee Sperry who actually come up and said, I forgot you're a driving instructor as well.

Terry Cook

Yeah, I enjoy doing this stuff.

Terry Cook

I'm not giving this up.

Terry Cook

But any other projects on the go or why you've been in hibernation, if you like?

Josh Holleran

I'm doing a lot of studying at the minute for hopefully a standards check.

Josh Holleran

I know I've mentioned it on my episodes a few times and I think I might have mentioned it when I was on yours previously, that I want to get a standards check done and start working towards kind of training and helping people.

Josh Holleran

So I'm doing a lot of studying at the minute, looking back at the competencies, the different publications that we use within the industry and then one that's, that's going to appear later on in, in my top five.

Josh Holleran

I've been working with Dr.

Josh Holleran

Julia Malkin quite a lot on that project.

Josh Holleran

So we'll go more into that a little bit later and just getting back to driving lessons because that's what pays the bills and I had a lot of bills that need paying.

Terry Cook

As we do.

Terry Cook

As we do.

Terry Cook

Let's get stuck in them.

Terry Cook

So what is your first, your first item within this, this top five?

Josh Holleran

So my first one, I've gone straight in because I'm using this all the time and that's an app called Canva and it might be a little bit out there for some people, but I'm using that for a lot of my social media posts and logos and pictures that I'm putting out there to help.

Josh Holleran

Help grow my school.

Josh Holleran

Yeah, I'm on it quite a lot and I think it's great.

Josh Holleran

It's free and if you're sat there wondering how you can promote your school, get more students, maybe design a new logo without having to go and pay someone off, find a graphic designer.

Josh Holleran

I think it's just easy to use, free, quick and it gives you content to put out and get yourself out there as an instructor.

Terry Cook

It's interestingly, we're talking beforehand about we won't have any of the same.

Terry Cook

Well, I've got Canva on my list, but I will just mention for listeners because These top fives usually go in my premium episode, but I thought it tied in quite nicely with a.

Terry Cook

With a text or, you know, a lot of people have heard these before.

Terry Cook

We don't know our top, each of us top five, so we kind of find them out as we go.

Terry Cook

But I agree.

Terry Cook

I think Canva is such a.

Terry Cook

An underutilized resource, and it is free, like you said.

Terry Cook

I would advise anyone, if they've got the money, to use a paid version because there's.

Terry Cook

There's a lot more available.

Terry Cook

But there's so much stuff in there, whether it's just creating an image, whether it's changing your past picture, so you want to put your password shop.

Terry Cook

You can get them in Canva.

Terry Cook

You can get, like you say, your logo on there.

Terry Cook

You can personalize it so it's.

Terry Cook

It looks like unique to yours.

Terry Cook

And there's a few people out there do this, and they just stand out a bit more.

Terry Cook

You know, you can use it to create presentations.

Terry Cook

So.

Terry Cook

All right.

Terry Cook

I appreciate most instructors what use that feature, but it comes up from time to time, or if you're wanting to do something with a theory or summit for your students, you can use it in.

Terry Cook

In there to create that there.

Terry Cook

There's, as I say, there's videos we can do.

Terry Cook

There's also got AI, so it can generate AI images and AI videos for you, which is quite good.

Terry Cook

So, yeah, I think this is a great show, and it's one that I use a lot as well.

Terry Cook

I'm probably every day I'm doing some on Canva, even if it's just tweaking one of my podcast covers to change the title or something and then put that out.

Terry Cook

But I think every day I'm on Canva, what do you reckon you use it for most?

Josh Holleran

So I used it with my podcast for all of the thumbnails over on YouTube.

Josh Holleran

Go check it out.

Josh Holleran

I use it.

Josh Holleran

Like you said, I don't use it for past photos specifically.

Josh Holleran

I use the picture that's there.

Josh Holleran

But what I do, I take a couple of photos and I'll create an image to go on Facebook and I'll use that then with whatever offer I'm running or that there's driving lessons available.

Josh Holleran

And it's just every image can be unique.

Josh Holleran

And like I say, you can create your own brand with it.

Josh Holleran

So I use it a lot for that.

Josh Holleran

And another thing that I've been using is we sometimes feel like we don't have content.

Josh Holleran

I'm like, what can I post about?

Josh Holleran

I need some students But I keep posting the same thing.

Josh Holleran

So what I'll often do if I'm struggling for content is I'll go back through my reviews and I'll.

Josh Holleran

I'll either screenshot and put it in an image or I'll copy and paste the review.

Josh Holleran

I don't know how the algorithms work on social media, but if I put it on a different image and it's.

Josh Holleran

It's not the same thing.

Josh Holleran

Copy and pasted every week.

Josh Holleran

So I'm using it almost daily to promote my driving school, to create logos for.

Josh Holleran

Like, when I was doing the podcast and creating that, I was on Canva, tweaking different things.

Josh Holleran

If you go back through my Facebook page far enough, you'll see all the different logos and thumbnails that I trialed before I got to the one that I was kind of happy with now.

Josh Holleran

So, yeah, logo design.

Josh Holleran

Creating images for promoting my school and putting text on a different format than just a random screenshot or whatever it is, just to make it look different and stand out for when I'm promoting the business.

Terry Cook

Yeah, and we come into a specific time of the year.

Terry Cook

We come into the time of year when it's bad weather, it's Christmas, you know, kind of notorious, if you like aspects of the year.

Terry Cook

So this is perfect for Canvas.

Terry Cook

Whether you're taking a picture and uploading it to Canva and then putting some text around it, or whether you're using the Canva to get the image of snow, for example, that makes your social media look better so you can get that image of the bad weather again, whether you're using your own photo and tweaking it, whether you're getting one from Canva and then put your written post around it that looks better than just a written post with someone taking a picture out of a car window.

Terry Cook

A lot of the time you can make these things look snazzy, you can make them stand out.

Terry Cook

And yeah, if everyone started doing this, then everyone's on an even playing field.

Terry Cook

So it kind of takes away that aspect of it of making your driving school stand out.

Terry Cook

But if everyone started using Canva and making things look a bit more professional, we might start appearing a little bit more of a professional profession rather than kind of, you know, just a little picture somewhere that looks drabby and nothing done to it.

Terry Cook

And.

Terry Cook

Yeah, I mean, it's not the end of the world, but, yeah, I think that's a.

Terry Cook

A great shout.

Terry Cook

Josh, is there anything else you want to touch on around Canva before we move on?

Josh Holleran

I think we've covered it.

Josh Holleran

You.

Josh Holleran

You went well in depth with all the different things that there are on Canva.

Josh Holleran

I don't use 90% of what's available on Canva.

Josh Holleran

I open it up, I click at the bottom, create a new.

Josh Holleran

I think it's just a logo that I create.

Josh Holleran

Drag and drop some photos onto it or put a text box and some cool pictures around it and then, yeah, put it out there.

Josh Holleran

And I think creating a brand or at least just some colors or a theme on your social media and then when people are seeing it regularly, they're going to think of you and it's.

Josh Holleran

It's going to generate some work.

Josh Holleran

We have a lot of content as instructors.

Josh Holleran

We've just sometimes got to use our imagination as to how we can create that content to put it out there.

Terry Cook

Yeah, suppose the only other thing I'd say is the design.

Terry Cook

So there's loads of templates on there.

Terry Cook

So if you're not the most creative of people, if you're going to struggle to think of ideas or whatever, there's loads of designs on there that you can just like almost copy and paste or upload and just tweak accordingly.

Terry Cook

And yeah, it takes a bit of practice if you haven't used it, but I think it's a great one to start.

Terry Cook

So we both got Canva there, so we've had yours and mine, so we'll come back to yours.

Terry Cook

What's your next on your list, Josh?

Josh Holleran

My next one, a very kind of similar theme for getting our business out there is GoDaddy.

Josh Holleran

And I don't spend an awful lot of time on there now.

Josh Holleran

I spent maybe three to four hours probably 18 months ago.

Josh Holleran

Now my timelines are terrible.

Josh Holleran

I spent three or four hours once upon a time on GoDaddy creating a website that cost me less than two pound.

Josh Holleran

So a couple of hours work less than two pounds and I generate with no promotion, no nothing.

Josh Holleran

It's just on there.

Josh Holleran

I get probably one inquiry a week from my website now, a return on investment.

Josh Holleran

I'm not sure we've got many that are going to be much better than that.

Josh Holleran

Getting a client a week from something that cost me two pound.

Josh Holleran

That was the domain, that was the website that was hosting.

Josh Holleran

Now I expect it's going to cost me a little bit more when it comes to renew, probably 15, 20 quid, whatever it is, for the annual hosting.

Josh Holleran

I don't know, you'd have to go and have a look on there.

Josh Holleran

But I think GoDaddy has been really beneficial for my business at a Very basic level.

Josh Holleran

I created three or four pages, drag and drop and it's, it's constantly generating work.

Terry Cook

I like that shell.

Terry Cook

And I think the thing I would tagging a little bit is not necessarily just go, go Daddy.

Terry Cook

You know, there's Webador and Weebly and Squarespace and all the other stuff that's out there.

Terry Cook

So I suppose a bit like anything, I would advise instructors to find the one that works for them.

Terry Cook

But in terms of online tech, I think setting up a website is.

Terry Cook

Well, if you've got the funds, I would advise you to get someone else to do it because it can be time consuming.

Terry Cook

A lot of people can do it better than us.

Terry Cook

But I've set up my own because I don't have the funds and, and it, as you say, it works.

Terry Cook

People see your website and it's just such an easier place to send people as well.

Terry Cook

Because if you're seeing like your Facebook page, someone asks you for that, you say a Facebook page and you've got to say go search for.

Terry Cook

Whereas if it's a website and I just say, I'll go tc drive.co.uk you know, or whatever it is, it's easier for people to find that way.

Terry Cook

Or you put it on a business card or someone can put it on the phone while they're there.

Terry Cook

And you think of a lot of youth today.

Terry Cook

I say youth.

Terry Cook

This applies to me as well.

Terry Cook

I don't do phone calls, I do text.

Terry Cook

Someone rings me, the phone gets stared at until they stop ringing, then I'll text them back and ask them what they want.

Terry Cook

And the youth are like that as well.

Terry Cook

So the idea of getting that website on there so they could click through a message, I think that's, that's a great show.

Terry Cook

Have you encountered any problems or any negatives with it?

Josh Holleran

No, not any negatives.

Josh Holleran

And I think like you said, there's so many out there.

Josh Holleran

Godaddy just for me was the cheapest and I was like, I'm just going to create a website.

Josh Holleran

I've seen a lot of benefits and what I'd like to talk about because as you was talking then I got thinking about the website and I probably need to update it.

Josh Holleran

And this is going off on a tangent a little bit, but a lot of the talk often comes up within the social media world of pricing and how we price as instructors.

Josh Holleran

Now, the way I manage what I do now, I put my prices on my website so anyone can see them.

Josh Holleran

But I used to feel bad when I was quoting my prices to people because I'm like eyes it's this much per hour.

Josh Holleran

And my thoughts on money at times is that's quite a lot of money for an hour.

Josh Holleran

It's, it's removed that for me when I get the inquiries.

Josh Holleran

Hi, what are your prices?

Josh Holleran

I can now send them the link to my website and then I can have prices set whatever I want.

Josh Holleran

I have a different pricing structure now to what I used to, but it's just removed a lot of the.

Josh Holleran

I charge this much per hour and almost feeling guilty at times I did personally.

Josh Holleran

So when I get random inquiries now rather than a lot of to in and fro in I just send them the link to my website and my.

Josh Holleran

All my information is on here.

Josh Holleran

Prices are on here.

Josh Holleran

Have a look.

Josh Holleran

Either drop me a message or fill in the.

Josh Holleran

Whatever the box is that's on my website.

Josh Holleran

So it's cut a lot of to and fro messages.

Josh Holleran

So it's almost streamlined my independent business a little bit because I've just got somewhere to send people that are messaging me.

Terry Cook

It's interesting you say that because I'm the opposite there, which is unlike me because I like that interaction with a student because I, I like those early messages because it gives me an opportunity to suss a student out a little bit and I don't want to work with this person.

Terry Cook

And I can, I get that feel after, after a few messages.

Terry Cook

But I do get what you mean about the prices because it's not always a nice conversation to have.

Terry Cook

You know, we are a business, we are transactional, we are selling ourselves to a degree but we're selling our services.

Terry Cook

So yeah, I can, I can see why that would be a benefit.

Terry Cook

Just sending someone your.

Terry Cook

Your page or your prices on or whatever.

Terry Cook

I can say that that'd be good.

Terry Cook

So anything else you want to touch on around GoDaddy or websites that might benefit the instructors listening?

Josh Holleran

No, I think you've covered it.

Josh Holleran

About the costing.

Josh Holleran

I think there's definitely a benefit to having a website.

Josh Holleran

I see a lot of people commenting on social media that you don't need a website and yeah, you probably don't.

Josh Holleran

I didn't have one for the first year or two that I was doing the job.

Josh Holleran

But I do, I do think it can add like you mentioned about the canva and the professionalism.

Josh Holleran

If we have a website and it looks somewhat professional, I think it adds credibility to us as instructors.

Josh Holleran

If we are wanting to increase prices or expand or go into other areas.

Josh Holleran

I think a website and that online presence is.

Josh Holleran

Why wouldn't you have it if you can do something for a couple of pound initially and maybe don't renew if it's costing loads of money, but just get something on there.

Josh Holleran

I can't see the negatives to having that for your business.

Terry Cook

No, I'd agree.

Terry Cook

I think it's not needed, but it's definitely beneficial.

Terry Cook

Right, I'll.

Terry Cook

I'll move on to my next one then.

Terry Cook

So I said canvas.

Terry Cook

So the one I'm going to shout about next is, and I have spoken about this a little bit before, but it's the ADAS Knowledge Hub.

Terry Cook

Now, ADAS stands for Automated Driver Assistance System.

Terry Cook

And I did have to write that down because I always forget and I just think this is such a wonderful little website.

Terry Cook

It covers loads of different technology that I didn't know was there for all of it.

Terry Cook

So I think it's a great resource for driving instructors to go and dig into to find out the stuff that they didn't know.

Terry Cook

But I also think it's a great resource to send to our students so that like for my car, for example, it doesn't have adaptive crude control, it doesn't have intelligent speed assistant.

Terry Cook

So if I send my students to this, this website and I give it to them all as a resource, they can go and check and see what else is available.

Terry Cook

So they've already got a good idea because it breaks it down really well and explains it.

Terry Cook

And if I can understand what things are as a result in this website, anyone will be able to.

Terry Cook

So I just think this is a cracking resource and it covers all sorts in there just to clarify all kinds of different stuff.

Terry Cook

So yes, I would highly recommend the ADAS Knowledge Hub.

Terry Cook

And again, I should just clarify all the stuff we're talking about today.

Terry Cook

I'll include links for, in the comments in the blog post on the website.

Terry Cook

Josh, There you go.

Terry Cook

On the website, links will be all, all there so people can go and find it.

Terry Cook

But is this something you're aware of, the ADAS Knowledge Hub?

Josh Holleran

It's not.

Josh Holleran

And you, you've got me intrigued.

Josh Holleran

You give a bit of information there about like the adaptive cruise control and things like that.

Josh Holleran

So is this specific technology to vehicles automobile or is this.

Josh Holleran

What is it?

Josh Holleran

What.

Josh Holleran

What am I going there for?

Terry Cook

So essentially go on the website and it's got all different kinds of things.

Terry Cook

So if I'm looking at the website now, I'm looking at the one that says adaptive cruise control and I'll just click on that where it says find out more.

Terry Cook

I will do a word.

Terry Cook

There we Go.

Terry Cook

Yeah.

Terry Cook

So basically when it comes up, it's got loads of written information on there, it's got a couple of videos that show you how that adaptive cruise control works and then there's loads of links to go for further information and stuff like that.

Terry Cook

So any of that technology.

Terry Cook

So let me have a look what we've got on here.

Terry Cook

We've got the anti lock braking system, we've got brake and emergency brake assist, electronic stability control, autonomous braking speed assistance, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warnings, steering assist, lane keeping assistance, lane change assist, driver monitoring, sensors and cameras, unresponsive driver intervention E call and then there's one on tires and on back to the ABs there.

Terry Cook

So loads of stuff covered there and it gives a real detailed breakdown on how that works.

Terry Cook

So that if there's technology maybe in your car that you don't know how it works or if there's technology that isn't in your car, so therefore you don't know how that works, you got a better way to explain it to your students or you can send it to the students so they can check out as well.

Josh Holleran

I'm.

Josh Holleran

I'm going to have a look at that because in lessons we have conversations.

Josh Holleran

One that stood out was like the electronic stability assist, I think it was, and I don't know the ins and outs of that.

Josh Holleran

I'm assuming something like traction control.

Josh Holleran

And when we're in lessons and we're talking about certain things, why we maybe don't want the clutch down going around a corner because certain things won't be working in the car, that's going to help me understand certain parts of the vehicle so that I can then have more in depth knowledge to help my students.

Josh Holleran

So I like that.

Josh Holleran

That's another place I'm going to spend some time while I'm in my development stage of my career.

Terry Cook

Well, I will mention this now and yeah, I was debating what I say, but I will the guys behind it road safe.

Terry Cook

I have been trying to get them on the podcast for a long time and let's just say they are not the best at communicating.

Terry Cook

So I am desperate to get them on for this season.

Terry Cook

In principle, they want to come on for this season, but they are not the best at communicating.

Terry Cook

So if at the end of this season Rod Tafe hasn't been on, there will be a very, very grumpy Terry.

Terry Cook

So yes, we'll see what happens for the rest of this season.

Terry Cook

But it's a brilliant website, just not always great at replying to emails.

Terry Cook

But either way, what's next on your.

Josh Holleran

List, Josh so my next one, I've, I've got two together and I think the purpose of them remains the same, but I'll go with the first one and that's the Open University.

Josh Holleran

I've recently found that.

Josh Holleran

And anyone that's following my socials at all will see a couple of the certificates that I've got from there.

Josh Holleran

People have recommended it to me in the past and I've, I've never really spent much time on there, but a few weeks ago it took about five minutes to create an account, get enrolled on a course and start a course.

Josh Holleran

It really didn't take long at all.

Josh Holleran

And the amount of courses that are available for free on the Open University is great.

Josh Holleran

And I'm finding the courses quite well as well.

Josh Holleran

They're.

Josh Holleran

There's videos that come with it, there's text, there's little exercises that you can do within the course to try and kind of check your understanding of it.

Josh Holleran

So I'm getting a lot of benefit from being on there and learning about some somewhat random topics, but I find them interesting emotions and psychology and things like that.

Josh Holleran

So I think that is a great resource.

Josh Holleran

If you've got some free time and you want to learn about a topic specific, whether it helps you with this industry or whether it's an interest somewhere else, there's a lot of courses on there for free that you can work through.

Terry Cook

A bit of an exclusive coming up of an exclusive on my own podcast that I'm going to mention now.

Terry Cook

I have roughly nine weeks to properly apply for my honors degree in history and politics because I used to want to be a history teacher when I was younger and I got distracted.

Terry Cook

So that's potential in the pipeline.

Terry Cook

Not leaving the industry just to make this clear, but it'd be like part time history teacher, part time driving instructor, part time podcaster, all that kind of stuff that's potentially for me next year.

Terry Cook

So the Open University I'm aware of, I've not done any free stuff, so maybe I should go and check that out before coming into a seven year part time honors degree course.

Terry Cook

But yeah, I think that would be a really interesting place to start because I mean no offense when I say this to anyone, but I hear a lot of people selling courses and stuff like that and, and I look and I think are there courses?

Terry Cook

And I don't Again, I'm not meaning to be rude, but you look at a course that you get on Open University which might be 12 weeks of studying, that to me feels Like a course.

Terry Cook

Whereas when I do a video that I put in my membership.

Terry Cook

Yeah, it's useful.

Terry Cook

Yeah, you can learn from it.

Terry Cook

Yes.

Terry Cook

Yeah.

Terry Cook

Please come and sign my membership.

Terry Cook

But it's not a course.

Terry Cook

That's my video for people to go and watch, you know, and I don't know, I think that this is somewhere you could go to get proper education, like you say, get those free courses to begin with, and then I suppose you can up the ante and get some proper educational learning.

Terry Cook

I like that.

Terry Cook

I think that's a good shout, Josh.

Josh Holleran

Thank you.

Josh Holleran

And the one linked for that, before we get onto yours, is very much on that same thing of development.

Josh Holleran

And I know we're on a podcast and we want your listeners to stay here, but one that I'm enjoying at the minute is Audible.

Josh Holleran

And for that same reason, I love what everyone's doing within our industry.

Josh Holleran

And in the new year I'm going to be on the courses because I'm hoping for a standards check at some point.

Josh Holleran

But Audible allows me to delve into certain things that I want to learn about specifically.

Josh Holleran

Again, something that's getting me is emotions and psychology at the minute.

Josh Holleran

I think they're hugely linked to our industry and I think Audible is great for that.

Josh Holleran

You get.

Josh Holleran

I think it's a credit a month.

Josh Holleran

Don't know how much it costs, but it's under 10 pound, I think, because I'm not sure I'd pay anything more than a tenor at the minute.

Josh Holleran

But, yeah, linked with that kind of development and just learning and maybe something outside of the industry, a passion elsewhere.

Josh Holleran

Whatever it is, Audible is another one that I'm spending a lot of time on at the minute.

Terry Cook

I like Audible.

Terry Cook

I've had that for a few years.

Terry Cook

I mean, obviously I'm an audio guy, so this is.

Terry Cook

It's my go to.

Terry Cook

And I'm in an Audible phase the minute.

Terry Cook

I tend to go through phases of podcasts and audiobooks and podcasts and audiobooks, and I'm audio audio books at the minute.

Terry Cook

So.

Terry Cook

Yeah, so you've cheekily snuck into selections into one there.

Terry Cook

You've got the Open University and Audible in one selection.

Terry Cook

See what you've done there.

Josh Holleran

Sorry, I've got a fit five in somehow.

Josh Holleran

So we're going for five bands instead of five specific things.

Terry Cook

The.

Terry Cook

The guests on Terry's top five play fast and loose with the number five.

Terry Cook

I think Sam Harp holds a record for 17.

Terry Cook

So either way, let's.

Terry Cook

Let's move on to my next one then, because I.

Terry Cook

I have got Five.

Terry Cook

My next one is slightly predictable, but I'm sticking with it and it's the Honest Truth.

Terry Cook

Because I think that I'm getting to a point where I'm thinking this is one of, if not the best online resource specifically for driving instructors.

Terry Cook

I just think that the more I use it.

Terry Cook

So I started using a few years ago before it was a proper app.

Terry Cook

Then I took a little break away from it.

Terry Cook

Now I'm using it again.

Terry Cook

And I don't know, so much clicked for me this year with it that I'm really getting into it and I'm just seeing some better results now.

Terry Cook

I don't know whether that's because I'm embracing it more, so therefore I'm seeing better results, which is probably the case.

Terry Cook

However, something's changed, but I should just say, because there will be people out there don't know what the.

Terry Cook

The Honest Truth is.

Terry Cook

It's basically an app you can get for your phone.

Terry Cook

There's 10 videos on, all committing to a road safety message that they call the Truths.

Terry Cook

And you watch this two minute video with your students.

Terry Cook

I think of it as a conversation starter.

Terry Cook

But even if they don't have a conversation about it, they're still getting taught this road, what they call a road safety intervention.

Terry Cook

They then get an email with that video on and some more data and they can share it with the family and stuff like that.

Terry Cook

So I just think it's one of the best things that's come along in our industry.

Terry Cook

And yeah, massive fan of it.

Terry Cook

Just today, in fact, I released an episode in the Premium that I've started calling Honestly, talking about the Honest Truth and how we can better use it and all this kind of stuff.

Terry Cook

So, yeah.

Terry Cook

What are your thoughts on the Honest Truth, Josh?

Josh Holleran

I need to put some more time into it.

Josh Holleran

I've signed up, I've got my account.

Josh Holleran

I'll be honest.

Josh Holleran

I.

Josh Holleran

Because it's.

Josh Holleran

It's an honest truth that we're going for.

Josh Holleran

I don't use it that much at the moment.

Josh Holleran

I need to.

Josh Holleran

I spoke to Ollie and I know they're constantly updating as well, like you say about the app that's come out now.

Josh Holleran

So I know about it, know what it is.

Josh Holleran

I need to embrace it more in my lessons and utilize it.

Josh Holleran

The thought that Ollie's got behind it as well.

Josh Holleran

I know you've spoke to him on yours and I've had him on, on the podcast.

Josh Holleran

I think it's great, the message that they're sending and how they're connecting to the youngsters.

Josh Holleran

I know some of us still think that we're in our early 20s, unrelatable, but it's come to my attention a few times that my students see me as an old person.

Josh Holleran

So what I'm saying isn't always relatable to them, but I do know the honest truth.

Josh Holleran

Kind of use a peer group, don't they?

Josh Holleran

So the message is coming from similar ages.

Terry Cook

My student yesterday told me that they were born in 2007 and that's just horrible.

Terry Cook

Didn't like that at all.

Terry Cook

And I had one recently where I was talking about €96, which was quite a while ago, but it doesn't feel like a long time ago to me.

Terry Cook

And they're like, yeah, I want born then.

Terry Cook

I don't know about that.

Terry Cook

I'm like, oh, okay, interesting.

Terry Cook

But yeah, just to you, Josh, specifically, you know you're a member of the instructor podcast premium.

Terry Cook

Go and check out that first episode about today.

Terry Cook

Honestly, that'll help kickstart you with it.

Terry Cook

But just in terms of the app itself, it's, it's, it is a bit of a game changer, you know, I.

Terry Cook

If anyone listens to the inspiring shutter training podcast, they may have heard me relay a story around this recently where there's a video on there about seat belts.

Terry Cook

It's a two minute video about seat belts and we watch that and the student kind of opened up and said, I probably won't wear my seat, but when I've passed this is.

Terry Cook

And it was like he wears his seat belt because he expects, he knows I expect him to wear it.

Terry Cook

So because he get, when he gets one of his parents, when he gets in with me, he just bothers it but on no problem.

Terry Cook

But when he gets in car his mates, he doesn't and none of them do.

Terry Cook

And it was really interesting because we've had several conversations about that.

Terry Cook

Now I can't guarantee he'll wear a seat belt, but he's more likely to wear a seat belt because of the conversation we've had and he's admitted that, you know, he said, you know, I'm more likely to wear one.

Terry Cook

I don't think he said probably.

Terry Cook

I think I'm getting him closer probably.

Terry Cook

But he's more likely to wear one now.

Terry Cook

So I wouldn't have had that conversation about seat belts with him if I hadn't watched that video.

Terry Cook

And there's other stuff around distracted driving.

Terry Cook

This one's in my head because there's another one that came up recently with a lad saying that he's concerned about One of his friends, because one of his friends is really annoying in the car.

Terry Cook

And we were talking about how we can manage it and deal with it.

Terry Cook

And he's now got some, almost a set of resources that he can help control that situation.

Terry Cook

And the big one that worked for him, the idea that he come up was simply telling them beforehand.

Terry Cook

It's like, I'm going to tell him, you dick about in my car.

Terry Cook

You're not coming in my car.

Terry Cook

And knowing that he can say that before they get in the car feels like he's empowers him to do it when they're in the car.

Terry Cook

So using all this truth, like I say, it's a conversation starter, but.

Terry Cook

But it's much more than that.

Terry Cook

I think it's.

Terry Cook

I probably shouldn't say this, and I'll probably get told off by Ollie Taylor for saying this, but I'm going to say anyway.

Terry Cook

They've got about 600 people signed up now, 600 instructors to this, and all is chuffed with that.

Terry Cook

And in a way it should be.

Terry Cook

I'm disappointed with that.

Terry Cook

The 40,000 driving instructors, it's seven pound fifty a month, and loads of people can get it for free by going to the website and seeing if their area is covered because certain areas get it for free because of government funding.

Terry Cook

Some places provide a discount as well.

Terry Cook

So some, if you're with certain organizations, I don't know which ones you'll have to ask, you can get it for a fiver.

Terry Cook

And I just feel like it's the most underutilized resource in our industry as well as being one of the best.

Terry Cook

But, yeah, I'm gonna get off my soapbox and I've had my rant about the honest truth there anything you want to add to that, Josh, before we move on?

Josh Holleran

No, just I need to put time in to get that incorporated in my lessons because what you said then kind of stood out a little bit.

Josh Holleran

Like that chat with the student about the seat belts.

Josh Holleran

That one person, if you can have an effect on that one person and then they get in the car, it's going to remove the peer pressure of no one wearing a seat belt.

Josh Holleran

If one person's doing it, someone else, well, I might as well chuck mine on.

Josh Holleran

And before you know it, you've now got a car of teenagers all wearing the seatbelt because of just one person that's.

Josh Holleran

That's had the conversation with you.

Terry Cook

Well, this is it, you know, it might not be.

Terry Cook

You might not be able to move that person where you want them on the Like a safety spectrum if you like.

Terry Cook

But you might be the person that convinced them not to use their phone while they're driving or not to have a drink or not to smoke any, you know, weed or whatever before they drive.

Terry Cook

You might be able to make that road safety intervention.

Terry Cook

So even if you can't affect everything, you can affect something and that could be the thing that saves theirs or someone else's life.

Terry Cook

But you'll never know that.

Terry Cook

This is the annoying thing.

Terry Cook

You'll never know that.

Terry Cook

But you could be the person that makes that difference.

Terry Cook

But let's move on to the next one.

Terry Cook

Josh.

Terry Cook

And will this be your third?

Josh Holleran

Fourth.

Terry Cook

Fourth.

Josh Holleran

I've.

Josh Holleran

I've got a list so that I can keep on track and not keep throwing.

Josh Holleran

I'm trying to keep it to five.

Terry Cook

Yeah, I've lost track because the five all over the place now, but go on.

Terry Cook

And we're just taking a brief pause to give a shout out to a few of our latest signups to the Instructor Premium.

Terry Cook

And they are James Parsons, Ian Gibson, Gray and Vicky.

Terry Cook

Now, these fine folks have decided to upgrade their CPD and become an even more awesome driving instructor with a membership to the Instructor Podcast Premium.

Terry Cook

Now they get immediate access to hundreds of hours of video, audio and written training to help them become even more awesome driving instructors.

Terry Cook

So whether you're looking to grow your business, become a better instructor, or get some help looking after your mental health and mindset, sign up to the Instructor Podcast Premium.

Terry Cook

There's currently a three weeks trial or you can get a 16% discount off an annual membership.

Terry Cook

To find out more, you can use a link in the show notes or head to the instructor podcast.com now we also want to take a moment to thank my Drive Time for being sponsors of season nine of the Instructor Podcast.

Terry Cook

One of the excellent features that my Drive Time offer is dynamic reflective logs.

Terry Cook

Now, these are fully customizable and you can fill them in with your students or encourage them to complete them after the lesson.

Terry Cook

Either way, I'd encourage you to add a section asking if there was anything you could have done differently as an instructor.

Terry Cook

Feedback is always a great way to improve.

Terry Cook

Now find out more@mydrivetime.co.uk but for now, let's get stuck back into the show.

Josh Holleran

So the next one from me is talking send with Dr.

Josh Holleran

Julia Malkin MBE.

Josh Holleran

And this is a fairly new resource for driving instructors and this is available on Patreon.

Josh Holleran

It's £11amonth plus VAT because Patreon set the prices.

Josh Holleran

And this is lots of Short videos on average between five and 10 minutes, just talking about different additional needs.

Josh Holleran

So some examples that we've got on there at the moment are autism, what it is, how it might look in the lesson, how we can help our students who might have autism in the lessons, what we're looking for, how we can help them prepare for a driving test.

Josh Holleran

Then we've got the same with adhd, the different types of adhd.

Josh Holleran

And there's a collection now of the additional needs, up to dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia.

Josh Holleran

And the reason this has gone out is it's just short videos.

Josh Holleran

If you don't have time to do a course, like you said, they're about courses and they're weeks long, or you don't have the finances to do a course, then these are just short videos.

Josh Holleran

Maybe you've got a student who's got ADHD and you're noticing things in the lesson.

Josh Holleran

There'll be a short video that might help you understand that student or as part of the membership, you can drop a message to Julia and then there will be a video around that topic on maybe how you can help or what to look for.

Josh Holleran

And I seem to be getting a lot more students with additional needs and I'm not sure what other instructors are like, but it is on the rise.

Josh Holleran

More people are talking about it, aware of it, getting diagnosed with these different conditions.

Josh Holleran

So this, I think is a great resource just for.

Josh Holleran

To hand information to help you with your neurodiverse learners.

Terry Cook

I've seen this.

Terry Cook

I haven't signed up to it yet.

Terry Cook

It's on my list of things sign up to, because when I find some space, it'll be.

Terry Cook

It'll be on there.

Terry Cook

But yeah, I think this is one of the things that's.

Terry Cook

That's lacking in the industry a little bit because we.

Terry Cook

We've got.

Terry Cook

Now we've got lots of podcasts now.

Terry Cook

We've got a growing number of people doing content like Facebook lives and podcasts and YouTube channels.

Terry Cook

It's just exploded over last year with people doing this stuff.

Terry Cook

I think it.

Terry Cook

What it feels is lacking a little bit in the industry at the minute is niche stuff.

Terry Cook

And I think that's why I'm drawn partly to the honest truth, for example, because that's very niche for road safety.

Terry Cook

And I think I was pleased when I saw this come out because this is obviously very niche towards send.

Terry Cook

I think that's what's missing or what's been missing from the industry, that niche bit.

Terry Cook

And this is covering the niche of the send the special educational needs.

Terry Cook

And I think that it's never going to be the thing that 40,000 people sign up to because not everyone is working with loads of people with special educational needs.

Terry Cook

But I think it's more of the thing that's needed in the industry.

Terry Cook

And, you know, I've got one coming up later on that again, is a bit.

Terry Cook

It's a bit niche and, and I, I like that I got, I don't want to say excited, but I was a bit excited because it's something new, it's something a little bit different.

Terry Cook

And I see that much of people doing the same thing of, oh, here's another membership on how to be a better driving instructor, or here's another Facebook Live on a Q A.

Terry Cook

I really hope no one thinks I'm aiming at them because I'm not aiming at people individually when I say this, but, you know, here's another Facebook Q A, here's another Facebook Live or whatever.

Terry Cook

And, and that's why I got excited by this.

Terry Cook

Oh, something a little bit different that's needed.

Terry Cook

And so, yeah, I think that that's a good show and anything else you want to tell us on this, Josh?

Terry Cook

Before we move on to my.

Terry Cook

1, 2, 3, 4.

Josh Holleran

It is fairly new.

Josh Holleran

There's quite a comprehensive list of content that's on there now.

Josh Holleran

The purpose and what Julia wants to do is share the message of how we can help these learners.

Josh Holleran

Something that I'm seeing occasionally pop up on social media now, and I think it's becoming more relevant, is since the trigger system's been brought in for driving instructors and the standards check, there does seem to be people becoming a little more concerned of taking neurodiverse learners to the driving test.

Josh Holleran

And part of this membership will help you understand your learners in preparing them for the driving test.

Josh Holleran

So we minimize that.

Josh Holleran

But it's.

Josh Holleran

It's a challenge for those learners to find someone that understands them and can help them.

Josh Holleran

And, and this is Julia's message, like, get as much information out there so you can understand those learners so they've got someone to go to.

Josh Holleran

Because learning to drive for those people that maybe aren't as socially accepted or feel like they are, who have social difficulties, getting on a bus, getting public transport can be a bit of a challenge, but getting their driving license is a huge step and a massive leap in independence.

Josh Holleran

So it's.

Josh Holleran

The purpose of it is, yes, understand those needs, but how can you help them learn to drive?

Josh Holleran

What can you do in your lessons?

Josh Holleran

So I think it's relevant to a lot of people, but at the minute, the content is definitely aimed at driving instructors, driving lessons and helping them understand in the car submit.

Terry Cook

I've got so many social difficulties.

Terry Cook

If you get us to a course on me.

Terry Cook

Yeah, the Terry course.

Terry Cook

I don't know.

Terry Cook

But yeah, no, I love that you brought that up and I love that you're involved.

Terry Cook

And like I said, I like it feels like there's something new that's needed in the industry especially.

Terry Cook

And I'll screw it.

Terry Cook

I'll say the words, especially by someone that knows what they're talking about.

Terry Cook

So.

Terry Cook

So, yeah, I like that.

Terry Cook

But again, it's in its infancy.

Terry Cook

And I think back to when I started the Instructor Podcast Premium.

Terry Cook

The first person to ever sign up for the Instructor Podcast Premium was Lee Sperry, and that was run on Patreon.

Terry Cook

So when I started that, there was a couple of videos on there, a couple of audio files, and that was about it.

Terry Cook

And it felt like a hard sell because I just started it.

Terry Cook

But it was never, ever meant to be coming here.

Terry Cook

There's all this stuff.

Terry Cook

It was meant to be coming here.

Terry Cook

We've got exciting things planned.

Terry Cook

Is that a little bit of what it's about as well?

Josh Holleran

Oh, we've got so much more planned with it.

Josh Holleran

And you're exactly right.

Josh Holleran

We've got to start somewhere.

Josh Holleran

And I've not been too clear, but I'm working with Julia on this, helping her with some of the things that are going out there is a lot planned, and I think there's a huge array of directions that it can be taken.

Josh Holleran

There's a lot to come at the minute.

Josh Holleran

It's been very specific on the more common additional needs.

Josh Holleran

But, yeah, we're looking to get more content out there, potentially things to help instructors as well, because instructors are coming out with these additional needs.

Josh Holleran

Adhd, we've got driving instructors with autism.

Josh Holleran

And Julia, like you said, she knows her things.

Josh Holleran

You're learning from someone who has a doctorate.

Josh Holleran

It's amazing the knowledge that she's got.

Josh Holleran

And that's the plan is just keep growing it and take it in the direction that the members want it to go.

Josh Holleran

So as a member, you can request where you're struggling, tell her where you're struggling, and there'll be content to help you understand it.

Josh Holleran

So, yeah, lots to come.

Terry Cook

I like this.

Terry Cook

And like, for me, I say using the Premium as an example.

Terry Cook

It's like when I first started that I was selling it on this exciting stuff is to come.

Terry Cook

And now I Sell on.

Terry Cook

We've got all this awesome stuff in there, but we've also got this exciting stuff to come, so I'm looking forward to getting to that point.

Terry Cook

But if you roll on nicely, segue to my fourth one.

Terry Cook

Because speaking of things in the infancy, my fourth one is Co Pilot, which is also in its infancy.

Terry Cook

Now, for those of you that don't listen, I run a sister polkas of this called Driving Instructors Division Zero and James Evans recently on there talking about Copilot, which is.

Terry Cook

It's basically Facebook for road safety and it's such a wonderful resource.

Terry Cook

Now look, I will chuck this out there straight away.

Terry Cook

It is not cheap.

Terry Cook

The price is 300 quid for a year's membership and that's 300 quid plus VAT.

Terry Cook

However, there is a 40% discount for driving instructors.

Terry Cook

I managed to convince James to throw that out there to get us a 40% discount.

Terry Cook

So there is a good discount there.

Terry Cook

I think it works out 18 quid a month, but you do need to pay upfront and I've been playing around on that over the past week or two and I'm just so impressed.

Terry Cook

It's a properly put together thing, like I said, it's like good Facebook for road safety.

Terry Cook

So there's some awesome trainings in there.

Terry Cook

Again, it's in its infancy, so you're not going to go in there and see hundreds of hours of stuff.

Terry Cook

You're going to go in there and see 5, 6.

Terry Cook

So, for example, you've got Laura Laker that's talking about Language Distracted Driving with Professor Emma Briggs, or some of you may know from the podcast Vehicle Technology with Professor Nick Reed.

Terry Cook

You know, there's all these kinds of people that are doing the trainings, there's networking stuff on there.

Terry Cook

They've got a proper comprehensive list of events.

Terry Cook

So, for example, I've got my events page on the instructor podcast, but I have to go and search for those.

Terry Cook

Their events page is updated by the people that do the events, so it's all updated with links and stuff like that.

Terry Cook

Plus they've got like an ongoing feed and all this kind of stuff.

Terry Cook

So, you know, I went on there and introduced yourself on the, like the Facebook feed, almost like they've got.

Terry Cook

And there's people come and say hello and all this kind of stuff and it's just such a wonderful resource of people and information.

Terry Cook

And the other thing I'm quite looking forward to, that they've just kicked off is something.

Terry Cook

I forget what they call it now, but it's like social Fridays.

Terry Cook

So I think there's an hour or two on a Friday where it's like opens up for everyone to get together for a little online getting to know your session.

Terry Cook

And again there's people in there like Dr.

Terry Cook

Elizabeth Box, James Evans and you know, these, these type of folks and I love it, I'm absolutely almost addicted to it already.

Terry Cook

And I think it's, it's got the chance to be somewhat really special.

Terry Cook

So I would advise any, any instructor who is in the financial position because if you're not in a good financial position, don't prioritize this, just to clarify, prioritize your finances.

Terry Cook

This is something that's an add on if you like.

Terry Cook

But when you're in the financial position, get your hands on this.

Terry Cook

Anything you know about this Josh, or anything you want to ask me about this?

Josh Holleran

Lots of questions.

Josh Holleran

It's not something I know about.

Josh Holleran

I'm sure I have seen you share posts because I obviously follow you on social media along with everyone else.

Josh Holleran

I try and keep up with what's going on.

Josh Holleran

So you've mentioned it's like Facebook and there's all these events.

Josh Holleran

Are these events like presentations from the big names that you've mentioned and are they included in the price?

Josh Holleran

Kind of.

Josh Holleran

How does that work?

Terry Cook

Right, so the events are basically just ongoing events of India in the sector.

Terry Cook

So there'll be some that are specific or opened up to people in co pilot.

Terry Cook

There'll be some that.

Terry Cook

So for example like recently we've just had the road safety GB conference.

Terry Cook

So that's been advertised on there with links to get track tickets and stuff.

Terry Cook

So it's for any road safety event basically there will be some that are specific to copilot that will be included in the price.

Terry Cook

There'll be some where copilot members can get a discount but it's just any event within the industry that's just a list and I just think it's really nice to see a proper, full and comprehensive list on there.

Terry Cook

So for example I'm looking on there now and I can see, I will list all the events what I'm looking at when I can see Friday the 15th, Tuesday the 19th, Wednesday the 20th, Friday the 22nd, you know all these dates that most of them won't be relevant or not relevant, most of them won't be doable for everyone.

Terry Cook

But it's just nice to be able to see all that.

Terry Cook

And this is what I wanted to achieve when I create this events page on the website.

Terry Cook

But I cannot keep up to date.

Josh Holleran

With this so is it aimed at everyone in the road safety sector?

Josh Holleran

Is it aimed at.

Josh Holleran

Who's their audience?

Josh Holleran

What's.

Josh Holleran

What's the purpose behind all of this?

Terry Cook

It is aimed for the road safety sector.

Terry Cook

So if you're within the road safety sector, that's who it's aimed at.

Terry Cook

Much like you spoke about with.

Terry Cook

With Julia in the.

Terry Cook

The direction of traffic will direct the flow of traffic.

Terry Cook

You know, it's a bit like that.

Terry Cook

So if they get flooded with 180, they're going to create content for ADIs.

Terry Cook

If they get flooded with 100 engineers, they're going to create more content from engineers.

Terry Cook

It's in its infancy and the members.

Terry Cook

I.

Terry Cook

Well, I didn't create it.

Terry Cook

I don't want to put words in James mouth, but it's kind of what he said and the members will decide where it goes.

Terry Cook

And the idea is to bring the road safety sector together and we're part of that.

Terry Cook

And I think, yeah, again, I'm a week or two into using it, but I'm mightily impressed.

Josh Holleran

Nice.

Josh Holleran

It sounds interesting.

Josh Holleran

When I do have some free finances available, I'll be looking for this episode and getting on that link on your.

Terry Cook

Website, check out the Driving Structure podcast, Driving Shortness Division Zero.

Terry Cook

There's an episode there with James Evans.

Terry Cook

We spoke about it quite a lot, but that was my fourth one, so I'm presuming you're on to your fifth now, your final one.

Josh Holleran

I am.

Josh Holleran

It is my final one.

Josh Holleran

And this again goes away from the industry, but it's something I see come up quite a lot.

Josh Holleran

And I'm back to now talking about my business and what helps me run my business.

Josh Holleran

I'm gonna throw the first bit in just business banking, but I'm using Starling bank and I see this come up a lot on social media.

Josh Holleran

Do I need a business bank?

Josh Holleran

Don't I need a business bank?

Josh Holleran

And a lot of the comments like, no, you don't need to.

Josh Holleran

You're a sole trader.

Josh Holleran

You can do it through a personal bank.

Josh Holleran

And the benefits I've seen since day one of taking money for a driving lesson, of having that separate business account where it's all in one place has been great.

Josh Holleran

And I'm going to talk about Stalin, because that's what I use.

Josh Holleran

And I.

Josh Holleran

Do you use Stalin?

Terry Cook

No.

Terry Cook

So I use Lloyds.

Terry Cook

I had a business account with Lloyd's.

Terry Cook

I had an issue, let's put it that way.

Terry Cook

But I have a separate account now for all the business stuff.

Terry Cook

Yeah.

Josh Holleran

So with Stalin Business bank, what you can do.

Josh Holleran

And I'm sure other banks can, and maybe personal banks can do it.

Josh Holleran

But the way I like doing things, you can create spaces.

Josh Holleran

So it's almost like another account behind your account that your money goes into.

Josh Holleran

So my business account, all my students money goes in there and then I can move it into different saving spaces.

Josh Holleran

One of them for my tax that I neglected this year, but that's another story.

Josh Holleran

One of them for like, I don't know, car maintenance.

Josh Holleran

One of them for other business expenses.

Josh Holleran

And I just find it really helps me manage my business finances.

Josh Holleran

And then my personal accounts are where my spending money goes.

Josh Holleran

And I know people have got personal preference, but it's an episode on Top five Resources.

Josh Holleran

And I think having Starling as my business bank has been a huge benefit to running my business as an independent driving instructor.

Terry Cook

I think me and you could do a bonus bit after this.

Terry Cook

Sean, Terry and Josh's financial mistakes in 2024.

Terry Cook

The I don't think I have much to add to that, if I'm being honest, because I think that that does what it says in its tin.

Terry Cook

I like that you've.

Terry Cook

You brought that in.

Terry Cook

I kind of, I don't regret not doing it because you have, but I think I would like to follow that one.

Terry Cook

I think that's.

Terry Cook

It's definitely a good show and I think it's.

Terry Cook

It's something instructors should be doing to make sure that we're keeping those finances separate.

Terry Cook

Because, you know, I made that mistake a few years ago.

Terry Cook

It was when I first went independent and didn't get the separate account.

Terry Cook

Whether that's business, personal or whatever, I didn't get a separate account.

Terry Cook

The money's got tangled.

Terry Cook

Some of the money got spent.

Terry Cook

Someone asked for a refund.

Terry Cook

All of a sudden I was in a bit of a pickle and to get started and split so that you know that, that, that money that students might have paid you in advance or whatever is in that separate part.

Terry Cook

I think is.

Terry Cook

Is a weight off the shoulders.

Terry Cook

I think when it, when you don't always realize it at the time, but it prevents problems massively.

Terry Cook

So, yeah, good show.

Terry Cook

And anything else you want to touch on that before I move on to my final one?

Josh Holleran

Not really.

Josh Holleran

You've covered it.

Josh Holleran

I think there is maybe a little interject we could do at the end about the finances side of it for those that are in their first year of trading and that is speak to an accountant and be prepared for on account.

Josh Holleran

I'm not a financial advisor.

Josh Holleran

I'm not an accountant.

Josh Holleran

But look into what on account is and how your first year's tax works out because you pay 50% in advance.

Josh Holleran

And yeah, we're here, we're on a podcast.

Josh Holleran

I want to help people.

Josh Holleran

It's caught me out a little bit in, in all honesty because I've got to pay this year's tax and 50% of next year's tax because my first two years were part time and it didn't really affect me.

Josh Holleran

Now I've got a full year of earnings.

Josh Holleran

I've got to pay the tax on that.

Josh Holleran

And then 50% have projected for next year.

Josh Holleran

So those that are in the first year of trading, just have a look into it.

Josh Holleran

Don't take my word for it.

Josh Holleran

Maybe have a Google do your research.

Josh Holleran

I didn't, I fell short.

Josh Holleran

But back to the point, the business banking has really helped me separate it like you said and it's easier personal business, whatever you decide to use.

Josh Holleran

The separation of the two finances has really helped me.

Terry Cook

Yeah, get an accountant.

Terry Cook

Just get an accountant.

Terry Cook

Whether you, you've got one like on a monthly fee or whether you just get one as a one off to start off with and get some advice.

Terry Cook

Ask someone in the industry.

Terry Cook

Dave Shannon is bookkeeper.

Terry Cook

He's been on the podcast before.

Terry Cook

He can do this stuff for you.

Terry Cook

Fbtc, sort of driving instructor, specialist accountants.

Terry Cook

They're the two that come to mind.

Terry Cook

Just get someone to speak to.

Terry Cook

Do not rely on, you know what you think.

Terry Cook

Do not rely on what people say on Facebook comments.

Terry Cook

Because, just because it applies to one person and their business might be slightly different for yours.

Terry Cook

Just get it from accountant.

Terry Cook

That, that's all I'd say.

Terry Cook

But yeah, I'm glad you brought up.

Terry Cook

So let's, let's move over onto my, my fifth and my fifth is confident drivers.

Terry Cook

Kevin Tracy fields confident drivers.

Terry Cook

And the reason I wanted to put this in particular, it's just because of, it's just so good.

Terry Cook

You know, I've had them on the podcast before.

Terry Cook

I think they've been on your podcast, Josh.

Terry Cook

They're, they're everywhere.

Terry Cook

Right.

Terry Cook

But they're just so good what they do.

Terry Cook

And in terms of both for learners and for instructors, the calming nerves.

Terry Cook

I forget which way around it is, but they've got the course to do for instructors.

Terry Cook

They've now got their fully full qualification.

Terry Cook

They do for instructors, which I haven't done yet, so I can't really comment.

Terry Cook

But speaking to the people that are taking part on it, it sounds pretty impressive.

Terry Cook

They've got the learner's stuff that they do.

Terry Cook

And I just think it's.

Terry Cook

It's just such a good resource that covers everything.

Terry Cook

I worry about them too, sometimes that they're spreading themselves a little bit thin because it's just the two of them doing so much.

Terry Cook

And, you know, you turn on talk TV and they'll be on like with Vanessa and then they're in the newspaper the next week.

Terry Cook

And you know, that I, you know, joke up sometimes about who's the most well known people in industry.

Terry Cook

Those two are the most well known people outside of the industry.

Terry Cook

So on the outside looking in, it's nuts.

Terry Cook

But yes, I think that that's something that every instructor should at the very least check out and see if they can make use of their nerve stuff for them or whether there's something they can share with their students.

Terry Cook

Even just a podcast.

Terry Cook

Their podcast is one that it's been going for years now.

Terry Cook

They're more consistent with it than anyone else.

Terry Cook

They're the most.

Terry Cook

They're the second most consistent podcast in the industry.

Terry Cook

The most consistent is Dipod.

Terry Cook

We're going for like 20 years or summer and they've only missed an episode of a Covid.

Terry Cook

The Kevin Tracy field with a confident drivers podcast is like ridiculously confident.

Terry Cook

Ridiculously consistent and confident.

Terry Cook

And there's just quality stuff out there for learners.

Terry Cook

It's one that I share with my learners and I'm very, very selective with the resources.

Terry Cook

So I feel like I've kind of waffled and gushed over them a little bit there and.

Terry Cook

But yeah.

Terry Cook

Any thoughts on that, Josh?

Josh Holleran

Yes.

Josh Holleran

When we spoke about doing the top five resources, my initial thought went to a bunch of people in the industry that I'm like, these are great.

Josh Holleran

These are great.

Josh Holleran

And they was there.

Josh Holleran

I think you spoke about having a niche and they have many in different fields and they are spread all over.

Josh Holleran

It's amazing.

Josh Holleran

But when I spoke to them, something that kind of stood out and I think it does get missed, and their name sums it up is the confident drivers.

Josh Holleran

The people that have passed that are not confident.

Josh Holleran

When you get people, I've got family members, and when they're ready to go on motorways or drive further afield, I'd be sending them to their website because there are drivers that are just not confident to go outside of their area.

Josh Holleran

And these guys are special in it, specializing in that as well.

Josh Holleran

Like, how do you develop someone that's been driving years on the same roads?

Josh Holleran

So, yeah, it's for us as instructors and for students and for everything else that they're doing because they do courses, I think on neurodiversity as well, if you want to learn about the additional needs.

Josh Holleran

So they've got that.

Josh Holleran

Yeah, the license holders, people that need support who don't know where to turn, confident drivers because they've got experience in it.

Terry Cook

I think the only thing I'll chip in where you couldn't wish for too nicer people.

Terry Cook

You know, there's.

Terry Cook

There's a lot of people in our industry that try to be very careful.

Terry Cook

I word this, but we passed my cut off time, Josh.

Terry Cook

That's the issue.

Josh Holleran

I've done it.

Terry Cook

Yeah, there's a lot of people in our industry that aren't necessarily in it for the good of their heart.

Terry Cook

We're all in to make money.

Terry Cook

You know, there's no hiding from that.

Terry Cook

We want to make earn a living, but there's some of us that want to earn a living and want to help.

Terry Cook

And I think it stands out massively with Kevin Tracy Field, that that's one of those things.

Terry Cook

They want to help where they can.

Terry Cook

And so, yeah, I want to chip in with that just to finish off with her.

Terry Cook

And if I will just say this, Tracy reached out to me recently because I mentioned Kev on another podcast, like almost like a passing mention and apparently had a giddy fit when he heard his name mentioned on someone else's podcast.

Terry Cook

So I'm intrigued to hear what is how he's responded to this one.

Terry Cook

But have you got any honorable mentions?

Terry Cook

Have you managed to cram them all into that?

Josh Holleran

I wanted to be strict and stick with five.

Josh Holleran

I've managed to sneak six in sneakily.

Josh Holleran

There's, there's one.

Josh Holleran

And, and this comes back to the business that I wanted to talk about.

Josh Holleran

I've been independent from day one and there's often questions about how do you get students, how would you do this?

Josh Holleran

And I think with what we've covered, there's some really great resources there for people.

Josh Holleran

But using social media, that, that's another one that I've got as a reserve.

Josh Holleran

And I think you can start at any point.

Josh Holleran

You can post almost anything on social media.

Josh Holleran

But getting your presence out there, we've done websites, we've done canva, we've done all of that.

Josh Holleran

But yeah, I think use social media a little bit more.

Josh Holleran

Less scrolling and more posting.

Josh Holleran

Get yourself out there.

Josh Holleran

If you're needing students, there's.

Josh Holleran

That's where the majority of my work comes from, is consistent posting in the local groups, the local area.

Josh Holleran

So yeah, back to that.

Josh Holleran

Building your business, keeping your Diary full use social media.

Josh Holleran

It's free.

Terry Cook

I'm not going to talk about social media because I'll talk about it enough and we'll do another 20 minutes.

Terry Cook

But I am going to mention one other thing because there's this one other particular thing that I was debating putting it into this top five and that's my drive time and I think maybe people wondering why you haven't potentially.

Terry Cook

But full transparency.

Terry Cook

The reason I haven't is because they're sponsoring the show so they got advert at the start, an advert in the middle and advert at the end.

Terry Cook

So they don't need an extra advert in my top five.

Terry Cook

But you know, I think they would have been in there.

Terry Cook

I'm not going to say who would have taken out by the way, but they would have been in there if they'd not sponsored the show.

Terry Cook

But they get mentioned anyway.

Terry Cook

So yeah, quick rundown of your top five, Josh.

Terry Cook

What?

Terry Cook

Recap your top five for me.

Josh Holleran

So we had Canva, GoDaddy, Open University, Audible Personal Development, Talking Send with Dr.

Josh Holleran

Julia Malkin, Business banking.

Josh Holleran

I said Starlin, but maybe based on what we spoke about, just separate bank accounts, personal business, whatever you decide to do, however you do it, just separate separate accounts and then utilizing social media to help build your business, get your students keep you busy.

Josh Holleran

They were my 5/6 or 7 that I managed to sneak in.

Josh Holleran

What about yours, Terry?

Josh Holleran

Where are we at with yours?

Terry Cook

Mine was the ADAS Knowledge Hub, the Honest Truth Canva co pilot and confident drivers.

Terry Cook

So you know, 10 to 12 awesome resources that we've discussed there.

Terry Cook

So loads more online resources.

Terry Cook

So if we have missed any that you're particularly annoyed about, the comments will be open on Spotify and on other social media.

Terry Cook

But I just want to take a moment to thank you for joining us, Josh.

Terry Cook

And you want to remind everyone where they can find anything you might have to offer.

Josh Holleran

Yeah, thank you for having me.

Josh Holleran

I'm at the minute so I'm working with Julia over on talking send with Dr.

Josh Holleran

Julia Malkin.

Josh Holleran

You can find that on Facebook and on Patreon.

Josh Holleran

So a bit of time there.

Josh Holleran

I occasionally use the Mirror Signal podcast page so I am still posting on there, trying to keep up to date with everything on there and it will be back when we'll, we'll figure that out.

Josh Holleran

But it will be back and just on my socials, type my name in on Facebook, give me a friend request I post the odd thing, share what people are up to and yeah, that's me at the minute.

Josh Holleran

I'll be giving you a shout at some point when the podcast is back, Terry.

Josh Holleran

Hopefully in the new year at some point.

Terry Cook

Awesome.

Terry Cook

Well, thank you for joining us today.

Terry Cook

It's been an absolute pleasure.

Josh Holleran

Thank you very much.

Terry Cook

So, a big thank you to Joss for joining me today.

Terry Cook

It was.

Terry Cook

It was fun speaking to Josh.

Terry Cook

We've not spoke for a while and good hearing that he's planning to come back with his podcast, Mirror Signal podcast.

Terry Cook

Find links for that in the show notes or just search for Mirror Signal podcast on YouTube or podcast apps.

Terry Cook

And I'm looking forward to Josh getting back on track with that.

Terry Cook

And I hope you've got some ideas from today's top five.

Terry Cook

I do just want to clarify, these aren't necessarily what we will say are the best five, because I'll be honest, since I've done this, I thought even more.

Terry Cook

But they're five that you can find useful and there was 10, 12 overall that we mentioned.

Terry Cook

And you can find all of them useful to help you with your driving school, with your online resources.

Terry Cook

So definitely go and check them out.

Terry Cook

And, you know, as I mentioned during the recording, my drive time would have been in there because I think they're a tremendous resource.

Terry Cook

I'm super grateful they're sponsoring the show and I would really advise you go and check them out@mydrivetime.co.uk if you've got any questions, reach out to them.

Terry Cook

They'll happily have a chat with you and walk through what's available, or just sign up and see how you go.

Terry Cook

You may like it, you may not.

Terry Cook

I'm sure you will give it a go.

Terry Cook

What's the worst that can happen?

Terry Cook

I also want to take a moment, as I said at the start of the show, to remind you that it is road Safety Week.

Terry Cook

Now, this is run by Brick, who they're essentially a charity that help people who have had family members die as a result of a crash and they don't get any government funding.

Terry Cook

You know, everything they do is either voluntary or raised through.

Terry Cook

Through donations.

Terry Cook

And that's what I'm doing at the instructor podcast across this week.

Terry Cook

You know, I'm trying to raise money.

Terry Cook

I'm trying to raise £1,683 to give to Brick.

Terry Cook

Now, me personally, I'm going to be doing the Break challenge and I'm walking 5km a day across this week.

Terry Cook

Considering I've just broken my Fitbit.

Terry Cook

It's not gone off to the best of starts, but I'm going to be raising money.

Terry Cook

Personally, I'm hoping to raise a bit of money from my driving school.

Terry Cook

I'm doing a raffle and a couple other bits I've got going on there.

Terry Cook

But I'm also hoping to raise money through the podcast.

Terry Cook

If you are raising money, you can donate directly into the instructor podcast just giving page.

Terry Cook

Or if you're not raising money but you want to donate, you can do that as well.

Terry Cook

What I will point out is there's 40,000 driving instructors.

Terry Cook

If a hundred of us raise £16 83, we would hit that target.

Terry Cook

So we just need a hundred of 40,000 and there's going to be somewhere between 500 and 1,000 people listen to this show.

Terry Cook

So all we need is somewhere around about 10% of this audience perhaps, and.

Terry Cook

And we'll be away.

Terry Cook

We'll get that money.

Terry Cook

So consider doing it like life is difficult at the minute.

Terry Cook

You know, cost of living, all that stuff.

Terry Cook

So fees.

Terry Cook

Don't feel obliged.

Terry Cook

You have to prioritize you and your financ chances of helping over to a charity.

Terry Cook

But if you can find a way to raise or spare £16 83, that'd be awesome.

Terry Cook

But as I said, please don't feel obliged.

Terry Cook

And the best way to donate is go to the instructorpodcast.com There's a big red button up at the top that will say something along the lines of donate here, go and click that.

Terry Cook

And when you've done that, have a look through the website.

Terry Cook

You may find something that helps you, but for now, let's just keep raising standards.

Terry Cook

The instructor podcast with Terry Cook talking with leaders, innovators, experts and game changers about what drives them.