On the P with Nuno

For as long as I can remember, two things have always been a part of my life: football and live music.

Two things that evoke similar feelings.

The roar of a stadium crowd, the energy of a gig, and the way both can take you on an emotional journey – they have been a constant for me, no matter what else was happening in life.

And when you run a business, having constants like these are essential.

This month (August 2025) was filled with both football and music.

LED BY A YORKSHIREMAN

I went to the WFCG (World Famous City Ground) – the home of Nottingham Forest FC – for their first match of the season.

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I spent the day singing ‘Mull of Kintyre’ – a Paul McCartney / Wings song – alongside thousands of fans, to the point I lost my voice.  Forest fans adopted and adapted the song in 1978 when we won the league that year - and it’s been played before kick-off since 2008 as a rousing anthem.

It was a lovely day in the sun, and Forest won the match, so it was a great start to the season.

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The team were one of the earliest loves of my life, and still are today.  

It helped that the team had the greatest manager ever – the late, great Yorkshireman Brian Clough – who once famously said “I wouldn’t say I was the best manager in the business, but I would say I was in the top one”.

A related constant – one which I took up in recent years – is the Fantasy Football League.  

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This year, my team is called ‘Ctrl&Alt&DeLigt’ (genius, I know).  I listen to the Fantasy Football podcast, read the sports news, and keep my eye on the scores each week, ready for the following week.  Each week I set up my team to get the maximum points possible - and it’s harder than you think.

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THE SHARED EUPHORIA

Also this month, my wife and I went to see Coldplay in concert at Wembley.

It’s our fourth time seeing Coldplay on this tour - the Music of the Spheres - and it was the best so far.  They really know how to put on a show - there were pyrotechnics, lighting effects, and electronic wristbands for everyone – in addition to their fabulous music, playing all their hits.

It’s the latest in a very long line of live music gigs – easily now in the hundreds – thanks to them being a constant in my life.   Over the years, I’ve seen almost anyone you can think of – Prince, George Michael, Elton John, Madonna, Stevie Wonder, and more.

One of my favourite things – and probably why music and football have always been in my life – is the shared euphoria.  Being part of a crowd, sharing the anticipation, all singing as a collective, focused on one thing (whether the band or the team), and living the highs and lows together.

A ROUNDED PERSPECTIVE

The nature of business is unpredictable.  Running a business means stepping into a world that’s always changing. New trends, shifting markets, and unexpected challenges – you never know what’s around the corner.

This can be exciting, but it can also be exhausting.  Without some form of grounding, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.  That’s where constants come in.   constant is something you can rely on, time and again, to bring you joy, stability, or a sense of identity.  

For me, it’s watching football or going to a concert.

Constants can give you perspective. Whatever you have going on in your professional life, stepping into a stadium or a music venue reminds me that there is more to life than work.

More importantly, they give me energy.  The euphoria is long-lasting and this, in turn, provides balance.  Work isn’t (and shouldn’t be) your whole identity. Having constants outside of business give you a much more rounded perspective.

CREATING A WORK/LIFE BALANCE

As small business owners and employers, it’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day running of your business, and only ever focus on that – even outside of traditional work hours. This plays havoc with our lives and can cause health issues (which would take a long time to surface, often when it’s too late).  

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When working with my retained clients, I always advocate having a healthy work/life balance.

It might sound counterintuitive, but prioritising something outside of work can actually make you a better business owner.  When you have balance, you think clearer; when you’re energised, you perform better; and when you’re resilient, you’re more likely to keep going when things get tough.

If you’re a business owner and don’t feel like you have a‘constant’, start small – think about what has always brought you joy, even in the busiest or toughest times.  That’s your constant – and the more you build it into your life, the stronger you’ll be as a business owner.

HR IS A CONSTANT

The reason I focus on a retained model – as in, clients that stay with me throughout the year – is because our work together is a constant.

Sure, I do ad-hoc work like grievances or onboarding a new employee, but I prefer to work with clients on a long-term basis.

This means that I have a much more holistic view of the business, and we can focus on the ‘bigger picture’ like long-term business growth and workplace culture.

This means that problems are fewer but, when they arise, they are easier and quicker to manage. As a member of your extended team, I will learn about your business and therefore make informed decisions to provide you with the best solutions.

When you make HR a constant in your business, you have me in your corner, so you can focus on the constants in your life – you, your business, and your life.

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If you would like to have a chat about how AJB HR Consultancy Services can support you and your business, please do not hesitate to get in touch to arrange a chat.

THAT TITLE?

‘On the P with Nuno’ is a chant from the terraces at Nottingham Forest FC, referring to the crowd being ‘on the p*ss’ (a colloquial term for getting drunk) with the manager Nuno Espirito Santo.

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