The Future-Proof Your Business Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode, I’m thrilled to welcome my guest, a good friend and LR Comms client to the show, and that is the gorgeous Claire McEvoy. 

Claire is the founder and owner of Alta Hair Studio and Light Lounge, an eco hair and beauty salon nestled in the picturesque Chapel en Ie Frith, in the Peak District. Claire shares insights into her journey as a business owner, her commitment to embracing a sustainable ECO approach and sharing her skills and love for what she does with her growing team. 

Claire's passion for sustainability extends beyond her salon walls, reflecting her personal values and love for nature. She highlights the importance of community engagement and shares anecdotes of how she was able to think outside of the box to make sure she could continue to connect with and nurture her clients during the COVID lockdown.

Through her dedication to eco-conscious practices, Claire has not only been able to attract more of the right clients for her salon, she is also inspiring positive change within the hairdressing industry. Her story serves as a brilliant example for other business owners looking to embrace their values and passion, and still be able to grow a successful and profitable business.

Claire McEvoy Resource Links: 

• Website: https://altahair.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/altahairstudio/
• https://www.greensaloncollective.com/
• https://www.hurhair.co.uk

Resources

• Future-Proof your Business Webinar 18th April - sign up for my free interactive workshop
• https://www.iamlucyrennie.com - free downloadable resources, other episodes and more information about how to work with Lucy.
• Buy my book here
• Join me in my membership The Future-Proof Club here -
• The Future-Proof Club
• Episode 26- Are you really listening? https://www.iamlucyrennie.com/podcast/are-you-really-listening
• Episode 43 - Joining the Dots https://www.iamlucyrennie.com/insights/joining-the-dots-the-programme

Come and join me and lots of other small business owners like you in my FREE Facebook group:CWP (Communicate with Purpose) Group | Facebook

In today's episode, I'm discussing the changing landscape of marketing and challenging some of the traditional approaches. 

Sharing insights from my conversations with various business leaders and highlighting some common misconceptions about marketing. 

Whether it's the MD of a successful engineering firm questioning the value of marketing or a frustrated business owner trying to manage multiple platforms, we’ll explore a fresh perspective, emphasising the importance of building and strengthening your brand to attract the right audience. 

I’m urging businesses to look beyond traditional marketing methods and consider a more holistic approach that focuses on long-term sustainability and engagement with various stakeholders.

Key Takeaways:

1. Broaden Your Perspective: Move away from traditional marketing concepts and think holistically about your brand and its values.
2. Know Your Audience: Understand who you're trying to attract and why they should choose your business.
3. Internal Marketing: Engage your team as brand ambassadors, starting from the inside out.
4. Focus on Retention: Think of your business as a bucket; focus on retaining customers rather than constantly filling the funnel.
5. Test, Track, Tweak: Implement the four T's in your marketing strategy - test, track, tweak, and try again.
6. Word of Mouth Marketing: Embrace and encourage word of mouth as a powerful and sustainable marketing tool.

To wrap up, I encourage businesses to align their marketing efforts with their business goals and to be open to testing and tweaking their strategies for better results.

Resources

• Future-Proof your Business Webinar 18th April - sign up for my free interactive workshop
• https://www.iamlucyrennie.com - free downloadable resources, other episodes and more information about how to work with Lucy.
• Buy my book here
• Join me in my membership The Future-Proof Club here -
• The Future-Proof Club
• Episode 26- Are you really listening? https://www.iamlucyrennie.com/podcast/are-you-really-listening
• Episode 43 - Joining the Dots https://www.iamlucyrennie.com/insights/joining-the-dots-the-programme

Come and join me and lots of other small business owners like you in my FREE Facebook group:CWP (Communicate with Purpose) Group | Facebook

Hello and welcome to this week's episode of the Future Proof Your Business podcast. I'm Lucy Rennie, and in today’s episode I’m delving deeper into the power of knowing why you do what you do.

I’m talking about the fundamentals of your business and I look in more detail at the bricks you need to lay the solid foundations for the future and how by identifying your purpose and getting real clarity on your vision for your business you can start to attract those people who believe what you believe and want to be a part of your adventure.

I share stories from 2 very different businesses who’ve been working on their vision this week and explore: 

• how conviction for what you do and really believing in what you do and how you can help can make all the difference.
•  the key to finding people who believe what you believe,

And how when you can tap into your purpose, your vision and your story - when you can share what’s at the heart of what you do then your whole energy changes and the magic happens.

And finally this week, I'm encouraging you to take some time out from the day to day to reconnect with your vision and purpose and carry out the visualisation exercise that I share in my book. 

Find somewhere quiet and comfortable, close your eyes and picture yourself living in your future vision. Check-in with what your world and business looks and feels like, who is there and how are you feeling? And then I invite you to write yourself a letter from your future self to your present self, describing everything you can see, feel, smell, taste or touch and maybe even giving yourself some advice, some tips and encouragement. 

I’d love to know how you get on, so please come and find me on social media or connect via email at lucy@lrcomms.co.uk and share with me your vision and why you do what you do.

Special Offer:
For a limited time, until Wednesday this week only, the 7th Feb 24, you can access my book, "Clarity, Communication & Connection - 3 Clear Steps to Future-Proof your Business" will be available on Kindle for only 99p. And don't forget that you can access valuable complimentary resources that accompany the book including one FREE month in The Future-Proof Club® my membership.

Resources

• Future-Proof your Business Webinar 18th April - sign up for my free interactive workshop
• https://www.iamlucyrennie.com - free downloadable resources, other episodes and more information about how to work with Lucy.
• Buy my book here
• Join me in my membership The Future-Proof Club here -
• The Future-Proof Club
• Episode 26- Are you really listening? https://www.iamlucyrennie.com/podcast/are-you-really-listening
• Episode 43 - Joining the Dots https://www.iamlucyrennie.com/insights/joining-the-dots-the-programme

Come and join me and lots of other small business owners like you in my FREE Facebook group:CWP (Communicate with Purpose) Group | Facebook

Hello and welcome to this week's episode of the Future Proof Your Business podcast. I'm Lucy Rennie, and today I'm excited to delve into the concept of future-proofing your business – why it matters and the passion behind it.

Summary:
In this episode, I share my journey from my first job at a local pub at 12 to becoming an experienced professional in various businesses.  I talk about my never-ending curiosity to understand the intricacies  of how a business works and explore the turning points that fueled my passion to help more people "future-proof" their business.

Key Takeaways:
1. Curiosity and Business Understanding: My extensive experience in various businesses has cultivated a curiosity that allows me to understand the different facets of a business, enabling valuable insights and holistic approaches.

2. The Essence of Future-Proofing: Future-proofing is about building businesses that are able to face challenges and stand the test of time. It's about creating solid foundations to navigate uncertainties and building a business that runs well, well into the future.

3. Three Clear Steps to Future-Proof your Business: I introduce the three focus areas from my book - Clarity, Communication, and Connection - as the essential foundations to future-proof your business.

4. Start with the Ending in Mind: As Stephen Covey tells us, starting with a clear vision of where you want your business to be is crucial and helps you make informed choices.

Vision and Values Exercise:
And this week, I'm encouraging you to reflect on your vision and values, and why you started your business. How can you capture what it is that brings you joy and excitement, that gives you those butterflies and tummy flip moments? Because this is what will be the driving force behind your success and the key to attracting the right kind of people.

Thank you for joining me on this episode. Please come and find me on social media or via email at lucy@lrcomms.co.uk and share with me your vision and story with me.

Special Offer:
For a limited time, my book, "Clarity, Communication & Connection - 3 Clear Steps to Future-Proof your Business" will be available on Kindle for only 99p starting February 1st. And don't forget that you can access valuable complimentary resources that accompany the book including one FREE month in The Future-Proof Club® my membership.

Resources

• Future-Proof your Business Webinar 18th April - sign up for my free interactive workshop
• https://www.iamlucyrennie.com - free downloadable resources, other episodes and more information about how to work with Lucy.
• Buy my book here
• Join me in my membership The Future-Proof Club here -
• The Future-Proof Club
• Episode 26- Are you really listening? https://www.iamlucyrennie.com/podcast/are-you-really-listening
• Episode 43 - Joining the Dots https://www.iamlucyrennie.com/insights/joining-the-dots-the-programme

Come and join me and lots of other small business owners like you in my FREE Facebook group:CWP (Communicate with Purpose) Group | Facebook

This episode is kicking off 2024 with a bang as I embrace the world of video.
I'm diving into a topic close to my heart – the incredible impact that your energy can have on your business.
Drawing insights from recent client conversations, we'll explore the essence of intentional energy and how it can be the game-changer for your business success and I walk you through five essential questions to ensure you're not just turning up, you are showing up for a year of tremendous growth, achievement and joy.

Key Takeaways:

1. Energise Your Business: Take a moment to reflect on the energy you're bringing into your business.
2. Being real matters: How being genuine in your interactions with people can play a pivotal role in creating a positive brand experience.
3. Strategic Focus: Are you focusing your time and energy on the things that really matter? I introduce you to the power of the 90-day sprint, helping you to prioritise and conquer your quarterly goals.
4. Protect Your Energy: Identify those non-negotiables that you either can't live without or don't want in your life anymore. What are your red flags?
5. You Are the Golden Goose: Recognise your irreplaceable role in your business. And the importance of your own oxygen mask if you want to show up with the right energy for yourself, your team, and our brand.

Let me know if you manage to watch the video too, and get in touch I'd love to know what you think.

Resources

• Future-Proof your Business Webinar 18th April - sign up for my free interactive workshop
• https://www.iamlucyrennie.com - free downloadable resources, other episodes and more information about how to work with Lucy.
• Buy my book here
• Join me in my membership The Future-Proof Club here -
• The Future-Proof Club
• Episode 26- Are you really listening? https://www.iamlucyrennie.com/podcast/are-you-really-listening
• Episode 43 - Joining the Dots https://www.iamlucyrennie.com/insights/joining-the-dots-the-programme

Come and join me and lots of other small business owners like you in my FREE Facebook group:CWP (Communicate with Purpose) Group | Facebook

“One of the things I love to do is, maybe it’s from doing those dot to dots as a kid, but I love joining the dots and connecting people together and seeing the amazing synergy that can happen and develop into something, you know, quite marvellous!” 

In part two of this episode of The Future-Proof your Business podcast, I’ve invited back the brilliant Vicky Labinger to explore the topic of networking, the good, the bad and the ugly and unpick some of the myths or stereotypes that people have about it.

We look at the impact that creating real genuine relationships and connections can have on your business and Vicky shares more about her new quiz and BETA programme to help you get the most out of networking and stop feeling so icky about it. 

If you do nothing else today, go and take Vicky’s quiz and share with us your score and your networking personality type, you’ll find the link below:

Vicky Labinger Resources:

Get your Network Working Programme - https://vickylabinger.com/get-your-network-working/

Take the Networking Personality quiz - https://networkingpersonality.scoreapp.com/ 

https://www.instagram.com/vickylabingerltd/

https://www.facebook.com/vicky.port.7

https://www.linkedin.com/in/vicky-labinger/

Resources

• Future-Proof your Business Webinar 18th April - sign up for my free interactive workshop
• https://www.iamlucyrennie.com - free downloadable resources, other episodes and more information about how to work with Lucy.
• Buy my book here
• Join me in my membership The Future-Proof Club here -
• The Future-Proof Club
• Episode 26- Are you really listening? https://www.iamlucyrennie.com/podcast/are-you-really-listening
• Episode 43 - Joining the Dots https://www.iamlucyrennie.com/insights/joining-the-dots-the-programme

Come and join me and lots of other small business owners like you in my FREE Facebook group:CWP (Communicate with Purpose) Group | Facebook

“If you meet somebody for the first time, there are three things that you want them to go away with. You want them to remember your name, your business and what it is that you do.” 

In this two part episode, I’ve invited back to The Future-Proof your Business Podcast the brilliant Vicky Labinger, the Fairy Godmother of Networking and the founder of the Get your Network Working Programme.

Vicky is a mum, wife, master to Bucky the black lab and a business owner. Vicky has an Interior Design business which we chatted about on episode 36, called My Claybrick Home. But since that conversation in the spring Vicky has launched her new business under her name: Vicky Labinger. 

In part one of this episode, we have a great conversation about the rollercoaster ride of running your own business, the continuous learning and development that’s key to growing and future-proofing your business and the importance of staying ahead of the curve and on top of new technologies. 

We chat about how the real value that you can offer your clients comes from your years of experience, the different paths and all the people you meet along the way. As Vicky says,  she is exactly where she needs to be. She just wishes she was 10 years younger, maybe 20 because there's so much still to do. 

And so if you do nothing else today, go and take Vicky’s quiz and share with us your score and your networking personality type, you’ll find the link below:

Vicky Labinger Resources:

Get your Network Working Programme - https://vickylabinger.com/get-your-network-working/

Take the Networking Personality quiz - https://networkingpersonality.scoreapp.com/ 

https://www.instagram.com/vickylabingerltd/

https://www.facebook.com/vicky.port.7

https://www.linkedin.com/in/vicky-labinger/

Resources

• Future-Proof your Business Webinar 18th April - sign up for my free interactive workshop
• https://www.iamlucyrennie.com - free downloadable resources, other episodes and more information about how to work with Lucy.
• Buy my book here
• Join me in my membership The Future-Proof Club here -
• The Future-Proof Club
• Episode 26- Are you really listening? https://www.iamlucyrennie.com/podcast/are-you-really-listening
• Episode 43 - Joining the Dots https://www.iamlucyrennie.com/insights/joining-the-dots-the-programme

Come and join me and lots of other small business owners like you in my FREE Facebook group:CWP (Communicate with Purpose) Group | Facebook

Welcome to this special anniversary episode of the Future-Proof Your Business podcast, as I celebrate its first year and reflect on my podcasting journey over the past 12 months.

Join me as I share insights from behind the scenes of the 44 episodes and the 7 key learnings that I’m taking with me into the next year:

1) Get really clear on why.
It really does make a difference when you know why you’re doing it. It has made things so much easier and really helped in those sticky moments when I just wanted to curl up in a ball and cry!Energy and resources.

2) Work out what you think you need and then multiply it by at least 50%.
I thought I knew what it was going to take and as you know I’m not afraid of putting the work in, but I completely underestimated the energy, time and resources needed to really get the most out of the podcast, to create quality content and share it in the right way.

3) Recognising My Strengths and My Ramblings
I've always known I could talk, (and yep I know I can ramble), but what I didn't anticipate was the debilitating fear that took over me when I found myself facing the Riverside studio screen all by myself.

4) Connecting with My Audience
Checking in with myself and keeping in mind who the podcast is for and who I want to reach has been key, and finding ways to get feedback and what you want or need, and how I can add value is something I need to keep working on.

5) Don’t be afraid to try new things
I’ve learned to be ok with tweaking things, trying new ways of doing things or even changing my mind, again! It really is OK to say you’re not sure or not happy with something and keep trying until it feels right. I’m still working on my intro and episode style and I know the whole podcast will keep on moving forward with me as I grow and my business evolves.

6) Embracing My Own Voice
Taking a leaf out of Dolly Parton's book, I'm learning to be unapologetically myself. Owning my unique style, including the choice of music, has been liberating and has made such a difference to my podcast, to my business and to me.

7) Enjoying the Journey and Embracing Imperfections
Not taking things too seriously and having a giggle! Finding joy in the process, and being OK with things not being perfect has been a game-changer for me and my clients. I've loved every moment of this journey, even when my chocolate Labrador, Kylo, decides to join in!

Finally, the positives that have come from this adventure have been incredible. From building awareness for my business and what I do, sharing my clients’ stories and expertise and connecting with

Resources

• Future-Proof your Business Webinar 18th April - sign up for my free interactive workshop
• https://www.iamlucyrennie.com - free downloadable resources, other episodes and more information about how to work with Lucy.
• Buy my book here
• Join me in my membership The Future-Proof Club here -
• The Future-Proof Club
• Episode 26- Are you really listening? https://www.iamlucyrennie.com/podcast/are-you-really-listening
• Episode 43 - Joining the Dots https://www.iamlucyrennie.com/insights/joining-the-dots-the-programme

Come and join me and lots of other small business owners like you in my FREE Facebook group:CWP (Communicate with Purpose) Group | Facebook

This episode is a bit different, I’m excited to share with you more about my new “Joining the Dots” project that is launching this September in collaboration with the brilliant Take Part.

With more than 25 years working with small, medium and large organisations all around the world, and eight years as the founder and Managing Director of LR Comms, a strategic communications consultancy, I know how vital finding the right people and communicating effectively can be to the success of your business.

I’m also increasingly aware of the constant challenges that my clients and other businesses face in attracting and retaining the right people, especially in today’s post-covid world where our traditional ways of doing things have been thrown out of the window. 

At the same time, our young people are struggling to get inspired. They are expected, at thirteen and fourteen years of age, to start to make choices about their own futures, yet they have very few, if any opportunities to explore the world of work, and to find out more about how it all works. 

How can they know what they want to do, where their strengths lie and what they enjoy doing if they aren’t given the chance to discover more, to hear from real people in real jobs, to get experience in different industries and types of roles and to ask questions? 

I want to bridge the gap between the world of business and young people, and encourage our future generations to get curious, explore opportunities and make the choice to create a life doing what they love.

My new Joining the Dots programme aims to bridge the gap between these two worlds, providing our young people with the insights, opportunities and inspiration they need to be able to make the right choices and create a life they want and enable businesses to connect with future employees, build awareness for what they do and encourage more people to want to join them.

I’d love to know what you think and if you’d like to get involved. You can find all the links to find out more and get in touch in the shownotes. 

Resource Links:

• https://www.iamlucyrennie.com - free downloadable resources, other episodes and more information about how to work with us.
• Buy my book here - htps://www.iamlucyrennie.com/book
• Join The Future-Proof Club here - https://go.lrcomms.co.uk/future-proof-club
• Come and join me and lots of other small business owners like you in my FREE Facebook group: https://www.face

Resources

• Future-Proof your Business Webinar 18th April - sign up for my free interactive workshop
• https://www.iamlucyrennie.com - free downloadable resources, other episodes and more information about how to work with Lucy.
• Buy my book here
• Join me in my membership The Future-Proof Club here -
• The Future-Proof Club
• Episode 26- Are you really listening? https://www.iamlucyrennie.com/podcast/are-you-really-listening
• Episode 43 - Joining the Dots https://www.iamlucyrennie.com/insights/joining-the-dots-the-programme

Come and join me and lots of other small business owners like you in my FREE Facebook group:CWP (Communicate with Purpose) Group | Facebook

Welcome to this week's episode of the "Future-Proof Your Business Podcast" with your host Lucy Rennie.

In this week's episode, I’m joined by the brilliant Sharon Taylor, owner and managing director of Paragon Print and Marketing Solutions who describes herself as a “nosy” printer and loves helping people elevate and bring their business to life through the power of print.

Sharon shares insights into her world of print, from her traditional Heidelberg litho printer, the intricacies of choosing the right format, colour or finish, to the magic of creating a “lumpy bumpy mail".

We have the BEST conversation about the highs and lows of running a business, about Sharon's own journey and the power of non-alcoholic beer and sausage rolls.

We chat about:

• how being a good leader in any business is all about communication and being fair.
• why you need to be able to step back and look in.
• recognising that you don’t know everything, getting the right person on your wing who can help and be brave. Be brave, make decisions, make mistakes and learn from them.
• sense-checking everything you do. Are you doing it because you've always done it that way or because that's the best way of doing it?
• being nosy, and curious, finding out more about who they are and what they want to achieve.
• how clients just want you to make them look good!
• making it bounce when it lands on someone's desk so that it's memorable, and you get that phone call.
• how to strike the balance between work and home,

and how it can feel like you're "

getting onto a fast moving train at the back of the carriage and have to clamber your way through to the driving seat."

Resource Links:

• Get in touch with Sharon at Sharon@paragonprinting.co.uk
• https://paragonprinting.co.uk/marketing-solutions/
• https://www.facebook.com/Paragonprintandmarketing
  • https://www.iamlucyrennie.com - free downloadable resources, other episodes and more information about how to work with Lucy.
  • Listen to more episodes of The Future-Proof your Business podcast - https://www.iamlucyrennie.com/podcast

Resources

• Future-Proof your Business Webinar 18th April - sign up for my free interactive workshop
• https://www.iamlucyrennie.com - free downloadable resources, other episodes and more information about how to work with Lucy.
• Buy my book here
• Join me in my membership The Future-Proof Club here -
• The Future-Proof Club
• Episode 26- Are you really listening? https://www.iamlucyrennie.com/podcast/are-you-really-listening
• Episode 43 - Joining the Dots https://www.iamlucyrennie.com/insights/joining-the-dots-the-programme

Come and join me and lots of other small business owners like you in my FREE Facebook group:CWP (Communicate with Purpose) Group | Facebook