Not everyone starts a business to become the next Steven Bartlett or Gary Vee. Millions of us start our businesses to escape the 9-5 ties to the office, toxic bosses, threat of redundancy, and chasing pay rises. We want freedom, control of our own time, and to be able to choose who we work with, where we work from, and how much we work. But what’s it really like to start and run a small business? Lea Turner, Founder of The HoLT business community, digs deep with real small business owners from a variety of sectors, into why they chose to start their business, the surprises, challenges, and tough lessons they’ve learned along the way, without the glossy social media filter, to give real insight into the journeys they’ve been on to create a business and a life on their terms.
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From Panic Attacks to VA Superstar with Danielle Carrigan
Episode 2
Monday, September 30, 2024 • Duration 01:00:43
Changing your life is never easy.
To be able to take control of your future and make a success of it by starting your own business is not something everyone succeeds at.
That’s why I wanted to talk to the amazing Danielle Carrigan, who left teaching to start working as a VA. Within the first year she has built a team of 11 associates and is now starting a second business as well.
But it wasn’t easy in any way. Danielle struggled with her mental health as a teacher, which inspired the drive to want to change her life. She talks openly about her experiences from the balancing act of side hustling to the setbacks she has overcome to get to this point.
Resilience and finding the right support have been crucial for her along the way, whether in person or through communities like The HoLT.
No matter if you are in the thick of your side hustle or an established business owner there’s a lot to learn from the incredible Danielle.
“I woke up in the middle of the night and I thought I was having a heart attack.” – Danielle
You’ll hear about:
00:00 – Danielle hits rock bottom
00:32 - An introduction to Danielle and Bronson
01:52 - Danielle's life as a teacher
05:39 - Juggling the side hustle and teaching
08:04 - What told Danielle it was time to leave teaching?
11:07 - The reaction of those around her
16:16 - Danielle's red flags on sales calls
20:03 - How have Danielle's boundaries with clients improved?
25:16 - Why Danielle has associates rather than employees
30:08 - How has life changed for Danielle?
33:57 - Learning from the crap experiences
39:44 - The most valuable lessons from business owners
47:21 - Does Danielle still feel imposter syndrome?
This podcast is sponsored by Safe Space From The Workplace. You can check out their podcast here - https://shorturl.at/IASSn
The HoLT’s Survival Guide For Small Businesses - The Trailer
Sunday, August 25, 2024 • Duration 02:18
Does running your business fill you with self-doubt or make you feel lonely?
If so, you’re not alone.
That’s exactly where I was when I started my first 2 small businesses that grew to 6-figures in their first year. My friends were all employed, and they didn't understand what I was experiencing. I didn't want to admit to my peers that I was struggling.
But I am a small business survivor!
And that's why I started my membership community, The Holt, to bring small business owners together. To learn, to feel included, to not be lonely, and to grow their businesses with people that understood by their side.
In this podcast I'm going to be talking to real life small business owners to find out the mental, physical and emotional tolls that running a business has really had on their life. We'll be finding out about their highs and lows, as well as the steps they took to achieve what they have.
If you're a small business owner that's sick of being on your own, that doesn't have anybody to relate to, and wants to learn from other people's mistakes, then this podcast is for you.
Subscribe now to join us when we launch in October!
Say No and Outsource to Get More Sales with Alex Thompson
Episode 3
Monday, October 7, 2024 • Duration 44:23
“You need more sales”
Do you always hear that ringing in your head as a business owner?
My guest in this episode, the brilliant Alex Thompson, went through exactly the same thing building his email marketing business.
Alex found that making 2 massive shifts helped him to scale like never before. Outsourcing and saying no to work that didn’t fit with what he wanted. He shares what finally made him shift from doing it all himself. That meant no more work at 4am on the weekend or missing picking his kids up from school.
He also delves into the challenges he has had in finding the right people for his team. Which now includes six writers, and he has doubled his client base by focusing on his strengths.
So, listen up because this is advice that works!
“Saying no has improved my sales goals.” – Alex
You’ll hear about:
00:00 - The Journey to Outsourcing and Saying No
00:44 - An introduction to Alex
02:37 - Why Alex didn't see a future in teaching
06:06 - Alex on selling himself as a copywriter
09:27 - Alex's business crisis
13:17 - Learning how to scale quicker
15:21 - The struggle to let go of your business baby
17:59 - Getting to the point of being able to say no to work
24:31 - Freeing yourself up to strategise with clients
30:46 - Carve out time to work on the business
Do Work That Makes You Feel Alive with Katie Flamman
Episode 4
Monday, October 14, 2024 • Duration 41:33
Does your work make you feel alive or are you deep in the doldrums?
Nothing can beat the feeling of doing something that energises you, that you know is exactly what you are meant to be doing.
And you know what?
Your age when you make the change means absolutely nothing.
In this episode I am joined by the fabulous Katie Flamman, who decided to end a successful career in the news to take on her next big challenge in life, becoming a full-time mum. 10 years later she was ready to find out what would be next for her work life.
She found a love and talent for voice acting. Now a multi-award winning, expert in her field she is here to share her story. The challenges she faced balancing motherhood with her career aspirations. As well as the resourcefulness required to start her voiceover business.
There is so much to learn here from Katie about what your business has the potential to become from humble beginnings.
“It was the most alive and energised I think I'd ever felt.”– Katie
You’ll hear about:
00:00 – Going to L.A. for an award vs the PTA bonfire
00:52 - What led Katie to where she is now?
03:30 - How Katie got into voiceover work
05:27 - Choosing motherhood over careers
09:23 - Finding something just for herself
13:40 - Katie's self-doubt in business at 40
17:32 - The more resourceful you are the better
26:02 - How has success impacted Katie's life?
Business Life the Brutal Truth with Eddie Whittingham
Episode 5
Monday, October 21, 2024 • Duration 46:26
It’s time for a reality check.
Running a business is not like the social media highlight reels people would have you believe.
Spending your days dipping in your ice bath, a session with your personal trainer and therapist before you sit down to make 10K in 10 minutes. Rubbish.
I am joined by Eddie Whittingham, someone who has done it all. From police officer to starting a business in cyber security, which he sold for multiple-millions, and now running a lifestyle business as a co-working space owner.
Eddie tells it like it is, no holds barred.
He talks about the sacrifices to his mental health he had to make to get to where he is now. As well as the need for curiosity and continuous learning for anyone to be a successful entrepreneur. He calls out the sham business coaches infesting our social feeds and the fact that luck also plays a role in anyone’s success.
Want to know what building a business is really like? Listen to Eddie.
“Building a business requires sacrifice.”– Eddie
You’ll hear about:
00:00 - Building a business requires sacrifice
00:39 - Eddie's eclectic work background
02:28 - Choosing a modern lifestyle business
04:59 - The loneliness of running a business
06:38 - The truth about growing a startup
11:13 - Would I do things differently?
14:46 - Common mistakes in the first years of business
18:59 - Go for the big goal first
25:34 - The thrill is in the learning
Your Business Will Fail Without a Pipeline with Mia Denos
Episode 6
Tuesday, October 29, 2024 • Duration 45:38
20% of businesses fail in their first year!
How do you avoid being one of them?
On this episode I am joined by the most zen business owner I know, Mia Denos.
With 20 years’ experience running her own businesses there is no-one better to advise small business owners on what it takes to succeed. Put simply having a pipeline of work will save a business.
You need to know where the money is coming from months in advance to avoid disappointment.
Mia also emphasises the importance of having a financial reserve and understanding the difference between working in a business and running a business.
Your skills alone are not enough to make a business thrive.
Get ready to get business zen with Mia!
“If you’re not worried about how to pay your rent or feed yourself, you’ll be able to think more rationally”– Mia
You’ll hear about:
00:00 – Always have a pipeline of work
01:01 - An introduction to Mia Denos
03:12 - Things small businesses should be doing
05:31 - The importance of a pipeline of work
07:57 - Mia's advice to ensure a pipeline of customers
13:28 - How many customers should you have?
17:58 - How to nurture client relationships
22:08 - How to get amazing testimonials
27:56 - Why is Mia so Zen with her business?
Risking it all: Burnout to Mindfulness with Steve Ware
Episode 7
Tuesday, November 5, 2024 • Duration 42:06
Are you a risk taker?
There is no greater risk than to go out on your own to start a business, but the rewards are huge. And when you find that passion nothing will stop you.
For my guest in this episode, Steve Ware, risk taking was never easy. Coming from a risk averse family his mindset was one of corporate safety. Then a long career at IBM was ended by burnout and the Covid pandemic.
Discovering the power of mindfulness ignited something in Steve. He transformed himself by regaining control over his mental health, which led to training others in the practice with rave reviews.
It wasn’t until he risked everything by investing all his earnings back into his business that things really took off.
Get ready to find out the impact mindfulness can have on your life, and the challenges and rewards of transitioning into entrepreneurship.
“It feels like I'm swimming with the tide now”– Steve
You’ll hear about:
00:00 – Steve on finding his passion
00:35 - An introduction to Steve Ware
03:29 - Steve's experience with burnout
07:09 - Going from burnout to mindfulness
11:26 - The benefits of a quiet mind
13:06 - Steve's path to training mindfulness
18:08 - Is Steve more of a risk taker now?
23:54 - The turning point in Steve's business
28:04 - How Steve's life has changed working for himself
32:02 - Keeping the passion and business growing
Self-Belief is Your Business Superpower with Jesminara Rahman
Episode 8
Tuesday, November 12, 2024 • Duration 44:16
You will not know everything when you start your business.
Accounting, marketing, offer structures, pricing…… the list goes on
But that should never stop you.
The belief you have in yourself, your skills, your experience is what you need to get started. That is exactly what my wonderful guest in this episode, Jesminara Rahman, had when she took the leap.
Transitioning from a secure job at HMRC she jumped ship to join the side of small businesses, fighting in their corner in tax disputes with HMRC.
Jesminara shares the essential skills she needed to develop fast at the start of her journey that created business growth. She gives incredible insights into how she built a flexible team empowered by choice, something so many businesses could learn from.
Jesminara is forging the way for balance in business, listen up to find out how you can too.
“I knew because of my expertise that I could do it”– Jesmin
You’ll hear about:
00:00 - Flexible Work Culture and Employee Empowerment
01:12 - Jesmin's Journey to Starting a Small Business
03:11 - Overcoming Fear: The Leap into Entrepreneurship
05:53 - The Emotional Toll of Tax Investigations
10:00 - Balancing Family and Business Responsibilities
12:52 - Building Resilience Through Adversity
15:47 - Essential Skills for Business Growth
20:00 - The Importance of a Good Accountant
24:04 – Jesmin’s advice for Small Business Owners
Creating Businesses that Serve Others with Luke Beckley
Episode 9
Tuesday, November 19, 2024 • Duration 41:45
Business is not all about money.
Shock! Horror!!
It can be created for the purpose of serving others, and when it is incredible things happen.
My guest in this episode Luke Beckley not only has an innate drive to serve others through his work, but he also builds businesses whilst working in a full-time career.
Luke is a generous soul who works with me at Hope4, a charity providing emergency aid to desperate families in Moldova. His specialism is data, through which he supports businesses large and small to ensure they have proper data handling practices.
He shares invaluable insights into the common mistakes small businesses make with data, and the serious impacts it can have if handled improperly.
We also re-live our eventful trip to Kilimanjaro that triggered a wave of support across LinkedIn and shows the true spirit of entrepreneurs in times of difficulty.
“The real passion is helping small businesses and charities”– Luke
You’ll hear about:
00:00 - Luke Beckley: data protection superhero
00:56 - An introduction to Luke Beckley
03:51 - Why Luke stuck to a side hustle
07:08 - Being comfortable building a business slowly
10:11 - How to balance multiple work projects
12:30 - The Kilimanjaro story
20:07 - Luke and Lea on fundraising for Hope4
23:28 - Luke's purpose in data protection
25:58 - Common small business data mistakes
Take Your Business from Beige to Brilliant with Michelle Hartley
Episode 11
Tuesday, December 3, 2024 • Duration 47:30
Be honest, do you really show up as the real you to work?
Truly, unconditionally you?
If there is even the tiniest niggle of doubt that you are, you need Michelle Hartley in your life.
She took her beige corporate life and binned it, then stepped into the full kaleidoscopic, colourful brilliance of who she really is. In this episode I talk to Michelle about her transformative journey from a conventional corporate HR role to a vibrant, authentic HR coach.
She shares the joy authenticity in business brings and how she overcame imposter syndrome. She also gives incredible tips to anyone using LinkedIn to find their ideal clients and how to create fun, memorable and engaging content.
Michelle is a beacon of rainbow coloured light in a land of business beige, listen to find out how you can work and live as who you truly are.
And love yourself for it!
“Whatever brings me joy is what I do”– Michelle
You’ll hear about:
00:00 – Being yourself is the biggest win
00:48 - An introduction into Michelle
03:33 - How Michelle went from beige to brilliant
05:09 - Quitting corporate into nothing
09:08 - How Michelle got her first clients
11:59 - How to navigate rejection from clients
16:20 - How Michelle passes on confidence to others
21:03 - Choosing business ideas that are right for you
28:53 - Michelle's advice to use LinkedIn better
Don't forget to subscribe, leave a rating and review!
34:26 - Alex's advice for hiring freelancers
40:58 - Alex's advice to himself when he first started in business
This podcast is sponsored bySafe Space From The Workplace. You can check out their podcast here - https://shorturl.at/IASSn
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