The HoLT’s Survival Guide For Small Businesses
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 ch...
Mon, April 07, 2025
Service and Impact: The Foundations of Brand Strategy with Ash Rathod
Does the term Personal Brand give you the ick? It’s egotistical, self-indulgent and for those full of their own self-importance. My guest Ash Rathod, Brand & Story consultant, felt exactly the same, but he re-framed it. It became a way of connecting with audiences through storytelling. If you focus on serving your customers and creating authentic connections, you will attract the right audience. Ash shares his experiences after sharing his most vulnerable story on social media, of developing Vitiligo, a skin condition that meant he lost pigment in his skin. This taught him that being vulnerable and genuine in a world filled with superficiality can be a superpower for your brand. Ash shares so much wisdom in this episode on ways you can develop a brand strategy that aligns with who you are, and make sure you stand out from the crowd. “We should be audience obsessed” – Ash You’ll hear about: Personal branding should focus on serving others, not self-indulgence. Storytelling is crucial for businesses to connect with their audience. Authenticity is key in personal branding and storytelling. Engagement on social media should be genuine, not contrived Connect with Ash: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashrathod/ Threads - https://www.threads.net/@theashrathod YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@TheAshRathod Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theashrathod Ash’s Website - https://www.ashrathod.com/ Digital Focus Creatives - https://www.digitalfocuscreatives.com/ Connect with me: My website - https://leaturner.co.uk/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lea-turner/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/leaturnerholt Find out about The HoLT: The HoLT - https://www.the-holt.com/ The HoLT on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/theholt The HoLT on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theholtcommunity/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theholtcommunity The Vault - https://www.the-holt.com/vault Join The Holt waiting list - https://www.the-holt.com/waitlis
Mon, March 31, 2025
The Perks of Being a Freelancer with Grace Hall
Becoming a business owner is not the only way to work for yourself and be successful. For some freelancing is the perfect blend of freedom and fulfillment. My guest in the episode, Grace Hall, has skipped traditional employment from the off, choosing the brave move to work for herself straight out of uni. And she has been an incredible success! 5 years into her freelancing career as a copywriter there have been lots of ups and downs. Grace shares the realities of working for herself, from client management, to pricing strategies, including her own particular “tax” she adds to jobs she knows will be tough. At times she has struggled with self-doubt but shares key ways freelancers or business owners can own that fact they are good at what they do. Grace is testament that you can choose your own happiness over societal pressures, so listen up to find out how she does it! “It’s not all about the money” – Grace You’ll hear about: How starting out as a freelancer can be daunting but rewarding. Freelancing offers flexibility and ownership that agency work may not. Staying true to your values is crucial in a competitive environment. It's okay to prioritise personal happiness over societal pressures to grow. 00:42 - An introduction to Grace and her work 01:55 - Straight from university to freelancing 07:28 - Realising "I'm good at this" 11:19 - Getting used to asking for testimonials 16:32 - The moments you want to chuck it all in 24:12 - Overcoming challenging clients 30:38 - Becoming an agency vs freelancing 33:31 - Keeping your head in the entrepreneurial world 38:58 - The impacts of AI on the market 41:08 - Messages from Grace's younger business self Connect with Grace: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/grace-r-hall/ Crying Over Copy - https://cryingovercopy.com/ Connect with me: My website - https://leaturner.co.uk/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lea-turner/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/leaturnerholt Find out about The HoLT: The HoLT - https://www.the-holt.com/ The HoLT on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/theholt The HoLT on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theholtcommunity/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theholtcommunity The Vault - https:
Tue, March 25, 2025
Dogs, Business and Personal Growth with Laura Pointer
Starting your business can be an immediate success story. Not everyone goes through struggles to grow, or difficult years before the good times hit. In fact, the opposite was true for my guest in this episode, Laura Pointer. Laura was made redundant at the start of the Covid pandemic, which forced her hand to start her own business to “un-fuck” companies ERP systems. Something she was immediately hugely successful at and always in demand. It wasn’t until 4 years later in 2024 that the hard times hit. Laura shares how she got through the struggles and is coming out the other side. Laura’s story is one of self-doubt, pricing struggles, and knowing that the power of effective communication in business is crucial. Beyond ERP systems Laura is a trained coach and huge dog lover, literally, the bigger the better! This love has led her down the path of also becoming a dog trainer. This episode beautifully shows the complexities of life and business and how you can be more than 1 thing at the same time and love every part of the opportunities they can bring. “You're worth more than enough”– Laura You’ll hear about: 00:00 - Navigating Contract Negotiations 01:15 - Understanding ERP Systems 06:12 - Transitioning to Business Ownership 08:52 - The Rollercoaster of Business Success 10:39 - Facing Challenges in 2024 17:44 - Finding New Opportunities 22:07 - Staying Productive During Downtime 22:56 - Transforming Lives Through Dog Training 25:44 - Navigating Change Management in Business 28:26 - Overcoming Self-Doubt as a Business Owner 32:44 - Finding Your Worth and Pricing Your Services 35:58 - Understanding Dog Behavior and Training 39:31 - Dreaming Big: Future Aspirations and Goals 40:14 - Lessons Learned: Avoiding Undervaluation 43:17 - Building Trust in Professional Relationships Connect with Laura: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-pointer/ Pivotal Project Management - https://pivotalprojectmanagement.co.uk/ Connect with me: My website - https://leaturner.co.uk/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lea-turner/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/leaturnerholt Find out about The HoLT: The HoLT - https://www.the-holt.com/ The HoLT on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/theholt The HoLT on Instagram - <a href='https://www.instagram.com/
Tue, March 18, 2025
Life and Business with Tourettes with Luke Manton
Imagine being 20, healthy and successful. You’re a manager, leading teams, you have 2 Honours degrees, everything is going well. Now imagine you suffer a brain injury that leaves you with Tourette’s syndrome. You can’t speak, you tic involuntarily, you swear, you whistle. Doctors tell you not to bother with work and just claim benefits from now on. This was what happened to my inspirational guest Luke Manton. His life was turned upside down when he developed Tourette’s syndrome. But he didn’t want to let others tell him he can’t. After some very dark times in his life he is now runs running his own highly successful VA agency, employing staff, and a TEDX speaker, because Tourette’s does not define him or stop him. But he wouldn’t change a thing if he could go back… So, what about you? Is there something you use to prove people wrong, to show the world you can? Or is there something currently holding you back that you need to let go of? Running a business is full of challenges that need to be overcome. Luke is the most incredible example of this that I know. “I’d choose Tourette’s every time”– Luke You’ll hear about: 00:00 - Embracing Change: The Journey with Tourette's 02:49 - From Job Rejections to Entrepreneurial Success 06:11 - Overcoming Discrimination: The Impact of Tourette's 08:59 - Building a Business: The Birth of Manson Executives 11:50 - The Power of Support: Finding Allies in Adversity 14:55 - Defying Expectations: Proving the Naysayers Wrong 18:01 - Activism and Advocacy: Raising Awareness for Tourette's 20:56 - Parenthood and Perseverance: The Journey to Adoption 23:45 - The Role of Social Media: Sharing the Story 27:01 - Looking Ahead: Future Aspirations and Goals 33:09 - Overcoming Self-Doubt and Embracing Acceptance 37:30 - The Power of Mindset and Resilience 40:33 - Transforming Challenges into Opportunities 46:33 - Promoting Understanding and Kindness in Society Connect with Luke: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lukemantonme/ Tik Tok - https://www.tiktok.com/@ticcedtok Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/lukemanton92/?hl=en Manton Executives: Website - https://www.mantonexecutives.com/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/mantonexecutives/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mantonexecutives/?hl=en Tik Tok - https://www.tikto
Tue, March 11, 2025
Get visible without fear with Dani Wallace
One of the biggest fears of any business owner is putting yourself out there. Whether it’s on socials or public speaking you must overcome the fear. Your business needs you to. That’s exactly what the incredible Dani Wallace, my guest in this episode, supports business owners to do. Embrace your uniqueness, overcome the fear and share your greatness with the world. Dani believes we all have gifts that we need to share. We are here to serve others and there is nothing wrong with making money doing so. We delve into the themes of self-sabotage, community building, and the challenges we all face in overcoming self-doubt. You can do it. You can embrace who you are and become the beautiful, wonderful business owner you have the potential to be, and share that with the world. “It’s about creating connection and serving people”– Dani You’ll hear about: 00:00 - The Importance of Visibility and Connection 03:04 - Building Community and Safe Spaces 05:58 - Overcoming Visibility Challenges 08:57 - The Role of Ego in Business 12:10 - Navigating Public Speaking Fears 18:13 - Creating Safety in Visibility 24:13 - Finding Authenticity in Business 32:28 - Overcoming Self-Sabotage 37:19 - Finding Your Community 41:59 - Embracing Your Weirdness 43:50 - Understanding Introversion and Extroversion 48:53 - Identifying Your Unique Value 56:41 - The Importance of Overcoming Fear Connect with Dani: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamthequeenbee/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thequeenbeedani/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/thequeenbeedani Iatqb Website - https://www.iatqb.com/ Get tickets to The BIG Festoon - https://linktr.ee/thebigfestoon Connect with me: My website - https://leaturner.co.uk/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lea-turner/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/leaturnerholt Find out about The HoLT: The HoLT - https://www.the-holt.com/ The HoLT on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/theholt The HoLT on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theholtcommunity/ Facebook - ht
Tue, March 04, 2025
Hard Work: The True Path to Success with Chris James
Start your own business they say…. Work your own hours, be your own boss, live your best life. But the reality is not that easy. You have to graft, and you have to graft hard. Chris James, Founder of Content to Clients is my guest in this episode, and he tells it like it is. You have to work hard, you have to be resilient and sometimes you just have to trust that you can do it. Chris left his job in a call centre, supported by his loved ones, to build his own business, something he says is central to his success. Since then, he has helped countless business owners hit big money months, but they all had to put in some serious effort to get there. He shares his journey of business growth over the past three years, and how he has ended up working with an all-female team. Chris tells it like it is, so get ready to find out what it’s really like to run your own business and get prepared to take some risks. “This shit isn’t for everyone”– Chris You’ll hear about: 00:00 – Building a business is not for everyone 01:05 - An introduction to Chris and his work 02:50 - Chris's expectations of working for himself 04:58 - Why Chris outsourced quickly 11:06 - How support at home changed Chris's life 14:53 - How has Content to Clients evolved? 19:21 - Chris on his history with LinkedIn 24:42 - The growth of Chris's business 30:46 - Chris on having an all-female team 37:34 - Chris's advice to his younger self Connect with Chris: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisjamesonline/ Chris James’ Website - https://www.chris-james.co/ Content to Clients - https://www.chris-james.co/c2clp Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/chrisjamesonline/?hl=en YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@ChrisJamesOnline Connect with me: My website - https://leaturner.co.uk/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lea-turner/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/leaturnerholt Find out about The HoLT: The HoLT - https://www.the-holt.com/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/theholt Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theholtcommunity/ Facebook -
Tue, February 25, 2025
Losing it All: Every Business Owner’s Worst Fear with Taq Shah
The one thing all business owners fear the most….losing everything. No clients, no contracts, no income, no money. This has been the harsh reality for my guest Taq Shah. Going from the most incredible first year of her business in 2021, earning more than she ever thought possible, to friends and family having to help pay her bills in 2024. Taq shows incredible strength to share what she is going through at this very moment in her business and life. Something all other business owners need to hear to avoid the same mistakes. And it’s not just the business that suffers. As Taq shares, her attempts to work herself out of her situation also led to burning out at the end of 2024. Taq is raising awareness for small business owner’s mental health and the impact of work styles on overall well-being. No matter what happens never doubt your skills, never doubt what you can achieve, always have hope. “I felt like a failure…but I have hope”– Taq You’ll hear about: 00:00 – This wasn’t the plan 02:11 - The low down on Taq Shah 04:42 - 2024 the worst year of Taq's business 11:45 - Identifying her weaknesses in marketing 14:35 - Don't blame yourself when things go wrong 18:33 - The choice: cover bills or investing in her business 24:54 - No money & no contracts 28:46 - It all goes wrong: a humbling reality check 37:24 - Taq's plan to turn things around 41:58 - What would Taq say to the 2023 her? 49:15 - The problem is your work style Connect with Taq: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/taqshah/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/centricconsultancy/?hl=en Connect with me: My website - https://leaturner.co.uk/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lea-turner/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/leaturnerholt Find out about The HoLT: The HoLT - https://www.the-holt.com/ The HoLT on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/theholt The HoLT on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theholtcommunity/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theholtcommunity The Vault - https://www.the-holt.com/vault Join The Holt waiting list - https:/
Tue, December 03, 2024
Take Your Business from Beige to Brilliant with Michelle Hartley
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 33:12 - Create content to become a lighthouse 37:03 - How Michelle got brave on video 41:06 – Michelle’s transformative business advice Connect with Michelle: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellehartleyfinderofawesome/ People Sorted - https://peoplesorted.co.uk/ Connect with me: The HoLT - https://www.the-holt.com/ My website - https://leaturner.co.uk/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lea-turner/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/leaturnerholt Join The Holt waiting list - https://www.the-holt.com/waitlist This podcast is sponsored bySafe Space From The Workplace. You can check out their podcast here - https://shorturl.at/IASSn
Tue, November 26, 2024
The Emotional Journey of Entrepreneurship with Kate Hughes
Entrepreneurship will be emotional. Fact. From doubting yourself, getting rejected, to feeling exposed because you’re having to put yourself out there for the sake of your business, you’ll feel it all. My guest in this episode, Kate Hughes, experienced the lot. Her entrepreneurial journey brought up hard stuff from her childhood, but instead of letting this stop her she did what she advises all business owners to do…. Lean into it and work through it. Kate is a leadership coach, and founder of Your Step Coach. After the gut punch of being made redundant 3 times, Kate took her career into her own hands. She shares the challenges of transitioning to self-employment, and the importance of therapy and self-coaching to be able to lean into the hard stuff and build confidence. You need self-compassion as an entrepreneur, Kate’s story shows it it’s not just possible but essential for you to thrive. “The biggest emotional journey has been battling shit from my childhood”– Kate You’ll hear about: 00:00 - Confronting Childhood Challenges 01:59 - Kate's life before leaping into self employment 05:25 - The scariness of starting to market yourself 09:00 - Kate's biggest emotional journey in business 12:56 - How has running a business impacted family life? 17:56 - The changes in how Kate runs her business now 23:59 - Where Kate's confidence comes from 27:21 - The positive & negative impacts of people around you 32:59 - The people for the seasons of your life 39:16 - Embracing network rather than competition 40:45 - Kate's advice for new business owners Connect with Kate: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/katelouisehughes/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/yourstepcoach/ Your Step Coach - https://www.yourstepcoach.com/work-with-me Connect with me: The HoLT - https://www.the-holt.com/ My website - https://leaturner.co.uk/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lea-turner/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/leaturnerholt Join The Holt waiting list - https://www.the-holt.com/waitlist This podcast is sponsored bySafe Space From The Workplace. You can check out their podcast here - https://shorturl.at/IASSn
Tue, November 19, 2024
Creating Businesses that Serve Others with Luke Beckley
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 30:25 - The power of terms and conditions Connect with Luke: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/luke-beckley/ Correlia - https://www.correla.com/ Hope4 - https://hope4.org/ Uncharted Summits - https://www.unchartedsummits.world/ Connect with me: The HoLT - https://www.the-holt.com/ My website - https://leaturner.co.uk/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lea-turner/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/leaturnerholt Join The Holt waiting list - https://www.the-holt.com/waitlist This podcast is sponsored bySafe Space From The Workplace. You can check out their podcast here - https://shorturl.at/IASSn
Tue, November 12, 2024
Self-Belief is Your Business Superpower with Jesminara Rahman
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 28:12 - Creating a Supportive Work Environment 31:54 - Navigating the Challenges of Business Ownership 36:05 - The Power of Collaboration Over Competition Connect with Jesmin: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jesminararahman-taxinvestigationexpert/?originalSubdomain=uk Connect with me: The HoLT - https://www.the-holt.com/ My website - https://leaturner.co.uk/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lea-turner/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/leaturnerholt Join The Holt waiting list - https://www.the-holt.com/waitlist This podcast is sponsored bySafe Space From The Workplace. You can check out their podcast here - https://shorturl.at/IASSn
Tue, November 05, 2024
Risking it all: Burnout to Mindfulness with Steve Ware
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 37:43 - The importance of word-of-mouth referrals Connect with Steve: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-ware-mindfulness/ Website - https://www.stevewaremindfulness.com/ Connect with me: The HoLT - https://www.the-holt.com/ My website - https://leaturner.co.uk/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lea-turner/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/leaturnerholt Join The Holt waiting list - https://www.the-holt.com/waitlist This podcast is sponsored bySafe Space From The Workplace. You can check out their podcast here - https://shorturl.at/IASSn
Tue, October 29, 2024
Your Business Will Fail Without a Pipeline with Mia Denos
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? 30:52 - Has not having employees been less stressful? 35:48 - The expectations of success on social media 37:12 - Advice to those about to go all in on their side hustle Connect with Mia: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/miadenos/ Lucror Financial Services - https://www.linkedin.com/company/lucror-financial-services/ Connect with me: The HoLT - https://www.the-holt.com/ My website - https://leaturner.co.uk/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lea-turner/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/leaturnerholt Join The Holt waiting list - https://www.the-holt.com/waitlist This podcast is sponsored bySafe Space From The Workplace. You can check out their podcast here - https://shorturl.at/IASSn
Mon, October 21, 2024
Business Life the Brutal Truth with Eddie Whittingham
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 28:27 - Having knowledge before outsourcing 31:43 - Advice on mentors or coaches 35:40 - Being saved by strong contracts 38:05 - Finding the right business coach 39:58 - Eddie's advice to small business owners Connect with Eddie: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/eddiewhittingham/ GoFounder - https://gofounder.com/ The Ministry of Work - https://ministryofwork.co.uk/ Connect with me: The HoLT - https://www.the-holt.com/ My website - https://leaturner.co.uk/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lea-turner/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/leaturnerholt Join The Holt waiting list - https://www.the-holt.com/waitlist This podcast is sponsored bySafe Space From The Workplace. You can check out their podcast here - https://shorturl.at/IASSn
Mon, October 14, 2024
Do Work That Makes You Feel Alive with Katie Flamman
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? 32:11 - The joy of finding the passion in what you do Connect with Katie: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-flamman/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/katieflamman/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8AO9P-FVaJcqsNn01xzKdw Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/katieflammanvoiceover/ X - https://twitter.com/KatieFlamman See Katie’s work on Vimeo - https://vimeo.com/katieflamman Katie’s website - https://katieflamman.co.uk/ Listen to Katie’s podcast Storytelling for Business - https://katieflamman.co.uk/the-storytelling-for-business-podcast/ Connect with me: The HoLT - https://www.the-holt.com/ My website - https://leaturner.co.uk/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lea-turner/ Instag
Mon, October 07, 2024
Say No and Outsource to Get More Sales with Alex Thompson
“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 34:26 - Alex's advice for hiring freelancers 40:58 - Alex's advice to himself when he first started in business Connect with Alex: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-thompson-copywriter/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/alex_actcopywriting/ ACT Email Marketing - https://www.actcopywriting.co.uk/ Listen to Alex’s podcast Copy Craic - https://shorturl.at/eoW8m Connect with me: The HoLT - https://www.the-holt.com/ My website - https://leaturner.co.uk/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lea-turner/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/leaturnerholt Join The Holt waiting list - https://www.the-holt.com/waitlist This podcast is sponsored bySafe Space From The Workplace. You can check out their podcast here - https://shorturl.at/IASSn
Mon, September 30, 2024
From Panic Attacks to VA Superstar with Danielle Carrigan
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? 54:23 - Focusing on what's important 56:01 - Danielle's advice to side hustlers Connect with Danielle: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielle-carrigan/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/spacetime_va/ The Duke Academy - https://shorturl.at/IgPgS Connect with me: The HoLT - https://www.the-holt.com/ My website - https://leaturner.co.uk/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lea-turner/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/leaturnerholt Join The Holt waiting list - https://www.the-holt.com/waitlist This podcast is sponsored by Safe Space From The Workplace. You can check ou
Trailer · Sun, August 25, 2024
The HoLT’s Survival Guide For Small Businesses - The Trailer
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! Connect with me: The HoLT - https://www.the-holt.com/ My website - https://leaturner.co.uk/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lea-turner/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/leaturnerholt Join The Holt waiting list - https://www.the-holt.com/waitlist Don't forget to subscribe, leave a rating and review!
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