I’m joined by the brilliant Alice Benham, a business strategist and self-proclaimed accidental entrepreneur. Alice shares her journey from burnout to building a thriving business that focuses on intentional and sustainable growth. We dive deep into the reality of entrepreneurship, from the confusing early days to balancing multiple hats and the importance of celebrating wins along the way.

Alice and I explore what it means to be an “accidental entrepreneur,” how to build a business with intention, and why taking messy action is often better than striving for perfection. Whether you’re in the early stages of your business or already established, this episode is packed with practical advice and inspiring stories to help you take your next steps with clarity and confidence.

Key Takeaways:

1. Accidental Entrepreneurship: Alice shares her story of how she fell into entrepreneurship at the age of 17 and the unexpected lessons learned along the way.
2. Burnout to Balance: Learn how Alice experienced early burnout and rebuilt her business with a focus on intentional, slow growth.
3. Building Strategy with Intention: Alice offers actionable tips for creating strategies that actually work for you, without the pressure of doing what others are doing.
4. Taking Messy Action: Perfectionism can hold us back. Alice encourages us to take small, messy steps forward and reflect along the way to keep growing.
5. Celebrating Wins: The importance of acknowledging progress and celebrating your achievements, no matter how small, as part of sustaining long-term motivation.

Action Steps:

1. Reflect on your internal and external "why"—why are you in business for yourself, and who are you helping?
2. Review your current marketing strategy: Are you doing things out of habit or because they align with your business goals? Focus on actions that bring real value.
3. Take some time to celebrate your wins—big or small. It’s easy to focus on what’s next, but looking back at what you’ve accomplished keeps you grounded and motivated.

Connect with Alice:

1. Instagram: www.instagram.com/alice_benham
2. Website: www.alicebenham.co.uk

Connect with Me:

1. Instagram: www.instagram.com/lucyjohnstonesocial
2. LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ljohnstonesocial

Listener Challenge:

What’s one small, messy action you can take this week to move your business forward? It doesn’t need to be perfect—just take that first step and learn from it. Don’t forget to tag me in your stories and let’s celebrate progress together!