I’m really pleased to introduce you to today’s guest - Designer and Brand Expert Jack Watkins. Jack has been running his business for 2 years after making the decision that life’s to short to not be doing the things you want to be doing.

Jack in his own words works with visionary entrepreneurs to bring intentional brands and websites to life through his design and branding process.  ‘Intentional’ is definitely the word of this episode. We talk about the importance of having an intention in your life and business and how it sits at the core of Jack’s philosophy and approach. All Jack’s work is purposeful, very much thought out and has real meaning behind it, which  is really what makes it so impactful and fulfilling both for him and the clients he works with.

In this episode we talk about:

·         Jack’s journey and about what the first years in a start up business look like

·         Being intentional

·         Doing your best work with your dream clients

·         Navigating the pressures of social media as a business owner

·         Streamlining your working week to be intentional with how you spend your time.

·         Looking for meaning behind the work that your going.

·         Growing on Pinterest

·         Being an INFJ

It was the first time I had the pleasure of chatting with Jack and I loved getting to know him better through our chat and I hope you do too.

Today’s guest is Interior Stylist, Art Director and Vintage Dealer Karen Barlow.  At the age of 42 Karen decided to leave her career in finance behind and go back to university to follow her creative dreams. In this episode Karen talks about her experiences about how over the years opportunities to follow her creative path had alluded her. It was something she had always had a passion and talent for but for various different reasons, she had to push those dreams down, until it came to her now or never moment, which she seized with both hands to create the thriving career she has today.

Today I’m speaking to Blogger, Yoga and Dance teacher Sally Fazelli who has been through a transformative year in her life and business.

Sally speaks powerfully in today’s episode about her own personal experience in reconnecting with herself and finding her purpose and now how she’s pivoted her business to empowering others to do the same. I loved chatting to Sally, it’s really great conversation that makes us think deeper about how the work we do is more than just a job and how by following our purpose we can have real impact in the world.

In the show we talk about:

Connecting with your true purpose

Sally’s mission to empower women to feel fully alive and connected in their body (through Yoga and Dance

Blogging as a business and working with brands

Pivoting her business to become a dance and yoga teacher

Instagram as a support network and a business tool

Healing from an eating disorder and viewing yourself as beautiful

Overcoming the fear of being your true self online

Stepping out of your comfort zone

Becoming the observer of your inner critic

Living a confident and fulfilled life

Today I chat to my friend and photographer Kathryn Taylor. Kathryn talks about her leap from the corporate world to run her own business full time. She also shares the creative journey of self discover she went on to get there.

If you’re looking to take that leap or dream of doing so in the future, this one is for you. Kathryn’s story is really inspirational with lots of practical insight and take aways to pull back the curtain on that process.

In the show we talk about:

Discovering your passion and talent

Turning that into a full time business

Finding your voice online

The pressure we put on oursleves to success

Instagram and finding your people online

The financial realities and sacrifices

Juggling work with being a mum

In this first episode I chat to the amazing Sara Tasker about how playing to her strengths has enabled her to build a successful business and create a life that works for her and her family.

Sara is a writer, photographer, coach, podcaster and best selling author, as well as all round inspiration and champion to creatives everywhere.

This is a really juicy episode where we cover lots of topics, including:

Playing to your strengths

Knowing your value

Finding success on your own terms

Dealing with self doubt and fear of failure

Instagram and connecting online

Giving yourself permission to lean in to what you’re really interested in.

There’s also a little exclusive the end, where Sara announces her new programme 15 minute magic launching in Jan, so stay tuned for that.

Beyond the Stories is a podcast brought to you by Business Coach, Therapist and Marketing Expert Lauren O'Sullivan for creatives and business owners (and aspiring business owners) looking to find freedom and fulfillment in the work that they do.

Each episode Lauren goes Beyond the Stories of the people we admire to understand what drives them and what's behind the story of their success.

"We go Beyond the Stories of fear and self doubt that we tell ourselves, the shoulds and the musts and the stories of expectation we're told by others. We'll peel all that back to understand ourselves better, find our why and make it happen."