Business Live: for curious entrepreneurs and social entrepreneurs

At the "best time in history" to be a creator you should heed Joanna Penn's advice whether or not you're an author.

The New York Times and USA Today bestselling thriller author, who also writes non-fiction for authors, has much to say about how creative entrepreneurs can protect and maximise the value of their intellectual property.

Joanna has written 17 novels and 12 books for other writers and sold them in more than 180 countries. She runs her own publishing company and has signed licensing deals with traditional publishers too. Now a multi-six-figure author entrepreneur,  around a third of Joanna's income comes from book sales, with affiliate fees, course sales, sponsorship of her podcasts and donations through Patreon making up other income streams.

I fired up the rocket-fuel coffee and bombarded Joanna with questions. Want to publish fiction, non-fiction or interested in taking control of the value of your creative output?  There are encyclopedias-worth of advice crammed into this episode so buckle up and listen well, Joanna is extraordinarily generous and open with her tips. We cover:

• Being an independently- and traditionally-published author
• Common problems with traditional publishing contracts including astonishing "rights grabs" – don't sign away your soul in blood!
• Snobbery in the publishing industry and how things have changed
• Joanna's income breakdown as an author-entrepreneur
• Indie authors don’t just write, they manage their business: contracts, PR and publicity, ads, commissioning covers or translation and more – how does Joanna decide what to invest her time into and what to outsource?
• Promotional strategies for fiction and non-fiction
• An introduction to the world of new opportunities which AI and technology are unlocking for authors and other creatives
• Authors Joanna admires and who inspire her
• More free resources you can get from Joanna to help you in your creative and business adventures

Joanna's hundreds of articles, audio podcast episodes, videos and resources are available on her website including her free author blueprint and detailed advice about writing, publishing and marketing your book: https://www.thecreativepenn.com

Also check-out  Joanna's Creative Penn Podcast about writing, publishing, book marketing, and making a living with your writing.

Some folk talk about technology with an "emperor's new clothes" glee, as though it's a panacea for everything wrong with society. Others exhibit phobic terror, blaming technology – not how people use it – for human failings and foibles. Many see both a light and dark side, and there's increasing interest in the addictive nature of social media.

For today's curious and playful guest Tim Arnold, technology, social media and our appendage-like mobile phones allow us to be "super connected" – enabling expression, conversation and connection. But with a potentially corrosive effect too.

Tim is a singer songwriter and filmmaker who has self-released 22 albums after starting his music career leading 90’s British art rock band Jocasta.

His new feature-length film and album Super Connected includes a single of the same name, released today. Watch the video here.

Talking with Tim was fun and frank and fascinating.  In this interview we cover:

• whether technology has made it easier or harder to make a living as an independent musician
• how a friend of Tim’s who is a mental health professional inspired Super Connected, and why Tim made his new film with Dixie McDevitt and Kate Alderton
• what a "story concept album for the digital age" means
• social media can have a corrosive effect on our mental health and can be a lifeline too,
• Tim's a creator, collaborator, interviewer (check out his weekly Super Connected Conversations podcast and YouTube series exploring the impact of technology on human psychology and society) – how does he manage his own mental bandwidth, prioritise or focus so as not to be overwhelmed?
• is Tim worried about big business and music industry behemoths muscling in where independent creators have been able to innovate?
• can Artificial Intelligence (AI) come up with music which stirs the soul?
• why Tim (joined by Stephen Fry) campaigned to save some of Soho's most loved community assets like Madame Jojo's and Soho Square
• how to get an invitation (everyone is welcome) to see the feature-length Super Connected film and whole album (go to https://superconnected.technology )
• Tim's work with the Sheffield Arts Lab – there's play and intrigue ahoy here!
• How to connect with Tim (website | Bandcamp | Twitter)

This episode is a treat and a feast and I hope you'll enjoy it as much as I did.

Accountability, transparency and informed decision making are at the heart of a new website launched by today's guest Eleanor Holmshaw.

Whoismycouncillor.co.uk allows users to find the candidates standing in the council elections in their part of Sheffield. They can see candidates' answers to a set of specific questions "important to the city" and learn more about who they could vote for.

Eleanor covers why and how she and a crack team launched the site to empower voters and boost engagement with our democratic system.

Self-confessed "spreadsheet obsessive" Eleanor also gives me the lowdown on lessons learned from launching the site in record time.

Also in today's show:

• business accelerator TwinklHive is offering £250,000 to young entrepreneurs looking to establish their own digital business. Details at 33:59 in the podcast and here.
• lovely news from previous guest, Kresse Wesling – Elvis and Kresse, which rescues  London's decommissioned fire-hose and creates beautiful goods, has just made its largest ever donation to the Fire Fighters Charity (details at 31:10 and here). Check out my 2019 interview with Kresse .
• Registration open for The Children's Media Conference – details at 36:05 in the podcast and here.

What a week to discuss the business of football with SUFC's Head of Commercial, Paul Reeves.

Paul is well known for his dealmaking skills and commercial nous. He explains how he came to join the club in 2014 after working for the city's Chamber of Commerce, and the first big sponsorship deal he scored.

We discuss:

• how the club worked with its partners this year, adapting commercial opportunities because of lockdown,
• how elevation to the Premiere League and changing fortunes on the pitch affect its business partnerships,
• its Academy, its super-successful Women's team, and its community foundation,

And of course we address what happened this week when six other Premiere League clubs were widely accused of greed as they tried and seemingly failed to breakaway to a new European Super League.

Plus Paul gives his advice about developing commercial relationships and partnerships, and names some of the mentors and business inspirations in his own career so far.

Also in this episode (number 334): events, a campaign and more. Timings:

• 0 - 2:20 Introduction
• 2:20 Interview with Paul Reeves, Head of Commercial, SUFC
• 45:30 Business and social enterprise updates: businesses invited to join the Sheffield Dementia Action Alliance | Social enterprises: apply by Sunday 25th for the SE100 Index and Social Business Awards | Hundreds of businesses are calling for a "Better Business Act" – what is it and why? 

Roll up, roll up it's a two for one special in today's show. Guest Louise Blackburn discusses her brace of businesses: No Waste Living and Amber Couch.

Amber Couch is Louise's website design and development business, which she's been running for 15 years.  Sites have certainly changed a lot in that time. Yet there are three common issues which hold many websites back, so they don't generate the results they should. Louise explains what these are and how to fix them.

No Waste Living does what it says on the proverbial tin. Born after several years of lifestyle changes Louise made, it's an online shop selling refills for household necessities alongside other sustainable products. It's also a resource crammed with useful information. And putting it all online was precipitated by lockdown, as Louise explains.

There are tips a-plenty in this episode. Louise is a systems and processes acolyte and has plenty of powerful productivity tips, alongside her website advice. And there's more...she also explains how you can realistically move to using less plastic.

It was a pleasure talking with Louise and I hope you'll enjoy the interview and find her tips and advice helpful.

Timings and links:

• Introduction: Louise Blackburn runs Amber Couch
• 5:10 three amazingly common website issues and how to fix them
• 10:00 why a website theme is like a new-build house and a custom-built site is like buying land and designing and building your own home
• 13:00 Louise's background, how Amber Couch launched, and why Louise set up the business
• 16:03 Powerful productivity, systems and micro-systems advice
• 23:09 What is No Waste Living?
• 24:40 Was there a tipping point for Louise – why did she set up the shop?
• 26:30 How does it work in terms of the two types of product it sells? And more about issues with plastic and recycling
• 32:17 How customer numbers and turnover have developed
• 35:32 Louise's tips to support the circular economy, reduce, reuse and recycle
• 38:20 Louise reveals her biggest "why" today for Amber Coach, her website business
• 40:25 No Waste Living: small steps can be positive in your life and have a big impact
• 42:30 Wrapping up and a couple of other things – Sheffield’s Make Yourself at Home initiative, all about supporting local businesses and communities; the Festival of Debate; The Business and IP Centre Sheffield and Start-Up Day Reloaded

Enquiries about apprenticeships are soaring for The Source Skills Academy, a leading Sheffield provider of training, according to Dale Robinson.

And it's no wonder: as the UK moves out of lockdown, apprenticeships can help businesses future-proof themselves while giving young people a head-start.

As Director of Business Development for The Source, a charity operating since 2003, Dale works with employers across the Sheffield City Region and his enthusiasm for the life-changing power of apprenticeships is evident throughout this interview.

Dale's own career journey began with an apprenticeship in a bank, and he's determined for businesses and young people alike to benefit from meaningful, fulfilling apprenticeships.

We also cover:

• How The Source adapted throughout the pandemic pandemic to serve the region's businesses and local communities, getting people into training and qualifications that boost their confidence and grow their prospects
• Reopening its conference facilities and creating a new community learning zone 
• Its traineeships which support people whose qualifications or confidence have really suffered and can lead into an apprenticeship or job
• How some of Sheffield's most innovative businesses are offering placements through the Government-funded Kickstart scheme
• The Source's communication and marketing methods to engage with employers and young people
• Dale's own inspirations in business

Also in this episode: new funding opportunities and your chance to feature in a future show.

Timings:

• 0 - 2:19 introduction
• 2:19 Dale Robinson of The Source Skills Academy
• 38:55 Do you run a shop, pub, hairdresser or other business able to re-open from the 12th of April? Would you like to be on the show? How to get in touch and tell your story
• 40:41 Funding opportunities for businesses and social enterprises from UnLtd, the foundation for social entrepreneurs and from the Steel Charitable Trust. Plus Skills Bank extension and wrapping up

Jillian Kowalchuk is an award-winning entrepreneur, TEDx speaker and the founder & CEO of Safe & The City.

She launched this app in 2017 after a Google Maps route led her into a situation where two men threatened to assault her, which she didn't report believing her experience would not be taken seriously.

Since then Safe & The City has been downloaded by tens of thousands of people who use it to report their daily experiences, give community ratings for walking and public transport routes, and learn where nearby safe sites are.

It's a tragic indictment of our society that her app exists. We have much work to do to change attitudes and behaviours, eradicate harassment and achieve gender equality. And Jillian is clear:  victims of violence and of everyday harassment should not be responsible for solutions. Her app exists to crowdsource evidence and transparent data about the experiences and everyday harassment which continue to be rife for women.

We talk about how Safe & the City works and has expanded from covering London (and Berlin) to UK-wide.  Jillian also covers:

• how men can be better allies to gender equality
• campaigning in collaboration with others for misogyny to be treated as a hate crime
• her work with the Department for International Trade’s Global Entrepreneurial Programme Female Founders Advisory Board, and how to attract more international female talent to the U.K
• her experience attracting investment, when VCs continue to invest into male-led teams more than those with female founders
• tips for crowdfunding, having run two successful campaigns
• the Female Founders Pledge

Also on this week's episode, details of five new funding opportunities for businesses and social enterprises.

Timings and links mentioned:

• 0-33:50 Interview with Jillian Kowalchuk 
• Download the Safe & the City App (ios and Android) | Safe & the City website | Jillian's TEDx | UN Women UK joint report | Hollaback | SHE-EO
• 33:50 Reflecting on a year of lockdown, and the Sheffield Steel Spirit Stories page
• 36:40 Funding and grant opportunities: The Covid-19: Economic Recovery Fund | The SME Brexit Support Fund | The Lloyds Bank and Bank of Scotland Social Entrepreneurs Programme | The University of Sheffield Careers Service: SME Funded Projects Scheme | Santander Universities Employability Scheme 2021

Here's a first in 330 episodes: a birdsong soundtrack. Lovely backdrop for a chat about books and publishing with Stefan Tobler of And Other Stories.

Known worldwide for publishing some of the best contemporary fiction and non-fiction, And Other Stories aims to help people discover adventurous and inspiring writing – and make the publishing industry look less like "posh freemasonry."

It connects brilliant authors, both emerging talent and established voices, with readers through a book subscription model, and is now one of the major publishers of literary fiction in translation. Some of the books it publishes have made me laugh out loud, or reel after a gut-punch, or shiver.  Invigorating writing which gets under your skin.

Stefan discusses:

• Favourite books (what an unfair question from me)
• Why And Other Stories made Sheffield its home
• Inclusivity and representation in the publishing industry
• Developments in publishing such as Bookshop.org through which you can support local book stores
• Why print books are thriving
• The "ones that got away" – books Stefan wishes he had published
• How audiobooks and self-publishing fit into the publishing ecosystem
• Embedding values into the business model – And Other Stories is a social enterprise
• And, of course, much more.

I was engrossed so I hope you'll enjoy this interview with Stefan. Key links mentioned:

• And Other Stories – website | twitter | list of favourite reads from 2020 on Bookshop.org | Rachel Genn's What You Could Have Won | Haroldo Conti's Southeaster 
• Sheffield book shops La Biblioteka and Rhyme and Reason

Also on the show, a quick round-up of some of the social enterprise-related announcements from the Budget this week.

Timings:

• 0 - 41:40 Stefan Tobler
• 41:40 Budget round-up: Social Investment Tax Relief and the Community Ownership Fund

"There are people who've been ostracised by mainstream society and not given the opportunities we've been able to provide for them in the workplace."  What a year it's been for chef and social entrepreneur Chris Hanson.

12 months ago the lease for Blend Kitchen's café in Sheffield City Centre was coming to an end. After two "amazing years" serving great food and giving training and employment opportunities to people, Blend needed help to move to a new home.

And there was more at risk than the tasty, wonderful food it serves. Blend gives training, education and employment opportunities to people including adults with learning disabilities, people diagnosed with mental health conditions, parents returning to work, people who have experienced homelessness or substance abuse, and more. Lots of traditional employers can't support people in the way Blend can, Chris explains.

What a lovely story this is. Despite the challenges of the past year, the generosity of businesses, supporters, funders and the public means Blend has been able to take on and fit out amazing new premises.

In this episode Chris describes:

• his own journey to chef and social entrepreneur
• who Blend works with
• businesses including educational publisher Twinkl have been "absolutely incredible" helping to make this move a reality
• support from UnLtd, the foundation for social entrepreneurs
• a new horticultural project with the University
• the amazing new facilities which will be available at Blend
• Sheffield music legend Richard Hawley has become Blend Kitchen's patron
• advice to other social entrepreneurs about securing business partnerships and funding

Also in this episode: a welcome return to the show for Jay Bhayani of Bhanyani HR and Employment Law. Employers and employees have numerous questions as we embark on a "roadmap" out of lockdown and restrictions ease, such as:

• can an employer insist an employee takes the vaccine if they don't want to?
• what should you include in a home working policy?

Jay talks through these issues, and describes her firm's expansion to Leicester.

Timings:

• 0 - 22:10 Interview with Chris Hanson, Blend Kitchen.
• 22:10 Jay Bhayani, Bhayani HR and Employment Law
• 36:59 What's likely to be announced in the Spring Budget next week? A few predictions about business rates relief, extensions to the furlough scheme and corporation tax changes. Plus The Resolution Foundation and ExcludedUK are calling for the Chancellor to stop ignoring the two million plus people who've "fallen through the chasms in support." What do you think? Get in touch.
• 43:16 Wrapping up and an obituary of a life well lived.

Yinka Ewuola puts a stop to the conversation that because women entrepreneurs have less time to focus on their business, they are at a disadvantage. How and why? Listen on. She runs Calla Success Systems, supporting women to build thriving and profitable businesses while living full, fabulous and nourishing lives. 

Yinka explains we've been sold a lie by many people when it comes to achieving business success (whatever that means to you) and this has a huge cost, especially to women.

She covers how to create the most impact in your business from the time you have available – with tools and techniques you can use, now – and how she identifies high impact or high income generating activities for people to prioritise. What's the number one barrier to high impact work? Yinka explains.

And I was intrigued by Yinka's use of gamification in business, a powerful tool which can be used across all spheres of business. Yinka has specific examples, such as effective on-boarding to manage client expectations, for ethical persuasion and influence, and in webinars and masterclasses to massively boost participation and engagement. Her data backs this up.

Yinka is also an advocate for school food which she calls the secret weapon our education system ignores, and she is involved in another business, run on social enterprise principles, which makes food an internal part of learning and creates profit for schools themselves.

I found this entire conversation fascinating and it made me look at lots of things in a new light. It's episode number 328 of Business Live and it's packed with practical tips from Yinka too.

Timings:

• 5:10 Why we’ve been sold a lie about what success means and the only way to achieve it.
• 7:02 What drove Yinka to start her business, including a shocking statement she heard on her first day in her former life as an investment banker.
• 9:23 The principles behind business success may be universal but how you can apply them is different depending on circumstances.
• 11:10 Practical application: how to create the most impact using the 80:20 rule – and how Yinka’s business accelerator identifies high impact tasks.
• 18:46 Gamification and variable rewards.
• 20:00 On-boarding clients using gamification had a powerful effect for one of Yinka's clients.
• 23:22 In masterclasses and webinars gamification boosts participation and engagement.
• 28:47 School food and business as a force for good. How Eagle Solutions Services makes food an integral part of learning and creates profit for schools too.
• 40:46 What are the goals Yinka has set which terrify her?
• 41:24 A life changing exercise.
• 47:35 Embracing doing work which is hard.
• 51:14 Recap.
• 52:14 The Suit Works, which supports unemployed people trying to get into work, is seeking volunteer trustees. Details.
• 53:21 A couple of things I've enjoyed this week: the webinar, Can Business Be A Force for Good, from Alpkit and B Corps UK. And a feature in the Times about Nadya Tolokonnikova, activist and founder of Pussy Riot, who is supporting Alexei Navalny.

Links:

• Yinka is on Linkedin,  Facebook, Twitter,  Instagram. Her website for Calla Success Systems will be live soon.
• Women who want to receive Yinka's daily emails, please email Yinka.