Creating The Curve

In this solo episode of Creating the Curve, Anna Bravington gets honest about the messy reality of making video as a founder... especially when you don't feel like it, don't have perfect equipment, or (in this case) have a full-on pre-Christmas cold.

Following last week's conversation with Juma Bannister, Anna dives deeper into the real barriers behind video avoidance: procrastination, perfectionism, tech faff, and the belief that we need to "feel ready" before we start. She shares her own story of delaying her podcast restart for 18 months, and how discipline, not motivation, finally got her moving again.

Anna talks through the small systems and shortcuts that now make her filming process easier - from Dr Octopus desk arms to Audacity templates - and why reducing friction is the only way most founders ever build consistency. She also reflects on confidence, practice, and how to start small by recording videos in safe spaces before ever posting publicly.

This episode is a warm, practical pep talk for founders who want to use video but feel overwhelmed by the pressure to be polished. If you've been putting off recording anything at all, this might be the nudge you need to finally press record... even when you have a runny nose.

Find out more about Creating the Curve or join our community here: https://creatingthecurve.co.uk

Many founders know video would help their business… yet still avoid making it. Whether it's fear, uncertainty, perfectionism, or simply not knowing where to begin, video often feels harder than it should.

In this episode of Creating the Curve, Anna Bravington is joined by Juma Bannister, Executive Creative Director of Relate Studios, who breaks down the real reason people don't make video - and it's not a lack of ideas. As Juma explains, "Saying things publicly makes us feel vulnerable," and that vulnerability, not technique, is what stops most professionals from ever pressing record.

Together they explore the fears and misconceptions that hold founders back: worrying about how they look or sound, believing they need perfect gear, or feeling unsure what to say. Juma shares a grounded, practical approach to building confidence, consistency, and skill - including how to create 12 months of video content without the overwhelm.

Listeners will learn:

• Why video resistance is often emotional, not technical

• How to make video feel easier by reducing friction

• Why perfection is the enemy of progress

• How practice and systems build confidence

• How to use tools like Descript and ChatGPT to streamline the process

This episode is for any founder who knows video could grow their business but hasn't yet found the courage or the structure to get started. By the end, video feels far less intimidating and far more achievable.

Find out more about Creating the Curve or join our community here: https://creatingthecurve.co.uk

To connect with Juma, find him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jumabannister/ or via his website: https://jumabannister.com/

AI might feel like it suddenly exploded into our lives, but as Anna explains in this solo episode of Creating the Curve, the technology has been quietly shaping our world for years. The real challenge for founders isn't the AI itself - it's how we, as humans, respond to change.

Drawing on decades of tech experience, personal stories, and insights from last week's guest Luke Williams, Anna explores how to stay curious, confident and authentic as AI becomes part of everyday business.

In this episode, Anna talks about:

• Why AI feels overwhelming and how familiarity makes new tech easier to adopt
• The importance of staying curious and future-focused so you don't get left behind
• How to choose AI tools that fit your values, without sacrificing authenticity
• Where AI and automation genuinely save time, and where human oversight still matters
• Practical ways founders can experiment with AI through small, low-pressure trials
• Why embracing the human side of tech is just as important as the tools themselves

Whether you're excited by AI or exhausted by it, this episode helps founders navigate change with confidence - one small step (and one curious mindset) at a time.

Find out more about Creating the Curve or join our community here: https://creatingthecurve.co.uk

AI is everywhere at the moment - but for most small business owners, it still feels confusing and overwhelming.

In this episode of Creating the Curve, Anna speaks with Luke Williams, Group Head of AI at Intergage, about what it really takes for a business to adopt AI safely, ethically and without sending everyone into a panic.

Rather than focusing on shiny tools or big promises, Luke takes a calm, practical look at the human side of AI: how teams react to change, why people worry about their jobs, and what business owners can do to introduce AI in a way that feels supportive rather than threatening.

Together, they explore:

• Why AI adoption is less about technology and more about change management
• How to create simple, human-first AI policies that protect your business
• Why "human + AI" will always beat "AI replaces humans"
• The importance of transparency when your team fears being left behind
• The difference between genuine productivity and AI-for-the-sake-of-it
• Why pilots sometimes fail - and why that's perfectly normal
• How founders can start using AI without losing their voice and values

It's an honest, reassuring conversation for hands-on founders who want to embrace AI without the overwhelm and who want technology to make their business easier, not harder.

Find out more about Creating the Curve or join the community here: https://creatingthecurve.co.uk

To connect with Luke Williams, find him on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lukewilliams/

If you don't know where your business is headed, how do you know what road to take?

In this solo episode of Creating the Curve, Anna Bravington builds on last week's chat with HR expert Reyhana Jano by looking at one of the most overlooked questions in business: Where do you actually want to end up?

Whether you plan to sell your company, pass it on, or simply work until retirement, your goals shape everything - from the team you build to the systems you put in place.

Anna explores:

• Why your business "end game" defines every decision you make

• How to use SMART goals to turn vague dreams into clear steps

• What happens when you build the wrong kind of business for your personality

• Why knowing your limits (and your gaps) matters just as much as ambition

• And how to work backwards from your ultimate goal - using tools like AI and planning frameworks to make it achievable

It's part strategy session, part reality check, and a nudge to stop driving without a destination.

Find out more about Creating the Curve or join our community here: https://creatingthecurve.co.uk

To download the Year Compass book I recommend in the podcast, go to: https://yearcompass.com

Hiring people shouldn't feel like walking through a legal minefield - but for most founders, that's exactly what it is.

In this episode of Creating the Curve, Anna Bravington chats with HR consultant Reyhana Jano about how to build, manage, and retain a small team without the stress (or ending up in tribunal).

Reyhana shares over 30 years of HR experience, from corporate to small business consulting, and breaks down what founders really need to know when it comes to contracts, culture, and compliance.

Together, Anna and Reyhana talk about:

• Why hiring someone "just like you" is a terrible idea (and what to do instead)

• How to build trust, culture, and clarity in your growing team

• Why muddling through HR can cost you more than getting it right upfront

• The simple steps to get compliant without the jargon

• How to reward and retain great people when budgets are tight

Whether you're about to make your first hire or already managing a team, this episode will help you see HR not as red tape - but as one of your biggest tools for growth.

Find out more about Creating the Curve or join our community here: https://creatingthecurve.co.uk

To speak to Reyhana, visit: https://www.constantiaconsulting.com

What if you could create 30 pieces of content from just one idea?

In this solo episode of Creating the Curve, Anna Bravington shares her tried-and-tested method for using AI to repurpose content - without losing your voice and your patience.

From turning a podcast, video, or eBook into blogs and social posts, to using tools like ChatGPT, Otter.ai, and Descript, Anna walks through a simple framework for creating a single pillar piece each month and breaking it down into smaller, purposeful content that sounds authentically you.

You'll learn:

• Why AI can't (and shouldn't) replace your voice

• How to train it to sound like you - not like "everyone else online"

• The step-by-step process Anna uses to create blogs and posts from one piece of content

• The tools that make it easier (and the ones that waste your time)

• Why repurposing isn't cheating - it's smart strategy

If you've ever stared at a blank screen wondering what to post next, this episode will help you lighten the load, sound more consistent, and still sound like you.

Find out more about Creating the Curve or join our community here: https://creatingthecurve.co.uk

Mark Schaefer's MarkBot that was mentioned in the show: https://businessesgrow.com/markbot/

What happens when your audience isn't quite who you thought it was?

In this solo episode of Creating the Curve, Anna Bravington gets honest about her own podcast pivot - how six months of data, feedback, and (accidental) audience research made her realise that her show had outgrown its niche.

Originally created for STEM founders, Creating the Curve has steadily attracted a much wider group of hands-on business owners - people who love the doing but struggle with the business side of things.

Anna shares:

• How she realised 80–90% of her listeners weren't STEM founders

• Why qualitative feedback is just as valuable as analytics

• The moment she admitted she'd fallen out of love with her own muted brand

• How bright colours, rainbows, and a late-night website edit changed everything

• And why listening to your audience isn't a failure - it's smart business

It's part confession, part strategy session, and a reminder that it's okay to change direction when the data (and your gut) tell you to.

Find out more about Creating the Curve or join our community here: https://creatingthecurve.co.uk

Ever feel like your social media sounds like the same song on repeat? You're not alone and you're probably not the only one bored of it.

In this solo episode, Anna Bravington dives deeper into the playlist approach to social media inspired by her conversation with Gus Bhandal. She talks about how founders can move beyond the traditional content pillars and start thinking like musicians - creating a mix of content "tracks" that still sound like you, but keep your audience interested.

From discovering her own content pillars (data, diversity, and connecting business with marketing) to confessing her "safe space" habit of endlessly tinkering with her website, Anna shares how structure, rhythm, and variety can breathe new life into your marketing.

You'll learn:

• How to move from content pillars to content playlists

• Why consistency doesn't mean doing the same thing over and over

• How to balance your core themes with variety that feels natural

• Why every founder needs their own "album" of ideas

• And how to stop playing Take That on repeat (metaphorically… or literally)

If your posts have started to sound samey - this episode will help you hit shuffle without losing your sound.

Social media can feel like a monster - too many platforms, too much noise, and too little time to do it all. But what if you could be seen everywhere without actually being everywhere?

In this episode of Creating the Curve, Anna Bravington chats with Gus Bhandal, social media strategist, LinkedIn trainer, and co-founder of Uplift Live, the UK's first LinkedIn conference. Gus shares how founders can make social media actually work for their business - without spending every waking hour glued to their phones.

They talk about:

• How to be "omnipresent" without burning out

• Choosing the right channels instead of chasing all of them

• Creating a "content playlist" so your posts never feel samey

• Why personality-led content builds connection faster than perfect posts

• And why biscuits, orange trainers, and authenticity still beat algorithms

Whether you're stuck in the "post and pray" phase or trying to wrangle too many platforms, this episode will help you step back, simplify, and show up online in a way that actually moves your business forward.

Find out more about Creating the Curve or join our free community here: https://creatingthecurve.co.uk

To find our guest Gus Bhandal, go to: https://www.themguru.co.uk