My Kind of Business

In this sixty-first episode of My Kind of Business, Alex is joined by Si Elliott, a strategic marketing and customer experience leader who has spent over twenty years helping brands build deeper, more meaningful connections, and whose career began less with a master plan and more with a series of happy accidents.

Si's journey started with a childhood entrepreneurial streak and a business degree he took without any real idea of where it would lead. It was almost by accident that he found his way into marketing and agency life, working up from student to managing director, and learning to lead long before he felt ready to call himself a leader.

Today he co-owns creative agency Diversity and is the founder of customer experience consultancy Fabricx, where he combines behavioural science with practical strategy to design experiences that genuinely resonate. He is also an award-winning guest lecturer at Nottingham Trent University, the University of Nottingham and the Communication University of China, and has just published his first book, Customer Experience Thinking.

Through years of organic growth, honest self-doubt and a deep belief in putting people first, Si has built a way of working that proves business can be both successful and genuinely human.

In this episode Alex and Si explore:

• Si's childhood entrepreneurial spirit and his accidental route into marketing
• Going from student to managing director, and growing into leadership
• Navigating imposter syndrome and building confidence over time
• Why environment, team culture and trusted relationships matter so much
• Choosing organic growth over aggressive scaling
• Founding Fabricx and bringing behavioural science into client work
• How behavioural biases shape real marketing and customer decisions
• Balancing multiple ventures and keeping variety in his work
• The future of AI and automation, and why human connection still wins

Key Highlights

• How a non-linear, accident-driven career can still lead somewhere brilliant
• Why self-belief and the right environment are the foundations of good leadership
• What behavioural science reveals about trust, loyalty and decision making
• How to grow a business organically without losing its human heart
• Why, in a world obsessed with clicks and conversions, the human experience is what really counts

Featured Resource

🗓️ Join Alex for the Mid-Year Business Reset, a free, live workshop on Tuesday 30th June at 10am to help you take stock, get clear on your business and finish the year strong. 👉 Book your spot here: https://alexmccarthycoaching.as.me/themidyearbusinessreset

Connect with Si

https://www.linkedin.com/in/si-elliott/ www.sielliott.com https://www.instagram.com/si.elliott

Customer Experience Thinking out now: https://mybook.to/CXThinkin

Connect with Alex

alexmccarthycoaching.com

instagram.com/alexmccarthycoaching

In this sixtieth episode of My Kind of Business, Alex is joined by Sian Brennan-Todd, a former dancer turned entrepreneur, host and presenter who built a cheerleading empire spanning 250 schools before transitioning into the world of media and presenting.

Sian's journey is deeply rooted in her childhood love of dance. From performing arts college in London at 18 to working abroad in cheerleading and choreography, she has spent her career turning passion into profession.

After moving to Australia and building a global cheerleading business, Sian returned to the UK with a renewed focus on hosting, presenting and helping others build confidence through performance.

Through years of discipline, resilience and self-belief, Sian has created a business built on fun, passion and adding real value to the people around her.

In this episode Alex and Sian explore:

• Childhood passions and how dance shaped her entrepreneurial mindset
• The discipline and professional skills learned through performing arts
• Building a cheerleading business from the ground up with 250 schools involved
• Navigating lockdown and adapting to online sessions
• The move to Australia and building a global enterprise
• Transitioning into hosting and presenting
• How confidence is built through consistency and practice
• Balancing family life with entrepreneurship
• Advice for entrepreneurs feeling stuck or lacking confidence

Key Highlights

• How the skills developed in dance and performing arts translate directly into business success
• Why self-belief is the foundation of everything Sian has built
• The power of adapting and pivoting when circumstances change
• How to overcome fear and self-doubt and keep showing up anyway
• What it really means to build a business around something you love

Featured Resource

🗓️ Join Alex for the Mid-Year Business Reset — a free, live workshop on Tuesday 30th June 6am to help you take stock, get clear on your business and finish the year strong.
👉 Book your spot here:

https://alexmccarthycoaching.as.me/themidyearbusinessreset

Connect with Sian

https://www.instagram.com/sianbrennantodd/
[email protected]
www.sianbrennantodd.com

Connect with Alex
alexmccarthycoaching.com
instagram.com/alexmccarthycoaching

In this fifty-ninth episode of My Kind of Business, Alex McCarthy walks through a proper mid-year business review — not a vague "how's it going" but a structured, honest look at the four areas that matter most. Are you approaching the halfway point of 2026 and wondering where the year has actually gone? This episode gives you practical questions, real examples, and a framework you can use today.

Main Topics Covered:

• Why the mid-year point is the most important moment to stop and look at your business honestly
• How to evaluate your offer, pricing, and structure for clarity and alignment
• The difference between having a marketing strategy and actually executing it consistently
• The operational systems and habits that are either supporting or quietly undermining your business
• The mindset patterns — including fear, perfectionism, and self-doubt — that create action gaps even when you know what to do

In This Episode:

• Why most business problems aren't marketing problems — and what to look at first
• How undercharging affects your energy, not just your income
• The watering-a-plant analogy that explains why consistency beats cleverness in marketing
• What "avoidance" in your marketing is actually telling you
• The difference between being run by your business and running your business
• Why the gap between where you are and where you want to be is almost always an action gap — and what's underneath it
• A real client story about a programme that nearly never launched — and what changed when the real block was named

Timestamps:

00:00 — Why the mid-year moment matters and what most business owners miss 02:15 — Introducing the four-area framework: offer, marketing, operations, mindset 03:00 — Area 1: Offer — is it still right, priced right, and simple enough? 08:30 — Area 2: Marketing — the difference between strategy and consistent execution 14:00 — Area 3: Operations — is your business running you, or are you running your business? 18:30 — Area 4: Mindset — the action gap and what's really underneath it 23:30 — Close and details of the free Mid-Year Business Check-In workshop

Resources and Links:

• The Mid-Year Business Check-In Workshop — Free 45-minute workshop, Tuesday 30th June at 10am. Register here to secure your spot; https://alexmccarthycoaching.as.me/themidyearbusinessreset

Connect with Alex McCarthy:

• Instagram
• Website

Whether or not you make it to the workshop, this episode will leave you with honest questions and a clear framework to take into the second half of 2026 with more intention and clarity than you started it with.

In this fifty-eighth episode of My Kind of Business, Alex is joined by Jade Evans from Shrewsbury, a healer and mentor specialising in mother wound healing, generational trauma and postpartum support, helping women reclaim their sovereignty, reconnect with themselves and build lives rooted in authentic freedom.

Jade's journey is deeply personal. From a creative childhood as an only child to a career in photography, she found herself drawn into family psychology and healing work, eventually stepping into postpartum support and ancestral energy work.

Through her own experiences of motherhood and transformation, she has built an online healing practice dedicated to helping women break cycles, heal core wounds and step into their power.

In this episode Alex and Jade explore:

• Childhood influences and how early experiences shape adult healing work
• The mother wound and its impact on postpartum wellbeing
• Generational healing and ancestral energy work
• Reclaiming personal sovereignty and healing core wounds
• Rites of passage in modern birth and motherhood
• Nervous system regulation and cyclical awareness
• Building an online community for postpartum women
• Integrating cycle awareness into business
• Advice for women growing a soulful, values-led business

Key Highlights

• Why the mother wound is at the root of so many postpartum struggles
• The power of generational healing and breaking cycles for future generations
• How reclaiming rites of passage can transform your experience of motherhood
• Why nervous system regulation is foundational to both healing and business
• Building a business as an authentic expression of who you are

Connect with Jade https://www.instagram.com/the_nesting_space_community_/

Connect with Alex alexmccarthycoaching.com instagram.com/alexmccarthycoaching.com

In this fifty-seventh episode of My Kind of Business, Alex is joined by Sharn Khaira, founder of the Asian Female Entrepreneur Collective, a global community dedicated to empowering Asian women to smash through cultural barriers, build thriving businesses and live the lives they truly deserve.

Sharn's journey is nothing short of extraordinary. Raised in a strict Sikh family, she went from hiding in school toilets with no friends to becoming a seven figure subconscious and strategy business mentor.

After escaping a toxic corporate role, she built Desi Bride Dreams into an award winning wedding planning business featured on BBC Breakfast, BBC Asian Network and the UK's biggest wedding publications, before founding the Asian Female Entrepreneur Collective in 2017.

In this episode Alex and Sharn explore:

• Growing up in a strict Sikh family and challenging cultural norms
• The journey from isolation and self-doubt to unshakeable self-belief
• Navigating workplace bullying, anxiety and knowing when to walk away
• Leaving corporate in 2014 and launching Desi Bride Dreams against all odds
• Transitioning from wedding planning into coaching and community building
• Founding the Asian Female Entrepreneur Collective and its global mission
• Subconscious reprogramming and the mindset practices that changed everything
• Building a luxury personal brand that attracts high value clients
• Charging premium prices with confidence and knowing your worth
• Navigating grief, seasons in business and embracing change with resilience

Timestamps

[00:00] Introduction to Sharn's inspiring journey [01:23] Childhood aspirations and societal challenges [03:26] Travel at 18 and breaking free from cultural restrictions [09:01] Transformative experiences from travelling and university [12:29] Workplace bullying and mental health struggles [14:38] Quitting corporate to start a wedding blog [18:30] Launching her first business and overcoming skepticism [22:08] Growing her wedding business into a high value brand [26:52] Transitioning into coaching and mentoring [33:16] Building a luxury brand and charging premium prices [35:22] Gratitude, visualisations and energy management [36:37] Navigating grief, seasons and resilience [41:18] Relentless drive, holistic strategy and subconscious programming [42:43] My business is expansion

Key Highlights

• The power of knowing you hold the ability to change your own course
• Building Desi Bride Dreams into a nationally recognised brand in under two years
• Why subconscious reprogramming is the foundation of seven figure success
• Staying in an elevated emotional state during life's hardest seasons
• Building a luxury brand rooted in consistency, authenticity and confidence

Connect with Sharn afecollective.com instagram.com/sharn.khaira.mentor

Connect with Alex alexmccarthycoaching.com instagram.com/alexmccarthycoaching

In this fifty-sixth episode of My Kind of Business, Alex is joined by Carl Darnell, founder of crdone, a search marketing agency based in Bedford specialising in PPC, SEO and web design for small and medium sized businesses.

He began his career as a marketing apprentice at a local college before working his way up through well known brands, managing campaigns, working with data and presenting marketing performance to stakeholders right up to board level.

In this episode Alex and Carl explore the full journey from apprentice to agency owner, the mindset shifts required along the way and the practical foundations that have allowed crdone to grow sustainably.

In this episode Alex and Carl explore:

• Carl's early career as a marketing apprentice and the path that followed
• The decision to travel and how freelancing abroad led to founding crdone
• Transitioning from freelancer to agency owner and what that shift really involves
• Growing and managing a remote team through COVID and beyond
• Building SOPs and processes that allow a business to scale sustainably
• Hiring for attitude and what Carl looks for in the people he brings into the team
• Creating strong company culture without a shared physical space
• The books and frameworks that have shaped how Carl runs the business
• His mission to make digital marketing transparent and genuinely understood
• Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs and why starting with the end in mind matters

Timestamps

[00:00] Introduction to Carl Darnell's story

[01:09] Childhood aspirations and family influences

[02:59] Discovering marketing through an apprenticeship in 2009

[05:08] Transition to Bourne Leisure and managing campaigns

[08:33] Deciding to travel and take a sabbatical

[11:02] Starting freelancing from abroad

[14:54] Building a remote business and industry insights [17:20] Transition from freelancer to business owner

[20:10] Growing the team from 1 to 7 members

[22:46] Impact of COVID and recruitment strategies

[25:43] Creating processes and SOPs for scalable growth [29:41] Building company culture remotely

[32:07] Future vision, mission and growth strategies

[38:07] The importance of mindset and attitude in recruitment[41:13] Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs

[43:06] My kind of business is, Carl's vision

Key Highlights

• Transparency and clarity as the foundation of great agency relationships
• Building processes and SOPs before you think you need them
• Why attitude matters more than experience when growing a team
• The power of frameworks like EOS and Scaling Up for sustainable growth
• Starting with the end in mind as the foundation for building a business with purpose

Connect with Carl

crdone.digital [email protected] linkedin.com/in/carl-darnell

Connect with Alex

alexmccarthycoaching.com linkedin.com/in/alexmccarthycoaching instagram.com/alexmccarthycoaching

in this fifty-fifth episode of My Kind of Business, Alex is joined by Clare Silk, a confidence coach and personal stylist, for a thoughtful and honest conversation about self-belief, identity and what it really means to show up in your business.

Clare’s path into business has been shaped by a unique blend of interests. From a young age, she was drawn to both science and fashion, two areas that may seem worlds apart but now sit at the heart of the work she does today.

Her journey began in fashion merchandising before naturally evolving into personal styling during the pandemic. What started as helping women feel more confident in what they wear soon opened the door to something deeper. Clare recognised that confidence is not just about appearance, but about how you feel, what you believe about yourself and how you express that in the world.

This realisation led her into life coaching, where she began to support women on a deeper level, helping them build self-trust, strengthen their mindset and step into who they truly are.

In this episode, Alex and Clare explore the connection between inner confidence and outer expression. They talk about the realities of building a coaching business, the moments of self-doubt that come with stepping into visibility and the importance of doing the inner work alongside the practical.

Clare shares her experience of pushing herself outside of her comfort zone through public speaking and how these moments have helped her grow both personally and professionally.

The conversation also explores how clothing can be used as a tool for confidence and self-expression, rather than something to hide behind. Clare introduces her approach to combining mindset and style, supporting women to feel aligned in who they are, how they feel and how they present themselves.

This episode offers a grounded and supportive perspective on building self-belief and creating a business that feels like a true reflection of you.

If you’ve ever questioned yourself, held back from being seen or felt like you’re not quite showing up as the version of you that you know is there, this conversation will resonate.

In this episode, Alex and Clare explore:

Clare’s early interests in science and fashion and how they influence her work today

Her transition from fashion merchandising to personal styling and coaching

Building self-belief and confidence as the foundation of business growth

The challenges of visibility and stepping into public speaking

Developing self-trust and overcoming self-doubt in business

Using clothing as a tool for confidence and personal expression

The connection between identity, mindset and how you show up

The importance of community, accountability and support networks

Celebrating client milestones and transformation

Mindset work and internal programming when growing a business

Timestamps

[00:00] Introduction and overview of Clare’s journey

[02:07] Childhood interests in science and fashion

[04:12] Transition into personal styling during the pandemic

[06:21] Moving into life coaching and training experience

[09:14] Challenges in building a coaching business

[11:36] Public speaking and personal growth

[12:41] Celebrating client milestones

[16:12] The link between clothing and confidence

[17:29] The Silk Method and combining mindset with style

[19:52] Emotional connection to client work and past experiences

[25:32] Personal loss and reevaluating life and business

[26:51] Continuous learning and coaching evolution

[33:56] The importance of accountability and community

[37:36] Advice for new entrepreneurs

[39:14] Clare’s closing mantra

Key Highlights

The connection between self-belief and business growth

Combining mindset work with personal style for deeper confidence

Learning to trust yourself and show up fully in your business

Using visibility and public speaking as tools for growth

The role of identity in shaping how you present yourself

Building a business that feels aligned and authentic

The importance of community and support as an entrepreneur

Connect with Clare

https://www.instagram.com/silkstyleandconfidence/

Connect with Alex

https://www.alexmccarthycoaching.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexmccarthycoaching/

https://www.instagram.com/alexmccarthycoaching/

In this fifty-fourth episode of My Kind of Business, Business Coach Alex McCarthy shares a deeper look into the mindset patterns that shape how you show up, make decisions and ultimately grow your business.

If you have ever felt stuck, inconsistent or like you know what to do but are not following through, this episode will help you understand why. Instead of focusing on strategy alone, Alex explores the role your thoughts, beliefs and internal patterns play in your business results, and why growth is not just about doing more.

Alex opens up about why she does not always speak about this side of her work publicly, despite it being a core part of how she supports her clients. She explains how mindset and strategy work together, and why you cannot build a sustainable business without addressing both.

Drawing on her training as an NLP practitioner and executive coach, Alex breaks down how repetitive thinking patterns, the brain’s natural bias towards safety, and the Reticular Activating System influence what you notice, believe and act on in your business. She shares simple, practical ways to begin recognising and shifting these patterns so you can take more aligned and consistent action.

This episode is not about forcing positivity or overhauling everything overnight. It is about building awareness, understanding how your mind works, and making small, intentional shifts that create long-term change.

If you are ready to stop overthinking, move through resistance and start showing up with more clarity and confidence, this episode will give you a powerful starting point.

This episode is perfect for small business owners, freelancers, creatives, coaches and service providers who want to build a business that feels aligned, sustainable and rooted in self-trust.

Why up to 95% of your thoughts are repetitive and how this impacts your business behaviour

How the brain is wired for safety rather than growth, and why this creates resistance when you try to move forward

The role of negative thinking patterns and how they influence your confidence, visibility and decision-making

A simple explanation of NLP and how your thoughts, language and patterns shape your reality

How Alex uses NLP within her coaching and mentoring work to support lasting change

Why two people can take the same action but get completely different results

The thought → feeling → action → result loop and how it keeps you stuck in familiar patterns

How to start recognising the thoughts that are holding you back in your business

Practical ways to interrupt and reframe unhelpful thinking patterns

What the Reticular Activating System is and how it filters what you notice and believe

How your current beliefs shape the opportunities, challenges and results you experience

Simple mindset shifts you can start applying immediately to build momentum

Why mindset and strategy must work together for sustainable business growth

How small internal shifts can create powerful external results in your business

Explore 1:1 business coaching online or in person

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexmccarthycoaching/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexmccarthycoaching/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063744993081

Book a business connection session:

In this fifty-third episode of My Kind of Business, Alex is joined by Beth Mottershead, a Traditional Chinese Medicine acupuncturist based in Shrewsbury, for a thoughtful and open conversation about building a business rooted in intuition, balance and truly personalised care.

Beth’s journey into business did not begin with a clear plan. After working in the NHS, she made the decision to retrain in acupuncture at the age of 35, following her own experiences with health and a growing curiosity around holistic healing.

Making that transition came with its challenges. From financial sacrifices to stepping into the unknown, Beth shares what it really looked like to start again and trust herself in the process. Her story is a reminder that it is never too late to take a different path and create something that feels more aligned.

Today, Beth has created a calm and welcoming sanctuary where she supports her clients’ physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. Her approach is centred around treating the root cause rather than just the symptoms, using a blend of acupuncture, moxibustion, cupping, ear seeds and lifestyle guidance.

She specialises in areas such as fertility and women’s health, supporting clients through all stages of life, from hormonal balance and conception to pregnancy and menopause. Her work focuses on long term wellbeing, balance and prevention, helping people feel more connected to their bodies and their health.

In this episode, Alex and Beth explore how traditional Chinese medicine principles have shaped not only Beth’s treatments, but also the way she approaches business and life. From understanding yin and yang to trusting intuition and recognising the connection between emotions and physical health, this conversation brings a different perspective to what it means to build a business.

Beth also shares the practical side of growing her business, from starting with flyer drops and local community connections to navigating social media, finances and the realities of being a small business owner.

This episode offers an honest look at building a business that feels steady, aligned and meaningful, without losing the passion that led you there in the first place.

If you are building a business rooted in care, or want to feel more connected to the way you work and grow, this episode will resonate.

Beth’s journey from the NHS into acupuncture and holistic health

Retraining at 35 and navigating a complete career change

The importance of treating the root cause rather than symptoms

Supporting fertility, women’s health and long term wellbeing

How traditional Chinese medicine shapes business and life

Understanding yin and yang, energy and emotional connection

Building a client base through local marketing and community

The realities of social media, bookkeeping and running a business

Stepping into the identity of a business owner

Creating a business that feels aligned, balanced and sustainable

[00:00] Introduction and overview of Beth’s journey

[02:15] Childhood ambitions and discovering acupuncture

[04:00] Studying acupuncture at 35

[06:16] Sacrifices and career transition

[07:24] Choosing the right university

[08:02] Misconceptions about acupuncture

[09:54] Holistic benefits beyond symptoms

[11:04] Traditional Chinese medicine principles

[12:28] Climate, emotions and physical health

[13:16] Mind, body and emotional connection

[14:21] Understanding yin and yang

[15:36] Training and clinical practice

[16:46] Starting a business and early marketing

[18:36] Building trust in the local community

[20:23] The impact of offline marketing

[21:47] Social media versus real connection

[23:04] Finding balance with social media

[24:34] Adopting a business mindset

[25:12] What Beth loves about business ownership

[27:01] Integrating emotional and physical healing

[28:42] Client breakthroughs and emotional shifts

[32:49] Qi, meridians and energy flow

[34:24] Moving energy and restoring balance

[35:10] Acupuncture and prevention

[36:39] Ongoing health and maintenance

[37:12] Flexibility and growth in business

[38:47] Challenges with admin and finances

[40:17] Empowering financial management

[41:13] Evolving goals and future vision

[43:47] Advice to her younger self

[45:22] Rethinking success and passion

[46:41] Balancing care and growth

[47:34] Business vision and freedom

[49:22] Final reflections

Building a holistic business rooted in care and connection

The importance of treating the root cause, not just symptoms

Supporting fertility, hormonal health and long term wellbeing

Blending traditional Chinese medicine with modern business

Using local marketing and community to grow a client base

Navigating the mindset shift into business ownership

Balancing intuition, growth and sustainability

Creating a business that supports both clients and lifestyle

https://www.bethmottersheadacupuncture.co.uk/

https://www.instagram.com/beth_mottershead_acupuncture/

https://www.facebook.com/bethmottersheadacupuncture

https://www.alexmccarthycoaching.com/

Book onto an upcoming Business Connection Session

In this fifty-second episode of My Kind of Business, Alex is joined by Rebecca Webster, the face behind Untamed Photography, for an honest and grounding conversation about building a business rooted in authenticity, creativity and real values.

Becky’s journey into business did not begin with a clear plan or traditional strategy. From a young age, she was deeply aware of themes around fairness, self-perception and identity, which later shaped both her personal growth and the way she shows up in her work today.

Like many, Becky experienced challenges with body image and societal expectations during her teenage years. These experiences became a significant part of her journey, eventually leading her towards a deeper sense of self-acceptance and a desire to create something meaningful for others.

Photography began as a creative outlet, but over time it became something more. A space for expression, connection and empowerment. The moment Becky realised this could become a business was not about following a formula, but about trusting what felt right and taking action despite doubt.

Rather than building her business around trends or expectations, Becky has created Untamed Photography as a space where people can show up as they are. Her work is centred around capturing the unfiltered, the natural and the real, helping people reconnect with themselves in a way that feels both empowering and freeing.

In this episode, Alex and Becky explore what it really means to build a business that feels aligned. They talk about self-acceptance, creativity, nature and the importance of questioning societal norms, particularly around beauty, success and identity.

Becky shares her experience of growing a business while navigating the realities of motherhood, managing time and balancing multiple roles. The conversation also touches on the emotional side of entrepreneurship, including self-doubt, comparison and the pressure to meet external expectations.

This episode offers a refreshing perspective on building a business that is not driven by perfection or performance, but by honesty, values and a genuine desire to create something meaningful.

If you are craving a more authentic way of doing business, or want to feel more connected to yourself and your work, this episode will resonate.

In this episode, Alex and Becky explore:

Becky’s early influences and how they shaped her perspective on fairness and identity

Timestamps

[00:00] Introduction and overview of Becky’s journey

Key Highlights

Building a business rooted in authenticity and self-expression

Connect with Becky

https://www.instagram.com/untamedphotographyuk/

Connect with Alex

https://www.alexmccarthycoaching.com/

Book onto an upcoming Business Connection Session

https://www.alexmccarthycoaching.com/business-connection-sessions