In this episode of Next Level You, I sit down with Matt Hall - entrepreneur, podcast host, and online visibility strategist - for a real behind-the-scenes conversation about what it actually takes to build a successful online business.

Matt shares his journey from performing in a Take That tribute band and running Tribute Acts Management in his early twenties, to building a multi–six-figure online business with memberships, masterminds and live events, including breaking a Guinness World Record with his own podcast.

We talk about:

• Why self-belief isn’t something you’re born with and how you can build it

• The reality of working 7 days a week, feeling constantly exhausted, and questioning what “success” really means

• How a low point in his late twenties became the catalyst for personal development, coaching, and a completely new direction

• The power of rest and pause for creativity and business growth

• Why “do less, better” and “simplicity scales, complexity fails” are now core to how he runs his business

• Charging high-ticket earlier, instead of hiding behind endless low-ticket offers

• Investing in mentors, coaches and team and how to do your due diligence before you part with your money

  
  

This conversation is honest, grounded and really highlights the gap between the glossy online wins and the very real numbers, risk and responsibility sitting behind them.

I loved hearing how Matt blends resilience, strategy and self-awareness to create fast but intentional growth and I think you’ll come away with a fresh perspective on what sustainable success in business can look like.

More about Matt:

Matt Hall is a Guinness World Record holder, Channel 4 regular and relatable online business & visibility strategist known for helping everyday people turn their skills, story or passion into scalable online income.

With over 15 years of hands-on business experience and 1000's of people now supported via his podcast, coaching services and online membership 'Success School', Matt’s mission is to make business clear, accessible and achievable for anyone, especially for those in the earlier stages of their journey.

His speciality lies in helping people create and launch digital offers like courses or memberships, even if they don’t have a big audience or tech background.
His approach is practical, step-by-step and designed to build confidence as well as income.

In addition to his mission, Matt recently gained national attention after appearing on E4’s reality TV show Love Triangle as well as previously being known for sharing his views as a regular  “Lunch Mate” panellist for 18 months appearing on Channel 4’s daytime TV show Steph’s Packed Lunch.

As a business strategist, Matt brings warmth, humour and a no BS style that resonates deeply with aspiring entrepreneurs who are ready to finally start making the impact they desire.

If you’re looking for clarity, confidence and a simple strategy to get your business moving, Matt’s your guy.

Connect with Matt:

https://www.instagram.com/matthallofficial/

https://www.youtube.com/@Success-School/videos

https://join.successschoolgroup.co.uk/ss

Connect with your host, Toni Addinall:

https://www.instagram.com/toniaddinallstrategist/

This week, I’m joined by franchise strategist Stacey Cann, Franchise Strategist, who shares the turning point that led her to create a different future for herself and her family.

Stacey talks about realising that the career she once worked so hard for no longer felt right, and how choosing a new path opened the door to more stability, more fulfilment, and a bigger impact than she imagined at the time.

We explore what it looks like to take action when fear is loud, why trying to handle everything alone can hold us back, and how the right support can make the toughest moments feel possible again. Stacey’s experience is a brilliant reminder that even when the next step feels uncertain, backing yourself can lead somewhere even better than the original plan.

This conversation will leave you feeling encouraged to keep going, even if your path isn’t looking the way you expected.

More about Stacey:

Stacey Cann is an award winning franchise strategist that helps business owners scale through starting and growing a franchise so they have more time, more money and more impact from their business. Stacey has a unique view of franchising having been a multi-franchise & multi-unit operator for over 10 years.

She is also Managing Director at Daisy First Aid, a nationwide franchise with over 70 franchisees. Stacey has helped hundreds of franchisees and franchisors find success with her specialist support memberships and strategic sales and marketing knowledge.

Her mission is to drive change in the franchise industry so that any business can franchise successfully no matter what their budget or experience.

Connect with Stacey:

https://www.staceycann.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/staceycannfranchisestrategist/

Insta: https://www.instagram.com/staceycannfranchisestrategist/

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

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@staceycannfranchisestrategist

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thefranchisestrategist

Download Stacey's Stuck to Scale freebie to see if franchising is right for you and give you an idea of what money you could make from it! 

https://www.staceycann.com/stucktoscale

I have gone solo this week! I’m exploring something that’s been coming up a lot recently - how speaking our thoughts out loud can completely change the way we think and feel.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, stuck in your own head, or unsure what to do next, this episode will help you find a little more clarity, calm, and focus.

I’m sharing what I learned through my Time to Think training and in recent conversations with clients about how the quality of our thinking improves when we’re truly listened to. I’ll walk you through simple ways to clear your mind, from journaling and voice-noting to talking out loud , so you can make better decisions and take more intentional action.

Clarity starts when you let your thoughts be heard.

Enjoy the episode and let me know your thoughts when you have had a listen

Thanks for listening!

Connect with me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toniaddinallstrategist/

This week, I’m joined by motherhood photographer Amanda Miller (Amanda Noel Photography), an ex-primary school teacher turned creative who now crafts soulful, unposed family stories from her studio in Darlington, North East England (and across the UK).

We talk about why real, imperfect moments beat forced poses, the magic of printing your photos and how shooting film vs. digital can change the way we see and feel our memories.

We also get honest about the business side of photography, from juggling young kids to dropping the “winging it” approach. Amanda shares how community, a mastermind, money mindset, and monthly reflection & accountability helped her take control of pricing, cash flow, and strategy.

Highlights you’ll love:

• Motherhood & family photography that captures real connection

• Why printed images become timeless heirlooms (and how to make it easy)

• Presence over “record everything” culture - enjoy the moment you’re in

• Practical mindset shifts for creatives: clarity, consistency, and action

• Behind the scenes of building a sustainable photography business

More about Amanda:

Amanda is a motherhood photographer, capturing soulful stories of the memories your heart wants to hold on to. She is based in her cosy studio in Darlington, but travels nationally for her work.

Connect with Amanda:

Instagram: @amandanoelphotography

Website: www.amandanoelphotography.com

Download Amanda's Free Guide: 5 Ways to Take Better Family Photos: https://amandanoelphotography.myflodesk.com/tk778g62e0

Connect with your host, Toni Addinall:

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/toni.addinall

Life coach and author Helen Calvert (aka The No Bullshit Coach) joins me to talk neurodivergent-friendly productivity, procrastination, and what real self-care looks like when you’re juggling life and business. We unpack the difference between coaching vs mentoring, how to set boundaries without shame, why meeting your needs first boosts focus and consistency, and simple nervous system resets you can actually use.

Highlights:

• Neurodivergence, ADHD/autism & why “typical” productivity hacks miss the mark

• Helen’s “Breathe, Bathroom, Beverage” mantra to break overwhelm

• How beliefs become stories and how to rewrite them with compassion

• Coaching, therapy & trauma-informed support: knowing what you need (and when)

• Modelling needs for our kids, avoiding burnout, and building sustainable momentum

More about Helen:

Helen Calvert is a certified life coach who specialises in working with neurodivergent business owners. Autistic herself, as the No Bullsh*t Coach it is her mission to spread more happiness into the world of the self employed by helping them live by their own rules and not others. Faced with a myriad of life challenges from overcoming trauma, anxiety and parenting a sick child, Helen understands life’s challenges intimately - but now refuses to be dictated to by them after 20 years of living by other people’s rules. In The Happier Life Hub she has packaged up her knowledge and resources to make it quick and easy to access advice, guidance and support when overwhelm hits or procrastination calls, and the stories we tell ourselves are getting the better of us

Connect with Helen:

Website https://happier-life.co.uk/

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

Book half-price with all proceeds going to Trafford Domestic Abuse Services (ends 11 October) https://happier-life.co.uk/product/the-no-bullsht-guide-to-a-happier-life

Happier Life Hub membership £1 for the first month (ends 31 October) - https://happier-life.co.uk/hub 

Connect with your host Toni Addinall

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/toni.addinall

In this episode of Next Level You, I sit down with business coach and strategist Claire Bartlett to talk about how to simplify your business so you can move from overwhelm to aligned systems.

We talk about building a clear vision, adopting a CEO mindset, and using practical tools like the £1/£10/£100 task method to focus on what truly makes a difference.

Claire shares how she transformed a successful but exhausting business by streamlining processes, systems, and strategy and how you can avoid the Sunday-night dread with small, sustainable steps. We also chat about choosing collaboration over competition, curating your feed for positive energy, and the power of masterminds and mentoring when you “don’t know what you don’t know.”

More about Claire:

Claire Bartlett is a Coach, Mentor & Host of the Simplified CEO. She helps entrepreneurs simplify their business to create spacious success and avoid the overwhelm by using her unique R.E.S.E.T framework. After scaling her first business to 6 figures working just 20 hours a week she now helps others create intentional integration within their lives and achieve the business and life they desire.

Download Claire's Sunday Scaries here: https://www.claire-bartlett.co.uk/sundayscaries-757342

Connect with Claire: https://www.instagram.com/theclairebartlett/

Connect with your host, Toni Addinall:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/toni.addinall

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

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/toniaddinall

Tik Tok: Toni| Action & Accountability (@getaccountablewithtoni) | TikTok

In this episode of Next Level You, I sit down with Career Alchemist Baiba Wisse to explore how somatic movement - Qigong and Tai Chi - can help us reduce stress, ease anxiety, and create a more aligned career.

Baiba shares her journey from 15 years in corporate talent acquisition to launching the Career in Technicolor podcast, and how “moving mindfulness” became the energy management tool that changed everything.

We dive into: practical “movement snacks” you can do during Zoom calls or between meetings, why sitting all day drains your body and focus, and how tuning into your body helps you tell the difference between normal discomfort and a true misalignment.

We also talk about beta-testing your next step (instead of waiting for the perfect plan), bust a few introvert myths, and reframe productivity through nervous-system care.

If you’re a business owner or professional who feels stuck, stressed, or stuck-in-your-head, this conversation will help you reconnect with your body, build sustainable energy, and take aligned action.

More about Baiba:

Baiba Wisse is on a quest to design her own dream job and call you up to join! She is a Tai Chi Qigong Coach and Career In Technicolor Podcast Host

After 15 years in corporate recruitment her love for interviewing people led her to starting a podcast and sharing stories + tools of designing work that is energizing and fulfilling so you can fall in love with Mondays!

How does Qigong fit into the puzzle? Well after years of sitting behind a computer, Baiba started having unexplained aches, pains, and anxiety issues. She  was feeling fatigued much of the time and often didn’t have enough energy to play with her son, meet up with friends or go out in the evenings or weekends.

She’s always been a seeker, obsessed with learning and trying new things that could give her more energy and on that journey she came across Tai Chi and QiGong.

These gentle energy balancing movements helped her bring in more lightness, ease and joy into her day to day and now she wants to share them with you !

Connect with her on IG: www.instagram.com/reigniteyourvitality

Get the FREE 5 day stress release movement mini series:  https://stressless.reigniteyourvitality.com/ 

Connect with your host, Toni Addinall:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/toni.addinall

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

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/toniaddinall

Tik Tok: Toni| Action & Accountability (@getaccountablewithtoni) | TikTok

In todays episode, I am joined by Natalie Mackenzie, The Cognitive Strategist, for a fascinating and practical conversation about brain health, cognition, and performance for founders and leaders.

We explore how neuroplasticity underpins both brain injury rehabilitation and everyday business growth, and why repetition + consistency change outcomes. We also discuss the very real impact of AI on our brains, the productivity boost and the risk of cognitive “laziness”, plus how to use AI well by keeping your critical thinking switched on.

Natalie shares powerful stories from 20 years in brain injury rehab, showing how personality, grit, and the right support shape recovery. We get into decision fatigue (and how to limit big decisions to protect your prefrontal cortex), the link between sleep quality and cognition, working with your chronotype and 90-minute circadian ultradian rhythms, and why social connection + daily learning are non-negotiables for long-term brain health.

If you’re an entrepreneur or leader who wants better focus, smarter decisions, more energy, and sustainable performance, this episode will help you understand your cognitive profile and build a brain-friendly strategy for work and life.

What we cover:

• What cognition actually covers and why it matters in business

• Neuroplasticity: how repetition rewires results

• AI & brain health: productivity without losing your edge

• Decision fatigue: simple rules to protect your best thinking

• Sleep, chronotypes, and planning hard vs. creative tasks

• Socialisation and daily learning as brain-health foundations

  
  

More about Natalie:

Natalie Mackenzie is a cognitive health expert for business owners, with a background in Psychology, Neuropsychology and business strategy. She works with founders, leaders and entrepreneurs to optimise their cognitive performance, overcome decision fatigue and avoid burnout-through blending cognitive science and practical business frameworks. Natalie is sought after media expert, regularly sharing her expertise on cognition in publications such as The Guardian, The Telegraph and The Independent.

Connect with Natalie:

Www.thecognitivestrategist.com

Sign up to receive a daily brain boost to your inbox:

shop.thecognitivestrategist.com/widget/form/QGz8mxL0mBz4k4w3lxHJ

Connect with your host, Toni Addinall:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/toni.addinall

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

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/toniaddinall

Tik Tok: Toni| Action & Accountability (@getaccountablewithtoni) | TikTok

This episode contains discussion of burnout, grief, and traumatic events.

In this episode of Next Level You, I sit down with Angela Hodgson, founder of Ignite Improvement, to explore how to build a brilliant business without burnout. Angela shares her journey from early entrepreneurship to nine years at Bentley Motors, through a breakdown and reset during COVID, and back to leading change for scaling UK SMEs.

We dig into why teams stall: misaligned leadership, weak communication, and resistance to change and how to shift from assumption-led to aligned leadership.

Angela introduces POWER (Purpose, Organization, Work Habits, Engagement, Results); the practical framework behind her Build Brilliant Businesses programme. We also talk about using AI safely with clear policies.

You’ll hear how Angela's university collaborations (Salford, Leeds Business School, Manchester Metropolitan University) and the government’s Help to Grow programme shape her approach, why simplicity scales, and the early signs your business or team is heading toward burnout, plus actionable steps to reignite momentum.

More about Angela:

I am the founder of Ignite Improvement Ltd, where I help busy SME leaders build brilliant, people-first businesses without burning out. After senior roles at Bentley Motors and a personal crash into burnout, I left corporate life to support my two neurodiverse sons and create a business that fits my life - not the other way around. With over 20 years’ experience in consultancy and coaching, I combine practical tools, honest advice and hard-won lessons to support leaders through the messy middle of business and leadership.

Connect with Angela:

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

⁠https://www.facebook.com/

https://www.instagram.com/angela_hodgson_official/

Take The Quiz here:

You’ve got good people and a growing business. But you’re stuck between strategy and firefighting. This quick quiz helps you spot the gaps - and what to streamline, simplify or shift to get your time back.

https://igniteimprovement.co.uk/quiz

Connect with your host, Toni Addinall

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/toni.addinall

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

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/toniaddinall

Tik Tok: Toni| Action & Accountability (@getaccountablewithtoni) | TikTok

In this episode of Next Level You, I’m joined by Business Strategist and Mentor, Emma Hine, for an inspiring conversation about what it really means to build a business you love.

Emma shares her journey from running a 7-figure business that looked successful on the outside but left her feeling unfulfilled, to creating a business and life fully aligned with her values and happiness.

We talk about:

• Why so many entrepreneurs lose sight of their true vision

• The difference between evolving your business and constantly pivoting

• How to find the right communities and mentors

• The importance of values, accountability, and consistent action

• Emma’s DREAM Framework (Dream, Reality, Exact Steps, Action & Accountability, Measure) for creating a business that works for you

  
  

If you’re ready to stop chasing “shoulds” and start building a business that feels right for you, this conversation will give you clarity, inspiration, and practical steps to move forward and build your dream business.

Download Emma's Clarity Before Strategy, free journal prompts here:

https://membership.emmahine.co.uk/cbs

More about Emma:

Emma Hine is a certified business strategist & mentor who supports ambitious, values-driven business owners to align their strategy, offers, and systems so their business feels as good on the inside as it looks on the outside. She believes real success starts with a clear vision of the life you want to live and a business designed to support it, not take it over.

After building a million-pound e-commerce business that once consumed her world, Emma now helps others grow in a way that feels purposeful, sustainable, and truly aligned. As an Amazon bestselling author of The Calibrated Life and host of the Dream Business, Dream Life podcast, Emma inspires others to build with passion, lead with integrity, and stop sacrificing themselves for strategies that simply don’t fit.

When she’s not supporting her clients or sharing her message, you’ll find Emma being wife, mum to three and nanny to three more, at her happiest when she’s surrounded by loved ones, sunshine, and a glass of wine in hand.

Connect with Emma:

https://www.emmahine.co.uk

https://www.instagram.com/iamemmahine

⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-hine

https://dreambusinessdreamlife.buzzsprout.com

https://www.youtube.com/@EmmaHineStrategy

Connect with your host, Toni Addinall:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/toni.addinall

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

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/toniaddinall

Tik Tok: Toni| Action & Accountability (@getaccountablewithtoni) | TikTok