Tales from the Book Nook

Six Figures In School Hours Episode:

Many of us start our own businesses for the same reasons.

We want to escape the nine-to-five.

Our boss is a shitgibbon and we're sick of working for them.

We'd love to spend more time with our family.

There's a whole section in my book on this.

But often you'll find yourself working MORE hours, instead of less, putting up with difficult customers, and struggling to balance family time as you work out where home starts and work stops.

Our guest today has only been running his own business for the last couple years and knows these struggles all too well.

In today's episode, we'll be diving into the joys and challenges of parenting while running a business, exploring how he and his partner balance their roles and maintain flexibility.

So, join us as we uncover the realities of being a tech-savvy parent in today's digital world.

Tune in to learn:

• How Nick and his wife divided up the work week and childcare

• What boundaries he has in place for working from home

• The biggest challenges Nick has faced transitioning from being a full-time technician, to running a business from home

• Why melding work and home life doesn't always work out

• How Nick deals with parent guilt

• Why heuses colour coding to stay productive

• How he manages his money

• Nick's top tip for parents

• What self-care looks like for Nick

Buy your copy of Six Figures in School Hours

Head to episode notes

Freebies:

1. Personal Branding Workbook

2. Productivity Cheat Sheet

3. Join the Misfit Entrepreneurs on Facebook

Join the Digital Marketing Collective membership

Six Figures In School Hours Episode:

An interview with Erin Huckle

So this week on the podcast, I wanted to do something a little bit different.

Some of you have been coming to my book launches around Australia, but obviously, some of you can't get to them.

We are having a virtual launch coming up, check my Facebook page, but I thought I would get someone to interview me and ask me some questions about the book, why I wrote it the process and just some top tips.

So I chose Erin Huckle from Chuckle Communications, who is my PR and profile-building human to do a little interview with me.

I hope you enjoy it.

Tune in to learn:

• Why I wanted to write a book

• The importance of building your village

• Why being in business for yourself works for parents

• My advice for newbie business owners

• My process of writing Six Figures in School Hours

• The challenges around interviewing experts

• The importance of having your big 'why'

Useful resources:

• 6FISH Virtual book launch

Head to episode notes

Buy your copy of Six Figures in School Hours

Freebies:

1. Personal Branding Workbook

2. Productivity Cheat Sheet

3. Join the Misfit Entrepreneurs on Facebook

Join the Digital Marketing Collective membership

Six Figures In School Hours Episode:

Being a parent can feel like having a hundred different jobs.

So many chores to do, keeping your small humans alive and don't get me started on the mental load - that birthday party present to buy, dentist appointments to book, and effing book day.

When all that's done, there's precious little brain juice left for your business.

So how do you create more time?

You could outsource - if you have the money.

You could insource - if your kids are capable, and you have the patience of a saint.

You could buy a robovacuum to save a few precious minutes each day.

My guest today is a master at knowing where she can afford to outsource and make some more time to spend with the family.

She's a smart, business human who prides herself on having an ethical ecommerce store, a mum to two children under 10, and a love of things sparkly.

In this episode, we'll delve into some parental stereotypes, discuss the expectations placed on older siblings, the evolution of parenting styles, and just how hard it is to be a business-owning parent.

Tune in to learn:

• Anu's family set up

• The differences between raising her first and second child

• Anu's parenting style, and the importance of spending quality time with her kids

• How Anu went from working in the fashion industry to starting her own jewellery business

• When Anu focused in on her financials

• Anu's biggest challenge balancing parenting and a new business

• Why Anu started outsourcing the household chores and cooking, and why it works for her

• Anu's tips to be more productive

• How Anu fits self-care into her week

Head to episode notes

Useful resources:

• SEO Nibbles

• Recipe for SEO Success Course

• 10-Day SEO Challenge

Buy your copy of Six Figures in School Hours

Freebies:

1. Personal Branding Workbook

2. Productivity Cheat Sheet

3. Join the Misfit Entrepreneurs on Facebook

Join the Digital Marketing Collective membership

Six Figures In School Hours Episode:

Hello, my name is Kate Toon, a business mentor, digital marketing coach, and an okayish parent.

As a fellow human trying to balance parenting and running a business, I know how hard it can be, so here are some short, sharp tips I've picked up along the way to give you quick wins in your day.

Today I want to give you an alternative to business planning.

Listen to all tip episodes here

Buy your copy of Six Figures in School Hours

Freebies:

1. Personal Branding Workbook

2. Productivity Cheat Sheet

3. Join the Misfit Entrepreneurs on Facebook

Join the Digital Marketing Collective membership

Six Figures In School Hours Episode:

Managing your finances as a family is hard. And then there's your business to consider.

Once you've gotten over your money mindset issue - which are often passed down from our parents.

Then there's budgeting to consider.

Profitability.

Expenses.

It can feel overwhelming especially if you feel you're not a numbers person or that you're financially illiterate.

The Six Figures in School Hours book digs into all these issues of course, but today I wanted to bring you a money expert to chat through some common problems I see business parents encountering.

We'll also be sharing some tips on how to overcome them.

Tune in to learn:

• How Clare's family runs

• Why Clare started her business

• How Clare's business evolved over the years

• What challenges business owning parents commonly face in their financials

• How to prepare your business for financial success

• Why keeping separate accounts for your business is so important

• How Clare keeps sane, and what self-care looks like for her.

Buy your copy of Six Figures in School Hours

Head to episode notes

Freebies:

1. Personal Branding Workbook

2. Productivity Cheat Sheet

3. Join the Misfit Entrepreneurs on Facebook

Join the Digital Marketing Collective membership

Six Figures In School Hours Episode:

Hello, my name is Kate Toon, a business mentor, digital marketing coach, and an okayish parent.

As a fellow human trying to balance parenting and running a business, I know how hard it can be, and I wanted to share some tips I've picked up along the way. These are shorter, snappier episodes to give you quick wins in your day.

Today's episode is all about why I hate passion.

People often say they want to start a business because they have an idea they're truly passionate about. When I hear this line, my eyes roll so far back into my head, I can see the goblin who controls my brain.

Because I believe passion is the biggest business killer.

'If passion drives you, let reason hold the reins.' Benjamin Franklin

If you're thinking of starting a business because you're passionate about a particular project or industry, stop for a minute and think about it:

• There's no quicker way to fall out of love with something you adore doing than to try to make money from it.
• All relationships become boring after a while – and so do businesses.
• A boring business is often a successful business.
• Predictability, persistence, consistency and hard work aren't sexy, but they're often the key to long-lasting success.

But you need to ask yourself: 'Can I love my idea for the long term?' Is it a one-night-stand business idea, or can you grow old together (or at least into middle age)?

Listen to all tip episodes here

Buy your copy of Six Figures in School Hours

Freebies:

1. Personal Branding Workbook

2. Productivity Cheat Sheet

3. Join the Misfit Entrepreneurs on Facebook

Join the Digital Marketing Collective membership

Six Figures In School Hours Episode:

Managing the juggle of being a parent and a business owner is hard enough but add ADHD to the mix and it suddenly gets a whole lot harder.

Today's guest is also my partner! #awkward.

But I really wanted to get him on the show because not only is he an amazing dad, who does the lion's share of childcare in his family set-up, he's also a great example of someone who has acknowledged his neurodivergence and worked through the positives and negatives.

He's developed strategies to make him more focused and productive, to complete tasks, be present and overcome his money mindset issues.

It's a great episode for anyone who struggles with the ability to plan and a wonderful example of how to turn your kryptonite into a genuine superpower.

Tune in to learn:

• What Tony's family dynamic looks like

• How Tony splits his time between business and family time

• Why communication is key for successful co-parenting

• Tony's parenting style

• What changes Tony has made to become more productive

• How Tony has evolved his business to work for his diagnosis and his family time

• How Tony practices self-care

Buy your copy of Six Figures in School Hours

Head to episode notes

Freebies:

1. Personal Branding Workbook

2. Productivity Cheat Sheet

3. Join the Misfit Entrepreneurs on Facebook

Join the Digital Marketing Collective membership

Six Figures In School Hours Episode:

Hello, my name is Kate Toon, a business mentor, digital marketing coach, and an okayish parent.

As a fellow human trying to balance parenting and running a business, I know how hard it can be, and I wanted to share some tips I've picked up along the way. These are shorter, snappier episodes to give you quick wins in your day.

Today, I want to talk about my top 5 tips for juggling business and parenthood.

1. Banish parent guilt
2. Be honest about your time
3. Get real about money
4. Don't draw comparisons
5. Put your own oxygen mask on first.

Listen to all tip episodes here

Buy your copy of Six Figures in School Hours

Freebies:

1. Personal Branding Workbook

2. Productivity Cheat Sheet

3. Join the Misfit Entrepreneurs on Facebook

Join the Digital Marketing Collective membership

Six Figures In School Hours Episode:

I'm a big believer that as a business-owning parent you can have it all, just not at the same time.

We're constantly twiddling the knobs of being a loving parent, managing our business and trying to find a modicum of time for self-care.

My guest today sees it more like an orchestra, sometimes the drums are too loud, often the violin is out of tune, but every now and again we achieve business parenting harmony, and ain't that beautiful.

Today's guest is a huge advocate for women in business, runs a community for mums and shares more statistics about the reality of the parenting business world than you can shake a stick at.

It's a great episode packed with productivity tips, mindset lessons and how you should always have the confidence to tell your story and ask for help.

Tune in to learn:

• Carrie's family and work-life set up.

• How your parenting style is developed

• Why so many people start new businesses as they become parents

• Why support and planning is key to setting up a new business as a parent

• How Carrie manages parent guilt

• Carrie's mindset tips

• How Carrie gets the most out of her day

• Carrie's number one parenting tip

Head to episode notes

Freebies:

• Personal Branding Workbook

• Productivity Cheat Sheet

• Join the Misfit Entrepreneurs on Facebook

Join the Digital Marketing Collective membership

Six Figures In School Hours Episode:

As a fellow human trying to balance parenting and running a business, I know how hard it can be, and I wanted to share some tips I've picked up along the way. These are shorter, snappier episodes to give you quick wins in your day.

Today's episode is all about telling your clients about your kids.

Ridiculously, letting your clients know you've actually produced a human seems like a bad thing. I see so many small-business-owning parents trying to hide their 'parentness' – trying to work 'normal hours', taking calls while their child is literally climbing all over them, or sneaking into the bathroom and covering themselves with a towel to drown out the noise of their kids.

But guess what? Your clients probably have small humans too.

Tune in to hear my thoughts on setting expectations, realistic timelines, and workable work hours.

Listen to all tip episodes here

Buy your copy of Six Figures in School Hours

Freebies:

1. Personal Branding Workbook

2. Productivity Cheat Sheet

3. Join the Misfit Entrepreneurs on Facebook

Join the Digital Marketing Collective membership