In this episode I speak to  Claire Taylor Foster, who shares her remarkable journey through various careers, including retail, advertising, therapy, and interior design, before establishing her successful copywriting business, Raspberry Flamingo. Claire discusses the pivotal moments that shaped her career, including a life-altering accident that forced her to reevaluate her path. Throughout the conversation, Claire's willingness to take every opportunity and to be adaptable speaks a very clear message - follow one's passion, ultimately leading to personal growth and fulfillment.

Find out more about Claire and Raspberry Flamingo https://raspberryflamingo.com/

Discover more about Elaine Rotherham and Spero Solutions https://www.sperohero.co.uk/

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

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/spero-solutions-ltd/

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Tales of an Entrepreneur

01:23 Claire's Diverse Career Journey

07:40 Challenges in the Corporate World

11:27 Transitioning to Therapy and Personal Growth

16:53 Training and Development in New Ventures

17:24 Finding Purpose Through Adversity

19:53 Life-Changing Injuries and Their Impact

22:44 Reinventing Career Paths

25:22 Resilience and Adaptability in Business

27:49 Embracing Individuality in Business Practices

32:27 Personal Growth and Self-Acceptance

35:39 The Power of Letting Go

My guest for this episode is Stuart Wright, a seasoned entrepreneur and business coach. Stuart shares his journey of starting and selling multiple businesses, the challenges he faced, and the crossroads moments that shaped his career. 

Stuart highlights how crucial it is to spot business opportunities, the perks of having a coach, and what he learnt from a big contract in those early years of running a business.

Throughout our chat, he talks about the importance of being resilient in business, the role personal values play, and the need for always learning new things. He wraps things up with some powerful advice that self-growth should come before just focusing on the business side of things.

FInd out more about Stuart here Stuart Wright - ActionCOACH

Discover more about Elaine Rotherham and Spero Solutions https://www.sperohero.co.uk/

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Chapters

00:16 Introduction

01:17 Stuart Wright's Business Evolution

07:16 The Transition to Coaching

12:11 Crossroad Moments in Business

17:15 Lessons from Major Contracts

21:22 The Essence of Resilience in Business

24:01 Values That Drive Success

27:11 The Importance of Personal Development

33:17 Shifting Beliefs and Values

38:02 Final Thoughts: Work on Yourself

In this episode I chat to Sam Parker, a Thermomix advisor, who shares her unique journey from consumer research to becoming a successful entrepreneur. Sam discusses life when she lived in Australia, her many freelance jobs, and how the pandemic led her to discover the Thermomix. There have been many pivotal moments in Sams life which have propelled her personal growth and given her authenticity in her business journey.  Sam's story is a testament to resilience and the power of following one's passion.

Find out more about Sam and My Food For Thought Thermomix® Advisor - Home - My food for thought

Discover more about Elaine Rotherham and Spero Solutions https://www.sperohero.co.uk/

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

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/spero-solutions-ltd

Chapters

00:16 Introduction to Tales of an Entrepreneur

01:36 Discovering the Thermomix

04:38 Sam's Journey into Entrepreneurship

09:33 Life Lessons from Australia

14:35 The Impact of the pandemic on Business

18:03 Building a Community as a Thermomix Advisor

23:04 Resilience and Self-Discovery

26:10 Final Thoughts and Advice

In this episode I chat to Matt Steadman, Managing Director of Wharfedale Refrigeration and Air Conditioning. Matt shares his journey from a cross road moment during his apprenticeship to building a successful business in the refrigeration industry.  He explains you don’t always need to be working on the tools to add value to your own business and the importance of time management when running a business. Matt emphasises the value of his business coach and the need for entrepreneurs to seek help to grow their businesses effectively.

Find out more about Wharfedale Refrigeration and Air Conditioning here Refrigeraton Services, Wharfedale Refrigeration, Yorkshire & East Lancashire Areas

Discover more about Elaine Rotherham and Spero Solutions Spero Solutions - Expert knowledge and administrative support

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LinkedIn

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Tales of an Entrepreneur

01:40 Matt's Journey into Refrigeration and Air Conditioning

05:17 Crossroad moments in his early career

08:38 Building Wharfedale Refrigeration

12:58 The Role of a Business Coach

17:44 Balancing Work and Family Life

20:09 Lessons Learned and Advice for Entrepreneurs

Make A Brew and settle in to my chat with Clare Froggatt, Brand Designer at Make A Brew!

Clare shares the inspiration behind her business name and why storytelling in branding is so important. She opens up about her recent personal challenges including her mother's recent diagnosis, and the support she found in her business community. Clare emphasises the importance of humour and acceptance in adversity and offers valuable advice for entrepreneurs facing hardships.

Find out more about Clare and Make A Brew here Home - Do you want to create, build or market your brand - Make a Brew

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Facebook 

Instagram Make a brew (@brew.your.brand)

Discover more about Elaine Rotherham and Spero Solutions Spero Solutions - Expert knowledge and administrative support

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LinkedIn

Chapters

00:16 Introduction to Tales of an Entrepreneur

04:24 Branding and Storytelling in Business

10:51 Navigating Challenges and Personal Growth

15:59 The Impact of Lockdown on Business

20:16 Looking Ahead: Future Aspirations and Changes

22:25 The Importance of Support Networks

25:32 Embracing Vulnerability and Honesty

27:45 Shifts in Work-Life Balance

31:28 Finding Resilience in Adversity

34:27 The Light at the End of the Tunnel

In this episode Elaine speaks to James Marriott, a podcast strategist with a background in radio. James shares his journey from radio to podcasting, discussing pivotal moments that shaped his career, including his move from radio management to podcasting, the impact of being made redundant, and the importance of finding your tribe in business.  He believes whole heartedly in being authentic in your approach and he offers valuable insights into running his business Sound Media. 

Find out more about James here Sound Media: Unlock the Power of Podcasting: Podcast Strategies and Solutions | Sheffield 

LinkedIn (8) James Marriott 🎧🎙️ | LinkedIn

Discover more about Elaine Rotherham and Spero Solutions Spero Solutions - Expert knowledge and administrative support

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Tales of an Entrepreneur

00:44 James Marriott: From Radio to Podcasting

03:02 The Crossroads of Career Decisions

09:05 Pivotal Moments in James' Journey

14:06 Navigating Redundancy and Finding New Paths

20:55 Building Resilience During COVID

22:53 The Importance of Community and Networking

26:05 Mindfulness and Mental Health in Entrepreneurship

30:42 Authenticity in Business

37:03 Final Piece of Advice

In this first episode of season 3 Elaine speaks with renowned corporate speaker Nicky Pattinson. Nicky has lived a life filled with highs, lows, grief, loss and success and she explains how she has put all these experiences into practice.  From humble beginnings of running a highly successful market stall to travelling the world and empowering women across the country with her insight and path to self-discovery. This interview highlights the impact of kindness, the importance of identity, and the necessity of navigating life's challenges with confidence and purpose.

You can find out more about Nicky Pattinson It's Greater. Later. #12 - Nicky Pattinson

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/hiyaitsnicky

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/HiyaItsNicky

Discover more about Elaine Rotherham and Spero Solutions Spero Solutions - Expert knowledge and administrative support

Chapters

00:16 Introduction to Tales of an Entrepreneur

02:00 Empowering Women Over 40

04:32 The Journey of Self-Discovery

05:31 Life-Changing Events and Their Impact

11:17 Building a Successful Business

16:54 The Importance of Identity and Self-Worth

20:56 Navigating Grief and Loss

28:26 Resilience and Rebuilding

32:31 Finding Your True Self

Russ Thompson, a business consultant with RT Consulting, took a brave step to make big changes in his career, personal life and financial plans when a knock at the door was a pivotal moment to reset and move forward.  Who was at the door and how did it change Russ’s life… have a listen to find out more. 

Find out more about RT Consulting www.rtconsulting.org

You can find out more about Elaine 

Facebook - Spero Solutions | Facebook
Spero Solutions website https://www.sperohero.co.uk/

Season two was under the podcast title 'How To Work With A VA Day to Day'.  Series 3 has a new podcast title and refresh but these interviews were too good to lose altogether.

This podcast series is about people's stories and how they can be their superpower within a small business. Clare Wards life changing event  brought about the idea for her business - New Healthy Body. Find out what happened, how she took action and ended up where she is today, as a successful Pilates studio owner in Sheffield. 

Find out more about Clare here 

Website: https://newhealthybody.co.uk/

FB Group Link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2193371040972705

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

Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/clare-ward-6a30a98a/

Season two was under the podcast title 'How To Work With A VA Day to Day'.  Series 3 has a new podcast title and refresh but these interviews were too good to lose altogether.

When Zoe Wadsworth from Ask Zoe was faced with being left with 1 client when events and shows were cancelled at the start of lockdown Zoe had to embrace the challenge and changed the services her business could offer. Zoe offers some sound advice on why a plan B is worth having within a small business.  

Find out more about Ask Zoe Home Page - Ask Zoe

You can find out more about Elaine 

Facebook - Spero Solutions | Facebook
https://www.sperohero.co.uk/

Season two was under the podcast title 'How To Work With A VA Day to Day'.  Series 3 has a new podcast title and refresh but these interviews were too good to lose altogether.