Becoming a business owner is not the only way to work for yourself and be successful.

For some freelancing is the perfect blend of freedom and fulfillment.

My guest in the episode, Grace Hall, has skipped traditional employment from the off, choosing the brave move to work for herself straight out of uni. And she has been an incredible success!

5 years into her freelancing career as a copywriter there have been lots of ups and downs. Grace shares the realities of working for herself, from client management, to pricing strategies, including her own particular “tax” she adds to jobs she knows will be tough.

At times she has struggled with self-doubt but shares key ways freelancers or business owners can own that fact they are good at what they do.

Grace is testament that you can choose your own happiness over societal pressures, so listen up to find out how she does it!

“It’s not all about the money” – Grace

You’ll hear about:

00:42 - An introduction to Grace and her work

01:55 - Straight from university to freelancing

07:28 - Realising "I'm good at this"

11:19 - Getting used to asking for testimonials

16:32 - The moments you want to chuck it all in

24:12 - Overcoming challenging clients

30:38 - Becoming an agency vs freelancing

33:31 - Keeping your head in the entrepreneurial world

38:58 - The impacts of AI on the market

41:08 - Messages from Grace's younger business self

Connect with Grace:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/grace-r-hall/

Crying Over Copy - https://cryingovercopy.com/

Connect with me:

My website - https://leaturner.co.uk/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lea-turner/

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

Find out about The HoLT:

The HoLT - https://www.the-holt.com/

The HoLT on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/theholt

The HoLT on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theholtcommunity/

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

The Vault - https://www.the-holt.com/vault

Join The Holt waiting list - https://www.the-holt.com/waitlist

This podcast is sponsored by QDos. Use the code LEA10 at the checkout to get your discount when signing up - https://my.qdoscontractor.com/code/10255/115219

Starting your business can be an immediate success story.

Not everyone goes through struggles to grow, or difficult years before the good times hit. In fact, the opposite was true for my guest in this episode, Laura Pointer.

Laura was made redundant at the start of the Covid pandemic, which forced her hand to start her own business to “un-fuck” companies ERP systems. Something she was immediately hugely successful at and always in demand.

It wasn’t until 4 years later in 2024 that the hard times hit. Laura shares how she got through the struggles and is coming out the other side.

Laura’s story is one of self-doubt, pricing struggles, and knowing that the power of effective communication in business is crucial. Beyond ERP systems Laura is a trained coach and huge dog lover, literally, the bigger the better! This love has led her down the path of also becoming a dog trainer.

This episode beautifully shows the complexities of life and business and how you can be more than 1 thing at the same time and love every part of the opportunities they can bring.

“You're worth more than enough”– Laura

You’ll hear about:

00:00 - Navigating Contract Negotiations

01:15 - Understanding ERP Systems

06:12 - Transitioning to Business Ownership

08:52 - The Rollercoaster of Business Success

10:39 - Facing Challenges in 2024

17:44 - Finding New Opportunities

22:07 - Staying Productive During Downtime

22:56 - Transforming Lives Through Dog Training

25:44 - Navigating Change Management in Business

28:26 - Overcoming Self-Doubt as a Business Owner

32:44 - Finding Your Worth and Pricing Your Services

35:58 - Understanding Dog Behavior and Training

39:31 - Dreaming Big: Future Aspirations and Goals

40:14 - Lessons Learned: Avoiding Undervaluation

43:17 - Building Trust in Professional Relationships

Connect with Laura:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-pointer/

Pivotal Project Management - https://pivotalprojectmanagement.co.uk/

Connect with me:

My website - https://leaturner.co.uk/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lea-turner/

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

Find out about The HoLT:

The HoLT - https://www.the-holt.com/

The HoLT on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/theholt

The HoLT on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theholtcommunity/

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

The Vault - https://www.the-holt.com/vault

Join The Holt waiting list - https://www.the-holt.com/waitlist

This podcast is sponsored by QDos. Use the code LEA10 at the checkout to get your discount when signing up - https://my.qdoscontractor.com/code/10255/115219 

Imagine being 20, healthy and successful.

You’re a manager, leading teams, you have 2 Honours degrees, everything is going well.

Now imagine you suffer a brain injury that leaves you with Tourette’s syndrome.

You can’t speak, you tic involuntarily, you swear, you whistle. Doctors tell you not to bother with work and just claim benefits from now on.

This was what happened to my inspirational guest Luke Manton. His life was turned upside down when he developed Tourette’s syndrome. But he didn’t want to let others tell him he can’t.

After some very dark times in his life he is now runs running his own highly successful VA agency, employing staff, and a TEDX speaker, because Tourette’s does not define him or stop him.

But he wouldn’t change a thing if he could go back…

So, what about you? Is there something you use to prove people wrong, to show the world you can?

Or is there something currently holding you back that you need to let go of?

Running a business is full of challenges that need to be overcome. Luke is the most incredible example of this that I know.

“I’d choose Tourette’s every time”– Luke

You’ll hear about:

00:00 - Embracing Change: The Journey with Tourette's

02:49 - From Job Rejections to Entrepreneurial Success

06:11 - Overcoming Discrimination: The Impact of Tourette's

08:59 - Building a Business: The Birth of Manson Executives

11:50 - The Power of Support: Finding Allies in Adversity

14:55 - Defying Expectations: Proving the Naysayers Wrong

18:01 - Activism and Advocacy: Raising Awareness for Tourette's

20:56 - Parenthood and Perseverance: The Journey to Adoption

23:45 - The Role of Social Media: Sharing the Story

27:01 - Looking Ahead: Future Aspirations and Goals

33:09 - Overcoming Self-Doubt and Embracing Acceptance

37:30 - The Power of Mindset and Resilience

40:33 - Transforming Challenges into Opportunities

46:33 - Promoting Understanding and Kindness in Society

Connect with Luke:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lukemantonme/

Tik Tok - https://www.tiktok.com/@ticcedtok

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/lukemanton92/?hl=en

Manton Executives:

Website - https://www.mantonexecutives.com/

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

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mantonexecutives/?hl=en

Tik Tok - https://www.tiktok.com/@mantonexecutives

Connect with me:

My website - https://leaturner.co.uk/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lea-turner/

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

Find out about The HoLT:

The HoLT - https://www.the-holt.com/

The HoLT on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/theholt

The HoLT on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theholtcommunity/

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

The Vault - https://www.the-holt.com/vault

Join The Holt waiting list - https://www.the-holt.com/waitlist

This podcast is sponsored by QDos. Use the code LEA10 at the checkout to get your discount when signing up - https://my.qdoscontractor.com/code/10255/115219

One of the biggest fears of any business owner is putting yourself out there.

Whether it’s on socials or public speaking you must overcome the fear. Your business needs you to.

That’s exactly what the incredible Dani Wallace, my guest in this episode, supports business owners to do. Embrace your uniqueness, overcome the fear and share your greatness with the world.

Dani believes we all have gifts that we need to share. We are here to serve others and there is nothing wrong with making money doing so.

We delve into the themes of self-sabotage, community building, and the challenges we all face in overcoming self-doubt.

You can do it.

You can embrace who you are and become the beautiful, wonderful business owner you have the potential to be, and share that with the world.

“It’s about creating connection and serving people”– Dani

You’ll hear about:

00:00 - The Importance of Visibility and Connection

03:04 - Building Community and Safe Spaces

05:58 - Overcoming Visibility Challenges

08:57 - The Role of Ego in Business

12:10 - Navigating Public Speaking Fears

18:13 - Creating Safety in Visibility

24:13 - Finding Authenticity in Business

32:28 - Overcoming Self-Sabotage

37:19 - Finding Your Community

41:59 - Embracing Your Weirdness

43:50 - Understanding Introversion and Extroversion

48:53 - Identifying Your Unique Value

56:41 - The Importance of Overcoming Fear

Connect with Dani:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamthequeenbee/

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

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

Iatqb Website - https://www.iatqb.com/

Get tickets to The BIG Festoon - https://linktr.ee/thebigfestoon

Connect with me:

My website - https://leaturner.co.uk/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lea-turner/

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

Find out about The HoLT:

The HoLT - https://www.the-holt.com/

The HoLT on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/theholt

The HoLT on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theholtcommunity/

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

The Vault - https://www.the-holt.com/vault

Join The Holt waiting list - https://www.the-holt.com/waitlist

This podcast is sponsored by QDos. Use the code LEA10 at the checkout to get your discount when signing up - https://my.qdoscontractor.com/code/10255/115219 

Start your own business they say….

Work your own hours, be your own boss, live your best life.

But the reality is not that easy. You have to graft, and you have to graft hard.

Chris James, Founder of Content to Clients is my guest in this episode, and he tells it like it is. You have to work hard, you have to be resilient and sometimes you just have to trust that you can do it.

Chris left his job in a call centre, supported by his loved ones, to build his own business, something he says is central to his success.

Since then, he has helped countless business owners hit big money months, but they all had to put in some serious effort to get there. He shares his journey of business growth over the past three years, and how he has ended up working with an all-female team.

Chris tells it like it is, so get ready to find out what it’s really like to run your own business and get prepared to take some risks.

“This shit isn’t for everyone”– Chris

You’ll hear about:

00:00 – Building a business is not for everyone

01:05 - An introduction to Chris and his work

02:50 - Chris's expectations of working for himself

04:58 - Why Chris outsourced quickly

11:06 - How support at home changed Chris's life

14:53 - How has Content to Clients evolved?

19:21 - Chris on his history with LinkedIn

24:42 - The growth of Chris's business

30:46 - Chris on having an all-female team

37:34 - Chris's advice to his younger self

Connect with Chris:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisjamesonline/

Chris James’ Website - https://www.chris-james.co/

Content to Clients - https://www.chris-james.co/c2clp

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/chrisjamesonline/?hl=en

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@ChrisJamesOnline

Connect with me:

My website - https://leaturner.co.uk/ 

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lea-turner/ 

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

Find out about The HoLT:

The HoLT - https://www.the-holt.com/ 

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/theholt

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

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

This podcast is sponsored by QDos. Use the code LEA10 at the checkout to get your discount when signing up - https://my.qdoscontractor.com/code/10255/115219 

The one thing all business owners fear the most….losing everything.

No clients, no contracts, no income, no money.

This has been the harsh reality for my guest Taq Shah. Going from the most incredible first year of her business in 2021, earning more than she ever thought possible, to friends and family having to help pay her bills in 2024.

Taq shows incredible strength to share what she is going through at this very moment in her business and life. Something all other business owners need to hear to avoid the same mistakes.

And it’s not just the business that suffers. As Taq shares, her attempts to work herself out of her situation also led to burning out at the end of 2024.

Taq is raising awareness for small business owner’s mental health and the impact of work styles on overall well-being.

No matter what happens never doubt your skills, never doubt what you can achieve, always have hope.

“I felt like a failure…but I have hope”– Taq

You’ll hear about:

00:00 – This wasn’t the plan

02:11 - The low down on Taq Shah

04:42 - 2024 the worst year of Taq's business

11:45 - Identifying her weaknesses in marketing

14:35 - Don't blame yourself when things go wrong

18:33 - The choice: cover bills or investing in her business

24:54 - No money & no contracts

28:46 - It all goes wrong: a humbling reality check

37:24 - Taq's plan to turn things around

41:58 - What would Taq say to the 2023 her?

49:15 - The problem is your work style

Connect with Taq:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/taqshah/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/centricconsultancy/?hl=en

Connect with me:

My website - https://leaturner.co.uk/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lea-turner/

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

Find out about The HoLT:

The HoLT - https://www.the-holt.com/

The HoLT on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/theholt

The HoLT on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theholtcommunity/

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

The Vault - https://www.the-holt.com/vault

Join The Holt waiting list - https://www.the-holt.com/waitlist

This podcast is sponsored by QDos. Use the code LEA10 at the checkout to get your discount when signing up - https://my.qdoscontractor.com/code/10255/115219 

Be honest, do you really show up as the real you to work?

Truly, unconditionally you?

If there is even the tiniest niggle of doubt that you are, you need Michelle Hartley in your life.

She took her beige corporate life and binned it, then stepped into the full kaleidoscopic, colourful brilliance of who she really is. In this episode I talk to Michelle about her transformative journey from a conventional corporate HR role to a vibrant, authentic HR coach.

She shares the joy authenticity in business brings and how she overcame imposter syndrome. She also gives incredible tips to anyone using LinkedIn to find their ideal clients and how to create fun, memorable and engaging content.

Michelle is a beacon of rainbow coloured light in a land of business beige, listen to find out how you can work and live as who you truly are.

And love yourself for it!

“Whatever brings me joy is what I do”– Michelle

You’ll hear about:

00:00 – Being yourself is the biggest win

00:48 - An introduction into Michelle

03:33 - How Michelle went from beige to brilliant

05:09 - Quitting corporate into nothing

09:08 - How Michelle got her first clients

11:59 - How to navigate rejection from clients

16:20 - How Michelle passes on confidence to others

21:03 - Choosing business ideas that are right for you

28:53 - Michelle's advice to use LinkedIn better

33:12 - Create content to become a lighthouse

37:03 - How Michelle got brave on video

41:06 – Michelle’s transformative business advice

Connect with Michelle:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellehartleyfinderofawesome/

People Sorted - https://peoplesorted.co.uk/

Connect with me:

The HoLT - https://www.the-holt.com/

My website - https://leaturner.co.uk/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lea-turner/

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

Join The Holt waiting list - https://www.the-holt.com/waitlist

This podcast is sponsored bySafe Space From The Workplace. You can check out their podcast here - https://shorturl.at/IASSn 

Entrepreneurship will be emotional. Fact.

From doubting yourself, getting rejected, to feeling exposed because you’re having to put yourself out there for the sake of your business, you’ll feel it all.

My guest in this episode, Kate Hughes, experienced the lot. Her entrepreneurial journey brought up hard stuff from her childhood, but instead of letting this stop her she did what she advises all business owners to do….

Lean into it and work through it.

Kate is a leadership coach, and founder of Your Step Coach. After the gut punch of being made redundant 3 times, Kate took her career into her own hands. She shares the challenges of transitioning to self-employment, and the importance of therapy and self-coaching to be able to lean into the hard stuff and build confidence.

You need self-compassion as an entrepreneur, Kate’s story shows it it’s not just possible but essential for you to thrive.

“The biggest emotional journey has been battling shit from my childhood”– Kate

You’ll hear about:

00:00 - Confronting Childhood Challenges

01:59 - Kate's life before leaping into self employment

05:25 - The scariness of starting to market yourself

09:00 - Kate's biggest emotional journey in business

12:56 - How has running a business impacted family life?

17:56 - The changes in how Kate runs her business now

23:59 - Where Kate's confidence comes from

27:21 - The positive & negative impacts of people around you

32:59 - The people for the seasons of your life

39:16 - Embracing network rather than competition

40:45 - Kate's advice for new business owners

Connect with Kate:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/katelouisehughes/

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

Your Step Coach - https://www.yourstepcoach.com/work-with-me

Connect with me:

The HoLT - https://www.the-holt.com/

My website - https://leaturner.co.uk/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lea-turner/

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

Join The Holt waiting list - https://www.the-holt.com/waitlist

This podcast is sponsored bySafe Space From The Workplace. You can check out their podcast here - https://shorturl.at/IASSn 

Business is not all about money.

Shock! Horror!!

It can be created for the purpose of serving others, and when it is incredible things happen.

My guest in this episode Luke Beckley not only has an innate drive to serve others through his work, but he also builds businesses whilst working in a full-time career.

Luke is a generous soul who works with me at Hope4, a charity providing emergency aid to desperate families in Moldova. His specialism is data, through which he supports businesses large and small to ensure they have proper data handling practices.

He shares invaluable insights into the common mistakes small businesses make with data, and the serious impacts it can have if handled improperly.

We also re-live our eventful trip to Kilimanjaro that triggered a wave of support across LinkedIn and shows the true spirit of entrepreneurs in times of difficulty.

“The real passion is helping small businesses and charities”– Luke

You’ll hear about:

00:00 - Luke Beckley: data protection superhero                                                        

00:56 - An introduction to Luke Beckley                                                             

03:51 - Why Luke stuck to a side hustle

07:08 - Being comfortable building a business slowly

10:11 - How to balance multiple work projects

12:30 - The Kilimanjaro story

20:07 - Luke and Lea on fundraising for Hope4

23:28 - Luke's purpose in data protection

25:58 - Common small business data mistakes

30:25 - The power of terms and conditions

Connect with Luke:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/luke-beckley/

Correlia - https://www.correla.com/

Hope4 - https://hope4.org/

Uncharted Summits - https://www.unchartedsummits.world/

Connect with me:

The HoLT - https://www.the-holt.com/

My website - https://leaturner.co.uk/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lea-turner/

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

Join The Holt waiting list - https://www.the-holt.com/waitlist

This podcast is sponsored bySafe Space From The Workplace. You can check out their podcast here - https://shorturl.at/IASSn 

You will not know everything when you start your business.

Accounting, marketing, offer structures, pricing…… the list goes on

But that should never stop you.

The belief you have in yourself, your skills, your experience is what you need to get started. That is exactly what my wonderful guest in this episode, Jesminara Rahman, had when she took the leap.

Transitioning from a secure job at HMRC she jumped ship to join the side of small businesses, fighting in their corner in tax disputes with HMRC.

Jesminara shares the essential skills she needed to develop fast at the start of her journey that created business growth. She gives incredible insights into how she built a flexible team empowered by choice, something so many businesses could learn from.

Jesminara is forging the way for balance in business, listen up to find out how you can too.

“I knew because of my expertise that I could do it”– Jesmin

You’ll hear about:

00:00 - Flexible Work Culture and Employee Empowerment

01:12 - Jesmin's Journey to Starting a Small Business

03:11 - Overcoming Fear: The Leap into Entrepreneurship

05:53 - The Emotional Toll of Tax Investigations

10:00 - Balancing Family and Business Responsibilities

12:52 - Building Resilience Through Adversity

15:47 - Essential Skills for Business Growth

20:00 - The Importance of a Good Accountant

24:04 – Jesmin’s advice for Small Business Owners

28:12 - Creating a Supportive Work Environment

31:54 - Navigating the Challenges of Business Ownership

36:05 - The Power of Collaboration Over Competition

Connect with Jesmin:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jesminararahman-taxinvestigationexpert/?originalSubdomain=uk

Connect with me:

The HoLT - https://www.the-holt.com/

My website - https://leaturner.co.uk/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lea-turner/

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

Join The Holt waiting list - https://www.the-holt.com/waitlist

This podcast is sponsored bySafe Space From The Workplace. You can check out their podcast here - https://shorturl.at/IASSn