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 

Are you a risk taker?

There is no greater risk than to go out on your own to start a business, but the rewards are huge. And when you find that passion nothing will stop you.

For my guest in this episode, Steve Ware, risk taking was never easy. Coming from a risk averse family his mindset was one of corporate safety. Then a long career at IBM was ended by burnout and the Covid pandemic.

Discovering the power of mindfulness ignited something in Steve. He transformed himself by regaining control over his mental health, which led to training others in the practice with rave reviews.

It wasn’t until he risked everything by investing all his earnings back into his business that things really took off.

Get ready to find out the impact mindfulness can have on your life, and the challenges and rewards of transitioning into entrepreneurship.

“It feels like I'm swimming with the tide now”– Steve

You’ll hear about:

00:00 – Steve on finding his passion

00:35 - An introduction to Steve Ware

03:29 - Steve's experience with burnout

07:09 - Going from burnout to mindfulness

11:26 - The benefits of a quiet mind

13:06 - Steve's path to training mindfulness

18:08 - Is Steve more of a risk taker now?

23:54 - The turning point in Steve's business

28:04 - How Steve's life has changed working for himself

32:02 - Keeping the passion and business growing

37:43 - The importance of word-of-mouth referrals

Connect with Steve:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-ware-mindfulness/

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

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 

20% of businesses fail in their first year!

How do you avoid being one of them?

On this episode I am joined by the most zen business owner I know, Mia Denos.

With 20 years’ experience running her own businesses there is no-one better to advise small business owners on what it takes to succeed. Put simply having a pipeline of work will save a business.

You need to know where the money is coming from months in advance to avoid disappointment.

Mia also emphasises the importance of having a financial reserve and understanding the difference between working in a business and running a business.

Your skills alone are not enough to make a business thrive.

Get ready to get business zen with Mia!

“If you’re not worried about how to pay your rent or feed yourself, you’ll be able to think more rationally”– Mia

You’ll hear about:

00:00 – Always have a pipeline of work

01:01 - An introduction to Mia Denos

03:12 - Things small businesses should be doing

05:31 - The importance of a pipeline of work

07:57 - Mia's advice to ensure a pipeline of customers

13:28 - How many customers should you have?

17:58 - How to nurture client relationships

22:08 - How to get amazing testimonials

27:56 - Why is Mia so Zen with her business?

30:52 - Has not having employees been less stressful?

35:48 - The expectations of success on social media

37:12 - Advice to those about to go all in on their side hustle

Connect with Mia:

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

Lucror Financial Services - https://www.linkedin.com/company/lucror-financial-services/

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 

It’s time for a reality check.

Running a business is not like the social media highlight reels people would have you believe.

Spending your days dipping in your ice bath, a session with your personal trainer and therapist before you sit down to make 10K in 10 minutes. Rubbish.

I am joined by Eddie Whittingham, someone who has done it all. From police officer to starting a business in cyber security, which he sold for multiple-millions, and now running a lifestyle business as a co-working space owner.

Eddie tells it like it is, no holds barred.

He talks about the sacrifices to his mental health he had to make to get to where he is now.  As well as the need for curiosity and continuous learning for anyone to be a successful entrepreneur. He calls out the sham business coaches infesting our social feeds and the fact that luck also plays a role in anyone’s success.

Want to know what building a business is really like? Listen to Eddie.

“Building a business requires sacrifice.”– Eddie

You’ll hear about:

00:00 - Building a business requires sacrifice

00:39 - Eddie's eclectic work background

02:28 - Choosing a modern lifestyle business

04:59 - The loneliness of running a business

06:38 - The truth about growing a startup

11:13 - Would I do things differently?

14:46 - Common mistakes in the first years of business

18:59 - Go for the big goal first

25:34 - The thrill is in the learning

28:27 - Having knowledge before outsourcing

31:43 - Advice on mentors or coaches

35:40 - Being saved by strong contracts

38:05 - Finding the right business coach

39:58 - Eddie's advice to small business owners

Connect with Eddie:

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

GoFounder - https://gofounder.com/

The Ministry of Work - https://ministryofwork.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 

Does your work make you feel alive or are you deep in the doldrums?

Nothing can beat the feeling of doing something that energises you, that you know is exactly what you are meant to be doing.

And you know what?

Your age when you make the change means absolutely nothing.

In this episode I am joined by the fabulous Katie Flamman, who decided to end a successful career in the news to take on her next big challenge in life, becoming a full-time mum. 10 years later she was ready to find out what would be next for her work life.

She found a love and talent for voice acting. Now a multi-award winning, expert in her field she is here to share her story. The challenges she faced balancing motherhood with her career aspirations. As well as the resourcefulness required to start her voiceover business.

There is so much to learn here from Katie about what your business has the potential to become from humble beginnings.

“It was the most alive and energised I think I'd ever felt.”– Katie

You’ll hear about:

00:00 – Going to L.A. for an award vs the PTA bonfire

00:52 - What led Katie to where she is now?

03:30 - How Katie got into voiceover work

05:27 - Choosing motherhood over careers

09:23 - Finding something just for herself

13:40 - Katie's self-doubt in business at 40

17:32 - The more resourceful you are the better

26:02 - How has success impacted Katie's life?

32:11 - The joy of finding the passion in what you do

Connect with Katie:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-flamman/

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

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8AO9P-FVaJcqsNn01xzKdw

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

X - https://twitter.com/KatieFlamman

See Katie’s work on Vimeo - https://vimeo.com/katieflamman

Katie’s website - https://katieflamman.co.uk/

Listen to Katie’s podcast Storytelling for Business - https://katieflamman.co.uk/the-storytelling-for-business-podcast/

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 need more sales”

Do you always hear that ringing in your head as a business owner?

My guest in this episode, the brilliant Alex Thompson, went through exactly the same thing building his email marketing business.

Alex found that making 2 massive shifts helped him to scale like never before. Outsourcing and saying no to work that didn’t fit with what he wanted. He shares what finally made him shift from doing it all himself. That meant no more work at 4am on the weekend or missing picking his kids up from school.

He also delves into the challenges he has had in finding the right people for his team. Which now includes six writers, and he has doubled his client base by focusing on his strengths.

So, listen up because this is advice that works!

“Saying no has improved my sales goals.” – Alex

You’ll hear about:

00:00 - The Journey to Outsourcing and Saying No

00:44 - An introduction to Alex

02:37 - Why Alex didn't see a future in teaching

06:06 - Alex on selling himself as a copywriter

09:27 - Alex's business crisis

13:17 - Learning how to scale quicker

15:21 - The struggle to let go of your business baby

17:59 - Getting to the point of being able to say no to work

24:31 - Freeing yourself up to strategise with clients

30:46 - Carve out time to work on the business

34:26 - Alex's advice for hiring freelancers

40:58 - Alex's advice to himself when he first started in business

Connect with Alex:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-thompson-copywriter/

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

ACT Email Marketing - https://www.actcopywriting.co.uk/

Listen to Alex’s podcast Copy Craic - https://shorturl.at/eoW8m

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 

Changing your life is never easy.

To be able to take control of your future and make a success of it by starting your own business is not something everyone succeeds at.

That’s why I wanted to talk to the amazing Danielle Carrigan, who left teaching to start working as a VA. Within the first year she has built a team of 11 associates and is now starting a second business as well.

But it wasn’t easy in any way. Danielle struggled with her mental health as a teacher, which inspired the drive to want to change her life. She talks openly about her experiences from the balancing act of side hustling to the setbacks she has overcome to get to this point.

Resilience and finding the right support have been crucial for her along the way, whether in person or through communities like The HoLT.

No matter if you are in the thick of your side hustle or an established business owner there’s a lot to learn from the incredible Danielle.

“I woke up in the middle of the night and I thought I was having a heart attack.” – Danielle

You’ll hear about:

00:00 – Danielle hits rock bottom

00:32 - An introduction to Danielle and Bronson

01:52 - Danielle's life as a teacher

05:39 - Juggling the side hustle and teaching

08:04 - What told Danielle it was time to leave teaching?                 

11:07 - The reaction of those around her

16:16 - Danielle's red flags on sales calls

20:03 - How have Danielle's boundaries with clients improved?

25:16 - Why Danielle has associates rather than employees

30:08 - How has life changed for Danielle?                 

33:57 - Learning from the crap experiences

39:44 - The most valuable lessons from business owners

47:21 - Does Danielle still feel imposter syndrome?

54:23 - Focusing on what's important

56:01 - Danielle's advice to side hustlers

Connect with Danielle:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielle-carrigan/

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

The Duke Academy - https://shorturl.at/IgPgS

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 by Safe Space From The Workplace. You can check out their podcast here - https://shorturl.at/IASSn

Does running your business fill you with self-doubt or make you feel lonely?

If so, you’re not alone.

That’s exactly where I was when I started my first 2 small businesses that grew to 6-figures in their first year. My friends were all employed, and they didn't understand what I was experiencing. I didn't want to admit to my peers that I was struggling.

But I am a small business survivor!

And that's why I started my membership community, The Holt, to bring small business owners together. To learn, to feel included, to not be lonely, and to grow their businesses with people that understood by their side.

In this podcast I'm going to be talking to real life small business owners to find out the mental, physical and emotional tolls that running a business has really had on their life. We'll be finding out about their highs and lows, as well as the steps they took to achieve what they have.

If you're a small business owner that's sick of being on your own, that doesn't have anybody to relate to, and wants to learn from other people's mistakes, then this podcast is for you.

Subscribe now to join us when we launch in October!

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

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