The HoLT’s Survival Guide For Small Businesses
Not everyone starts a business to become the next Steven Bartlett or Gary Vee. Millions of us start our businesses to escape the 9-5 ties to the office, toxic bosses, threat of redundancy, and chasing pay rises. We want freedom, control of our own time, and to be able to choose who we work with, where we work from, and how much we work. But what’s it really like to start and run a small business? Lea Turner, Founder of The HoLT business community, digs deep with real small business owners from a variety of sectors, into why they chose to start their business, the surprises, challenges, and tough lessons they’ve learned along the way, without the glossy social media filter, to give real insight into the journeys they’ve been on to create a business and a life on their terms.
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Episodes
4 days ago
4 days ago
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
Tuesday Mar 18, 2025
Tuesday Mar 18, 2025
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
Tuesday Mar 11, 2025
Tuesday Mar 11, 2025
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
Tuesday Mar 04, 2025
Tuesday Mar 04, 2025
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
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
Tuesday Feb 25, 2025
Tuesday Feb 25, 2025
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
Tuesday Dec 03, 2024
Tuesday Dec 03, 2024
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
Tuesday Nov 26, 2024
Tuesday Nov 26, 2024
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
Tuesday Nov 19, 2024
Tuesday Nov 19, 2024
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
Tuesday Nov 12, 2024
Tuesday Nov 12, 2024
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
Tuesday Nov 05, 2024
Tuesday Nov 05, 2024
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
