The HoLT’s Survival Guide For Small Businesses

Losing it All: Every Business Owner’s Worst Fear with Taq Shah

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 

Take Your Business from Beige to Brilliant with Michelle Hartley

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 

The Emotional Journey of Entrepreneurship with Kate Hughes

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 

Creating Businesses that Serve Others with Luke Beckley

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 

Self-Belief is Your Business Superpower with Jesminara Rahman

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 
 

Risking it all: Burnout to Mindfulness with Steve Ware

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 

Your Business Will Fail Without a Pipeline with Mia Denos

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 

Business Life the Brutal Truth with Eddie Whittingham

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 

Do Work That Makes You Feel Alive with Katie Flamman

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 

Say No and Outsource to Get More Sales with Alex Thompson

“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