Episode 59 - Own Your Story

In this episode I’m joined by Nicola Paull, Spiritual Teacher and author of ‘Own Your Story’. Nicola shares some of her truly inspirational story from the darkness of trauma into the light of discovering and developing her spiritual practice. Despite initially feeling cynical about spirituality she talks about the near-death experience that motivated her to open her mind and turn her life around.

We discuss what spirituality means to us as individuals and importantly, how it differs from religion. Nicola also talks about her transformation from someone who never saw themselves as a writer, to publishing her first book, plus some sneaky peaks into her future book plans!

Nicola also cheekily flips the script on Siobhan, posing her an interesting question about her own spiritual journey, plus we cover what might really be driving our choices when it comes to what we watch on TV. (This one will surprise you!).

If you enjoy this episode please do leave the podcast a rating or review, and share this episode with someone you know who might be curious about their own spirituality.

To find out more about Nicola, her work, and her of course her book, visit nicolapaull.com

Episode 58 - Rejection in Business: Friend or Foe?

As a business owner, you face potential rejection from a variety of sources on a daily basis: clients, prospects, friends, banks - rejection could come from anywhere at any time. But what happens when your experience of rejection is particularly intense and hard to recover from? What can you do to overcome it and move forward?

In this episode I discuss some of the different sources of rejection you might experience and delve into Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD) and how that can show up for those of us who are neurodivergent in particular.

Not only do I walk you through some simple steps to get you out of your negative stories when you experience rejection, but in fact offer a completely different perspective on rejection altogether. This might surprise you - but perhaps that intense reaction to rejection could be more of a friend to you than foe. Perhaps, it could be exactly the message you need to ensure you start prioritising yourself.

As always I love to hear your feedback, so please get in touch if this episode resonates with you.

To find out more about my work as an ADHD-friendly marketing strategist, business mentor & coach, visit revealmarketinguk.com or ask Alexa to 'Open Reveal Marketing'

Episode 57 - The 24 Hour Week - Behind The Scenes

Ever wondered if it's really possible to reduce your hours and still pay the bills?! Then this podcast episode is an essential listen!

In this ep I run through your seven secret weapons when it comes to reducing your hours: the three essential mindset and belief pillars you need to successfully run a business based on a 24-hour week, plus the 4 practical steps you can take to start making it happen right now.

As always, I'm here to keep it real. There is no silver bullet, but with the right frame of mind, the right business strategy, and the right supporting systems, it is perfectly achievable to maintain (or increase) your income whilst reducing your hours. Expect plenty of home truths and prompts to help you move past discomfort into action.

If you'd like to know more about how I support my clients to build a business they love around the life they want, please get in touch, and let's talk about my range of ADHD-friendly mentoring and coaching services.

If you'd like to know more about my marketing strategy services, you can drop me an email or ask Alexa to 'Open Reveal Marketing'.

Let's keep doing business, differently!

Episode 56 - Resilience: The Real Secret Sauce

What is the secret sauce of resilience? Toughing it out, getting in touch with your ‘soft skills’ or something else entirely?

In this episode, I’m joined by Sam Griffiths - aka The Founders’ Friend - who helps people develop self-compassionate high performance. We discuss all things resilience - one of the most essential but potentially hard-won skills any business owner needs to develop.

Sam shares a slice of his squiggly career path to where he is today, via some surprising and sometimes particularly challenging job choices! By folding lived experience into his lifelong passion for learning, Sam has developed a different perspective on what resilience really means and how we can develop it. We also discuss why Sam hates the term ‘soft skills’, what he really learned from being a club doorman, and why crying is just so damn good for you!

This episode is a must for anyone being told to ‘tough out’ the world of business and looking for a more compassionate and ultimately more enjoyable alternative.

If you’ve enjoyed this episode please help us spread the word and share it with someone you know who needs to hear it.

Connect with Sam or find out more about his work on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sampgriffiths/

Episode 55: ADHD: Gifted or Afflicted?

You might have heard the phrase “ADHD is my superpower” out of the mouth of someone recently diagnosed with the condition, then two seconds later you read a stat about how ADHDers are more likely to take their own life. With the recent explosion in diagnoses and relatable content sharing the reality of living with ADHD, it can get pretty noisy out there. So which is it - a life-hindering disability or the secret sauce of all the world’s greatest minds?

In this episode, I share the story of my journey to discovering I have an ADHD brain, relatively late in life. I also share my take on whether I think it means us ADHDers are gifted, afflicted, or maybe something else entirely (but definitely NOT just jumping on a trend!)

If you, your child or someone you know could have or knows they have an ADHD brain, I also share some guidance and recommendations of resources to help dial up the “gifts” and minimise the “afflictions.”

If this episode has resonated with you then please do get in touch, share it with a friend who needs to hear it, and leave a rating or review. Please help us spread the word that we can do business (and life!) differently.

Episode 54: Serving from the overflow

What happens when you serve from an overflowing cup rather than just a full one!?

Actual magic, that's what! In this episode, I'm joined by Jo Jerodene - the wealthy woman's self-worth, soul-guide & spiritual teacher.

Forget 'a bit woo', we're going ALL IN! We talk about what happens when you truly learn to put yourself at the centre of your life and why bubble baths don't really cut it when it comes to self-care. We meander through some of the foundations needed to truly live the life you were meant to live and what it actually means to ‘serve’ others.

Jo shares a bit about the incredible story that led her to embrace her own spirituality, via a burnout so bad she ended up in a hospital for tropical diseases! She provides a unique perspective on what causes burnout and what happens at a spiritual level when we experience it.

We discuss whether society understands ’free will’ and how our purpose as humans is so much more than living a conventional pre-ordained life inside the matrix.

This is not a discussion for the faint-hearted or the narrow-minded. Ultimately this conversation is an uplifting, fascinating opportunity to crack open your brain and see the world around you with a different pair of lenses.

Find out more about Jo and her work at:

⁠https://jojerodene.com⁠

Or hang out with her on LinkedIn and treat yourself to some of her uniquely uplifting ‘messages from a Grail Priestess':

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jo-jerodene

Tell us what you think! Please leave us a rating or review if you enjoyed this episode - or share it with someone you know would love it.

Episode 53: Why you might need to stop marketing and start selling

Do you need to swap marketing for selling?

I’m speaking to a lot of people struggling to attract clients at the moment, so I’m hopping on the mic in this episode to bring it back to basics. First I share my top tips to identify if you have an underlying problem and fix it, so you can ensure you’re selling the right product or service to the right people at the right time.

If you have ticked all of these areas off and you have a proven offer, I share the real reason you are likely to be struggling to make sales. The truth is: posting on social media alone will not make you sales!

This is where you might need to stop marketing your product or service and start actually selling it, so I give you the lowdown on the three essential elements you need to focus on. Spoiler alert: they come down to building and nurturing relationships, without agenda!

Rather than bang on about relationships in a vague way, I share my hot take on what you need to do daily to connect with prospects, listen to them and make sales. I also share my secrets to getting an answer on a proposal, every time! 

If you feel like you’re doing ALL the marketing and you’re just getting crickets in response, this is the episode for you.

Episode 52: Healing with humour

In this episode, Siobhan is joined by Kyrus Keenan Westcott, Social Media Influencer and passionate advocate of the mental health conversation, through his own late diagnosis of severe depression, anxiety and eventually ADHD.

Ky shares his journey into social media, via a brutal injury that kept him stuck at home “before it was cool!’, plus some of his secrets to creating funny, relatable content to further the mental health conversation every single day.

Siobhan and Ky reveal what it really means to be an introvert and why they find socialising exhausting! They also discuss some of the interesting quirks of having an ADHD brain - including their hot take on why so many people are currently being diagnosed, plus why advice like ’just try harder!’ doesn’t work.

They also discuss mental health diagnoses in a wider context, why these are often perceived as labels or excuses and how we can do better collectively to talk about mental health and better support each other.

And finally, they round the ep off with some top tips for anyone asking questions around their own mental health or potential neurodivergence. 

To find out more about Ky and his work, visit thevibewithky.com 

And yes, Ky has cats. Bonus points if you hear them in the background!

Episode 51: What you REALLY need to know about marketing

WE ARE BACK!

The unconventional business podcast is back, after a (much longer than planned!) break and we are raring to go.

In this episode our host - Siobhan Fox - shares with you what you really need to know about marketing, with some top tips and universal truths about how to successfully market your business. She walks you through some super-simple steps to ensure your marketing and message is on point, to help you win more of your favourite clients.

She also drops a sneak peak of what this new season of the podcast is all about and what you can expect to hear about in upcoming episodes.

As always, please drop Siobhan an email if any of this resonates with you and please help us spread the word by sharing your favourite episodes with a friend, or dropping us a rating or review.

Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss an episode!

Episode 50: Surrender To The Adventure

What happens when your microphone fails and the episode you thought you recorded doesn’t exist? Well, you ambush a beloved business buddy with an invitation to record an episode together and hope she says yes!

Happy Winter Solstice wonderful unconventional listeners! In this episode I’m joined by the thoroughly effervescent fellow creative, ADHDer and ginger, Jude Schweppe. We take a beat to reflect on 2022 and all its messy, mucky, crazy wonderful glory. We discuss what we’ve learned from the highs, the lows, and everything else in between. Be warned: there are many, MANY, swears. Blame the Irish in us!!

We talk about our expectations coming into 2022, how things have panned out quite differently (!) and what we learned in the process (often the hard way!). As Jude quite rightly says, "if you want to make God laugh, tell her your plans!!” We reflect on our parallel journeys this year - discovering we have ADHD brains - and how that manifests for us in terms of opportunities and challenges. We also discuss the curse and blessing of being a ‘many-thinged’ person, and how embracing this about ourselves has been a liberating experience of self-acceptance.

We speak about the importance of people and community for perspective, connection and creativity, and as a regular grounding force. Because when those ideas come, they are a visceral experience and it’s easy for us to get lost inside the big picture and lose focus on what is needed in the moment - like heating the beans and putting them on the toast for your kids! We also talk about taking alternative approaches to networking and discovering the joys of LinkedIn, which is where we happened to meet! We finish up setting out our intentions for 2022 and share some insightful nuggets for you to ponder on as you set yours.

Connect with Jude on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jude-schweppe-775a9811/

The Unconventional Business Podcast will be taking a break now until late January 2023. Thank you so much for listening this year and for all your reviews and feedback - you make this podcast what it is, so don’t go changing. See you on the other side and enjoy your festive break!!

Episode 49: How to detach from the outcome and ditch the SHOULDs

Today I’m joined by Naomi and Martin, Relationship Coaches who teach people how to “relationship”! They introduce us to the most important thing about relationships that no one ever teaches us: how figuring out your relationship with yourself will make a much bigger difference than we think. We explore how it can have a ripple effect throughout the rest of your life, not just in your relationships, allowing us to detach from the outcome in terms of how others view us. We discuss the ways in which us humans get stuck in patterns and seek them out (even if they are unhealthy) and how we can take a different approach.

We also look at the importance of asking yourself the right questions, and why questions are so powerful. Naomi shares her personal journey to overcome her fear of public speaking, by releasing her fear of what people think of her, along with her number one trick to becoming more visible online. We discuss some of the ’shoulds’ we can pick up in our personal and business journeys, and how freeing it can be to understand how to let go of them in order to live in harmony in all our relationships. We also get a sneak peek into Naomi and Martin’s big plans for next year - you won’t want to miss them!

To find out more about Naomi and Martin, check them out here:

Insta: https://www.instagram.com/naomi_just1to11it/

Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2710327579285634/?ref=share_group_link

Website: https://www.just1to11it.co.uk/

Episode 48 - Thinking Past The Now

In this episode, I’m joined by Chris Griffiths - Director of Voicon - who helps SMEs and Charities to use Alexa for their businesses, to reach new markets, gain new customers and provide better service to existing customers.

Chris describes the ‘liberating’ experience of embracing the unconventional way, not just in the nature of what his business offers - using existing technology in a new way, to help different people - but having the freedom to build his business his way. Chris talks about how he has been able to think past the now in how he has built his team, stemming from an unpleasant conversation many moons ago that gave him instant clarity on his own values.

We also discuss how voice technology is changing how consumers behave and how Alexa is ideally placed to help businesses increase their visibility and attract new customers.

Ask your Alexa device to ‘Open Voice Consult’ to find out more about Chris and his work, or connect with him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-griffiths-29322b23/

Episode 47: 2022 & 2023 Trends

This is not an episode to be missed if you're planning your next 12 months in business! Welcome to a smorgasbord of tasty trends from 2022 that I believe will have a big impact on the small business marketing world in 2023.

We go on a wild ride, from making yourself sticky to survive economic uncertainty, to taking action to be more inclusive, and winding up with some staggering stats on short-form video and podcast growth.

Spoiler alert: if 2022 is anything to go by, 2023 is going to be wild. So let’s get in the zone and get ready for it!

What ONE action are you committing to take from this episode? Drop me an email and let me know! siobhan@revealmarketinguk.com

Episode 46: Let It Go To Let It Flow

How do you access a state of flow? Is there something special you ‘do’? In this episode I’m joined by Kate Adey, Leadership and Parent Coach, who gives her clients a different lens on leadership and life, for them to discover effortless action, unlimited resourcefulness, and productivity. Kate shares some incredible insight on how accessing flow in our lives doesn’t require us to ‘do’ anything other than just allow the present to unfold.

Kate shares some of her business story, including moving from her role as a management consultant into coaching, bringing her refreshing approach and unique style into play. We discuss the value of staying curious, and just how easy it can be to get caught up in the content of our own experience. Kate encourages us to let go and take a step back, to allow us to see what is always there. Once we can see what is always available to us, flow just 'is', without us needing to 'do' anything at all.

To connect with Kate or find out about her work, head to:

https://www.kateadey.co.uk/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kateadey/

Episode 45: Rest IS the work

Did you know there are seven different types of rest. Seven! When you hear the word 'rest', what comes up for you?

In this episode, I am sharing some of the juiciest things I have learned about rest and why sometimes rest IS the work we need to be doing above all else. I discuss what it is (and isn't!), what it can look like, how to access it and why it's so important for us to make time for - in particular for us business owners!

I share some helpful prompts for you to reflect on how you feel about and currently access rest. I also talk through the seven different types of rest and share some of the ways I access them in my own life, to inspire you to consider what that looks like for you.

As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts on this topic, especially as it's particularly close to my heart. What does rest mean for you? How has this ep helped you think about rest? Hit me up with your thoughts and opinions - I'm here for it: siobhan@revealmarketinguk.com

Episode 44 - The Power Of Perspective

How do you know if you’re going in the right direction with your business? Enter: the power of perspective!

In this episode I’m joined by Anne Thomas, a Brand photographer with a storytelling approach. No more hard sell, just photography that allows her clients to connect with their audience!

We hear about Anne’s unconventional life experience living in Kuwait, and how that gives her a unique perspective and ability to solve problems. We also talk about the perspective that has helped her most with her photography business - and no, it wasn’t about taking better photos! In fact, as Anne shares with us, the truth is that the average person in the street can’t tell the difference between a good photo and a really good photo. Learning this allowed Anne to create a website that tells her story and sells emotionally, rather than just being an art gallery.

Anne also talks about some of the most damaging advice she has had along the way and how that has helped her learn which types of people she likes to work with - and which she doesn’t! We discuss how to access the right perspectives to support you in your business, and why they’re so crucial for you to achieve the version of success that’s right for you.

If you’d like to find out more about Anne’s work, connect with her here:

https://www.annethomasphotography.co.uk

https://www.linkedin.com/in/anne-thomas-photography/

Episode 43: Welcome to Automation Station

We all want more hours in the day, right? Running a business, having a life, being a human, needing to eat and sleep and clean the bathroom once in a while… it all adds up! But if your budget won’t stretch to outsourcing any of your tasks, what other options do you have?

Welcome to… Automation Station!

Ok, it’s not the sexiest place there is, but boy is it fun when you realise who much of your life you could get back with a minimal investment of time and money. The ROI is tasty, my friend! So let’s get into it…

In this episode I’m going to share the three areas I’ve automated that have made the biggest meaningful difference to my working day, not just saving me time, but energy and money too! We’ll talk about:

-Lead gen activities

-Marketing

-Client on-boarding

I can’t wait to hear what you automate as a result of this episode, and how much time you save yourself! Drop me a message and let me know - I’m here for it.

Episode 42: Where You Work Is How You Work

Where do you work? And how does that affect how you work? In this episode I’m joined by Jim Culverwell, Independent Commercial Property Adviser and Mentor to business owners who want to lease the right commercial property on the right terms. Jim shares some fantastic insight into his unconventional role working for and on behalf of ‘the underdog’ in the world of commercial property: i.e. small-medium sized businesses otherwise unrepresented in lease negotiations. We talk about how he has come to ‘disrupt’ his industry and how the world has changed throughout Jim’s 35+ years in business, including surviving no fewer than 2 recessions and many global crises! Jim gives us a well-needed dose of perspective and some interesting insight into how much has changed vs how much hasn't

We talk about some of the unconventional routes business owners now have to access premises to operate from, and how attitudes to working remotely have shifted significantly in recent years. Jim shares lots of his wisdom, to help us avoid some of the potential pitfalls of taking on business premises, along with some tried and tested business advice covering a wide range of topics, from how you invest your cash, to how you approach your networking activities.

Find out more about Jim and his work here:

https://www.culverwellconsulting.co.uk/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/culverwellconsult/

Read his Hunter & Farmer blog here:

https://www.culverwellconsulting.co.uk/ornetworking-hunters-and-farmer/

Episode 41: Organise Yourself Unconventionally

When I started my business, one of the biggest shocks was realising I wasn’t chained to my desk from 9 - 5 any more. Although I started my business to work 24 hours a week (giving me the flexibility to spend more time with my son, it took me a beat to realise I was now in charge of how my week looked! Having spent the time unlearning a lot of the conventional ways of organising myself, in this episode I wanted to invite you to consider how you can embrace more of your unconventional approach and bring more of it through into how you run your business.

We take a look at three key areas: how you organise your time, how you organise your business systems and how you organise your marketing content creation. I share some of the secrets to my 24 hour work week, along with some top tips for organising yourself differently in each of these areas. I give you some questions to consider in order to understand how play to your strengths and better align with your values as a person and a business. I also walk you through my simple 3-step approach to content creation - an unconventional approach that might just change the game for you if this is an area you find challenging!

Enjoyed this episode? Tell me what piece of insight you’re taking away to take action on - I’m here for it!

Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/siobhanrfox/

Drop me an email: siobhan@revealmarketinguk.com

Episode 40: Embracing Collaboration Over Competition

How do you view your competitors: friend or foe? In this episode I’m joined by Charelle Griffith, Marketing Strategist and Business Mentor for Online Solopreneurs. And yes, you’re right, she’s a FELLOW marketer, just like me.

Charelle shares her very unconventional route into her marketing career and we learn the secret of her ability to bring so much charisma and energy to her online content. We discuss how we do similar things for people in very different ways, but how we view our connection as collaboration, rather competition. We also talk about how this can actually give you a valuable edge in your industry (along with a host of other surprise benefits!)

We discuss why marketing is, and isn’t, like dating and Charelle’s incredible dream of running her business from elsewhere, in order to escape the British winter.

To connect with Charelle and find out more about her work, head to:

https://www.charellegriffith.com/

https://www.instagram.com/charellegriffith/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/charellegriffith/