Real Women Tracy Cartland-Ward & Dawn Willock

This week the ladies are here for a quick one. In a clip taken from episode 121, Dawn and Tracy are talking to property investor Micheal Wildig. When Micheal was caught up in a property scam that cost him over £150,000 he fell into a deep depression and contemplated suicide. In this short episode, Michael, Dawn and Tracy discuss the importance of speaking openly about mental health struggles, the stigma around men's mental health and how it’s possible, with love and support, to climb out of the deepest holes. 

KEY TAKEAWAYS


Through her martial arts classes, Dawn works with a lot of men that she can see are facing mental health issues. She discusses the need for men to speak out so that other men can see them as a role model and realise that it’s ok to not be ok. 
When he decided to start his own business, Micheal faced opposition from his friends and family. And when things turned sour, he found it incredibly difficult to admit failure to them. He discusses how he kept these feelings inside. 
Tracy and Micheal discuss the changing views in mental health over the last few years, why they think this has happened and the positives that have come from it. 
Michael, whose partner was pregnant during his troubles, talks about his realisation that he had more to fight for than just himself, and how this gave him the strength to get through his drastic situation. 

BEST MOMENTS

“I took the whole thing on the chest, but I wish that I had spoken to more people. Don’t make that mistake, talk to people.”

“Sometimes it just takes one small thing to take somebody from being ok to being depressed.”

“Men have more trouble talking about their emotions because they are used to being the provider and the protector.”

 

EPISODE RESOURCES

Michael’s Instagram

Real Women on Instagram

Real Women Website

ABOUT THE HOSTS

Dawn and Tracy are real women who are fed up of all the “noise” out there in the real world. Life isn’t simply rainbows and unicorns, it's broken relationships, hard work, hot sweats and never ending laundry baskets.  But life as a real woman is also about being honest, having good gossip and speaking our truths. Whether it’s peeling yourself into your spandex for a night out, or running a business meeting barefoot because the heel has fallen off your stilettos, there is always something to laugh about in life. 

Dawn is mid 50’s mid menopause straight talking business maverick.  Four kids, three grandchildren, two businesses, one husband and a self proclaimed “hottie”.

Tracy is a mid 50’s awesome mum, business and property mentor. Proud of her raw, honest nature, “bonkers” sense of humour and good old-fashioned northern humility.

PODCAST DESCRIPTION

The business of being a real woman juggling life, love and work for many of us is pure sweat, grit & hustle. This podcast is for those of you who are tired of the “noise” and just want real down-to-earth gossip with no filters or fluff.  Dawn and Tracy bring heartfelt humour, raw honesty, spandex, stilettos, and intelligent conversion on being a real woman in today's world.

Dawn has recently been on a business retreat and she participated in a workshop all about identity, which has got her thinking about some big questions, such as “Do we choose our identity or is it a product of our nurture?” and “Is our identity who we are or what we do?”. As always, the ladies leave no stone unturned in their quest to get to the bottom of this subject. From the factors that make up our identity to our perception of it over time, the ladies go full Descartes, I think therefore I am, in order to solve this mystery. 

KEY TAKEAWAYS


Dawn and Tracy muse on the idea that people define their identities by what they do, a property investor, a mother, and not who they are as people. And the problems that arise when they no longer do the thing they've hung their identity on.
The ladies, reluctantly, agree that they are getting older and whilst their bodies are ageing, their minds are as young as ever. But, how has their perception of their identity changed over this time?
Do we make a mistake when meeting people for the first time and introducing ourselves by our job titles? The ladies speculate what it would be like to introduce yourself based on your true identity. 
Tracy argues that our identity is made up of three factors. Who we are in private, who we believe people see us as and how we behave based on who people see us as. But, does that cost us our authenticity?

BEST MOMENTS

“How different would your life be if you introduced yourself as who you are and not what you do?”

“Who are we, at our core, when nobody else is looking?”

“Is authenticity who you are at your core or is it who you are as a result of what you believe other people see you as?”

 

EPISODE RESOURCES

Real Women on Instagram

Real Women Website

ABOUT THE HOSTS

Dawn and Tracy are real women who are fed up of all the “noise” out there in the real world. Life isn’t simply rainbows and unicorns, it's broken relationships, hard work, hot sweats and never ending laundry baskets.  But life as a real woman is also about being honest, having good gossip and speaking our truths. Whether it’s peeling yourself into your spandex for a night out, or running a business meeting barefoot because the heel has fallen off your stilettos, there is always something to laugh about in life. 

Dawn is mid 50’s mid menopause straight talking business maverick.  Four kids, three grandchildren, two businesses, one husband and a self proclaimed “hottie”.

Tracy is a mid 50’s awesome mum, business and property mentor. Proud of her raw, honest nature, “bonkers” sense of humour and good old-fashioned northern humility.

PODCAST DESCRIPTION

The business of being a real woman juggling life, love and work for many of us is pure sweat, grit & hustle. This podcast is for those of you who are tired of the “noise” and just want real down-to-earth gossip with no filters or fluff.  Dawn and Tracy bring heartfelt humour, raw honesty, spandex, stilettos, and intelligent conversion on being a real woman in today's world.

Dawn's community of business owners are hitting their 40’s and 50’s. As they are all self employed or business owners, they are starting to worry about life after work, from a financial perspective. A lot of them are considering investing in property, so Dawn has decided to interview an expert in this field…Tracy. In this episode, Tracy breaks down the reality of property investment, the many routes to entry, the multiple ways in which you can make extra income, and, if done right, how it can provide a nest egg for your future.

 

KEY TAKEAWAYS 


Becoming involved in the property business is a great way to make money to secure your future, but it’s not as easy as most make out. Tracy lays out the reality of becoming a property manager.
Buying property and selling it on at a profit is one way to make an income, but the more popular, and economical, approach is ‘buy to let’. Tracy walks you through how this process works and how to get the best out of it.
What if you don’t have the cash in the bank to go out and buy a property? You’re not alone, most people don’t. But, there are many strategies to raise finance, as Tracy explains.
Once the money starts coming in, it’s just as important to manage it as it is to keep making it. Tracy outlines all the best ways to make sure you’re money is safe, to reduce your tax bill and how to keep making it grow.

 

BEST MOMENTS

“Make sure you get professional advice. Do you really want to build your future based on the opinions of the guy down the pub?”

“Before you do anything, ask yourself the most important question “What do I want out of this?””

“Property isn’t 100% passive, and anyone that tells you it is, is lying. Make sure you understand this before you jump in.”

 

EPISODE RESOURCES

Real Women on Instagram

Real Women Website

 

ABOUT THE HOSTS

Dawn and Tracy are real women who are fed up of all the “noise” out there in the real world. Life isn’t simply rainbows and unicorns, it's broken relationships, hard work, hot sweats and never ending laundry baskets.  But life as a real woman is also about being honest, having good gossip and speaking our truths. Whether it’s peeling yourself into your spandex for a night out, or running a business meeting barefoot because the heel has fallen off your stilettos, there is always something to laugh about in life.

Dawn is mid 50’s mid menopause straight talking business maverick.  Four kids, three grandchildren, two businesses, one husband and a self proclaimed “hottie”.

Tracy is a mid 50’s awesome mum, business and property mentor. Proud of her raw, honest nature, “bonkers” sense of humour and good old-fashioned northern humility.

 

PODCAST DESCRIPTION

The business of being a real woman juggling life, love and work for many of us is pure sweat, grit & hustle. This podcast is for those of you who are tired of the “noise” and just want real down-to-earth gossip with no filters or fluff.  Dawn and Tracy bring heartfelt humour, raw honesty, spandex, stilettos, and intelligent conversion on being a real woman in today's world.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dawn and Tracy, who both run successful businesses, are getting overwhelmed with the number of options available to them when it comes to marketing. This past year, Dawn has decided to “chuck the book” at a number of marketing options in an attempt to find the one that works best for her. But, what she’s discovered is that it’s not as simple as just commissioning a marketing agency. From branding, to messaging, to understating your business and yourself, the ladies are here to walk you through the fundamental aspects you have to get right first before any adventures in marketing can begin and the dangers you’ll face if you don’t do the hard work first. 

KEY TAKEAWAYS


Marketing is more than Facebook and Google ads, but a lot of new businesses don’t understand this. Dawn explains how marketing hasn’t really changed since the 50’s and recaps some of the lessons you can learn from the ‘old boys.’ 
The foundations are key to any form of marketing, such as a logo, slogan and strong branding. Dawn and Tracy share their tips on getting these foundations right so that the marketing you do, does not fail.
Even the best marketing idea in the world will fail if it doesn’t reach the right people. Tracy talks about the importance of understanding your perfect customers to make sure you get your message in front of the people that matter most. 
There are thousands of marketing companies out there, but how do you know which one is right for you? Dawn and Tracy share their ‘red flags’ to look for when commissioning a marketing company. 

BEST MOMENTS

“In order to win certain deals, it’s not just about marketing your company, but marketing who you are.”

“If you don’t understand who your perfect client is, you’re doomed before you start.”

“What do you do, what problems can you solve, what is special about what you do, who are your clients? - if you can nail those four things, you’ll have strong, focused marketing.”

 

EPISODE RESOURCES

Real Women on Instagram

Real Women Website

ABOUT THE HOSTS

Dawn and Tracy are real women who are fed up of all the “noise” out there in the real world. Life isn’t simply rainbows and unicorns, it's broken relationships, hard work, hot sweats and never ending laundry baskets.  But life as a real woman is also about being honest, having good gossip and speaking our truths. Whether it’s peeling yourself into your spandex for a night out, or running a business meeting barefoot because the heel has fallen off your stilettos, there is always something to laugh about in life. 

Dawn is mid 50’s mid menopause straight talking business maverick.  Four kids, three grandchildren, two businesses, one husband and a self proclaimed “hottie”.

Tracy is a mid 50’s awesome mum, business and property mentor. Proud of her raw, honest nature, “bonkers” sense of humour and good old-fashioned northern humility.

PODCAST DESCRIPTION

The business of being a real woman juggling life, love and work for many of us is pure sweat, grit & hustle. This podcast is for those of you who are tired of the “noise” and just want real down-to-earth gossip with no filters or fluff.  Dawn and Tracy bring heartfelt humour, raw honesty, spandex, stilettos, and intelligent conversion on being a real woman in today's world.

It’s the anniversary of Tracy’s fathers death and that has got her thinking about grief, how we cope with it and the impact it has on our lives, both personally and professionally. But, is grief always a bad thing, is there any comfort to be found in suffering? Both Dawn and Tracy have been through periods of prolonged grief, in this episode, they look back on them, the strategies they used to overcome the grief, the lessons they have learned and how it shaped them into the woman they are today. And finally, come to a surprising conclusion about the inevitability of death.

KEY TAKEAWAYS


Tracy talks about how grief affects her both emotionally and in other aspects of her life, such as her business, and shares the strategies she has developed to cope when it comes along. 
Dawn recounts the story of losing her sister in law at a relatively young age, and how this led her and her husband to take stock of their life and rethink their relationship with death.
The ladies both discuss the deaths of their grandparents and how, even many years later, it still affects them, but also, how they both eventually came to peace with the loss. 
While it’s important to grief, it’s also important to move past it. The ladies discuss how ‘picking yourself up’ after a period of grief can only make you stronger. 

BEST MOMENTS

“Grief is like a tennis ball in a shoebox. Everytime the ball bounces against the edge, you get a wave of grief, but, after time, you learn to put it in a bigger box.”

“Nobody dies as long as somebody remembers them.”

“The creed of the warrior is 7 times down, 8 times up.”

 

EPISODE RESOURCES

Real Women on Instagram

Real Women Website

ABOUT THE HOSTS

Dawn and Tracy are real women who are fed up of all the “noise” out there in the real world. Life isn’t simply rainbows and unicorns, it's broken relationships, hard work, hot sweats and never ending laundry baskets.  But life as a real woman is also about being honest, having good gossip and speaking our truths. Whether it’s peeling yourself into your spandex for a night out, or running a business meeting barefoot because the heel has fallen off your stilettos, there is always something to laugh about in life. 

Dawn is mid 50’s mid menopause straight talking business maverick.  Four kids, three grandchildren, two businesses, one husband and a self proclaimed “hottie”.

Tracy is a mid 50’s awesome mum, business and property mentor. Proud of her raw, honest nature, “bonkers” sense of humour and good old-fashioned northern humility.

PODCAST DESCRIPTION

The business of being a real woman juggling life, love and work for many of us is pure sweat, grit & hustle. This podcast is for those of you who are tired of the “noise” and just want real down-to-earth gossip with no filters or fluff.  Dawn and Tracy bring heartfelt humour, raw honesty, spandex, stilettos, and intelligent conversion on being a real woman in today's world.

The ladies are back this week for another ‘Quick One’, in a clip taken from episode 94, which featured Jeremey Bailey, Dawn’s ‘Freedom Friend’, owner of multiple businesses and eligible bachelor. Talking about online dating, the trio discuss what they think is good and bad about it, why it might be more tailored to men and not women and why it will never compete with a good, old fashioned, romantic encounter. 

KEY TAKEAWAYS


Jeremy sparks the conversation by giving his thoughts on online dating, how he thinks the science behind it is sound, but why he prefers to talk to someone instead of just ‘swiping right’.
Tracy bemoans the fact that online dating has reduced initial romantic interactions to looking at photos and a list of likes and how this will never allow you to judge someone's personality. 
Jeremy explains his theory that men are competing with all other men for a woman's attention, but women are not competing with other women, then uses Tracy’s experiences to prove his point. 
Dawn shares her thoughts on what men are attracted to in women and what women are attracted to in men and why this makes online dating a platform that men prefer. 

BEST MOMENTS

“From my experience, most ladies have made up their mind in minutes  whether they are interested or not.”

“Men require physical attraction, women require an emotional connection to be attracted .”

“I went on a date with a man and he turned out to be shorter than me, so that was no straight away.”

 

EPISODE RESOURCES

Original Episode

Jeremy’s Instagram

Real Women on Instagram

Real Women Website

ABOUT THE HOSTS

Dawn and Tracy are real women who are fed up of all the “noise” out there in the real world. Life isn’t simply rainbows and unicorns, it's broken relationships, hard work, hot sweats and never ending laundry baskets.  But life as a real woman is also about being honest, having good gossip and speaking our truths. Whether it’s peeling yourself into your spandex for a night out, or running a business meeting barefoot because the heel has fallen off your stilettos, there is always something to laugh about in life. 

Dawn is mid 50’s mid menopause straight talking business maverick.  Four kids, three grandchildren, two businesses, one husband and a self proclaimed “hottie”.

Tracy is a mid 50’s awesome mum, business and property mentor. Proud of her raw, honest nature, “bonkers” sense of humour and good old-fashioned northern humility.

PODCAST DESCRIPTION

The business of being a real woman juggling life, love and work for many of us is pure sweat, grit & hustle. This podcast is for those of you who are tired of the “noise” and just want real down-to-earth gossip with no filters or fluff.  Dawn and Tracy bring heartfelt humour, raw honesty, spandex, stilettos, and intelligent conversion on being a real woman in today's world.