The Future-Proof Your Business Podcast

Lucy Rennie

Hello and welcome to the Future-Proof Your Business podcast with me Lucy Rennie.I’m a massive champion for small business and I’m on a mission to help you love what you do and build and grow your business in a way that works for you and feels good. I’m convinced that the best way to create a successful and sustainable business is to do it from the inside out, which means that it has to start with you, the business owner. In fact, I believe that business really is all about people, and if you want to future-proof your business and make an impact then you need to get really clear on why you do what you do, create the best experience and then build relationships and trust.In this podcast, I want to share with you as much of my knowledge, expertise and experience with you, as I can, as well as some behind the scenes stories and strategies from my business, and I’ll be having conversations with and learning from some amazing business owners and experts so I can give you everything you need to stay focused, on track and feel more in control on this rollercoaster ride that is building a sustainable business.

  1. 05/06/2024

    060 Embracing a Sustainable Approach with Claire McEvoy

    In this episode, I’m thrilled to welcome my guest, a good friend and LR Comms client to the show, and that is the gorgeous Claire McEvoy.  Claire is the founder and owner of Alta Hair Studio and Light Lounge, an eco hair and beauty salon nestled in the picturesque Chapel en Ie Frith, in the Peak District. Claire shares insights into her journey as a business owner, her commitment to embracing a sustainable ECO approach and sharing her skills and love for what she does with her growing team.  Claire's passion for sustainability extends beyond her salon walls, reflecting her personal values and love for nature. She highlights the importance of community engagement and shares anecdotes of how she was able to think outside of the box to make sure she could continue to connect with and nurture her clients during the COVID lockdown. Through her dedication to eco-conscious practices, Claire has not only been able to attract more of the right clients for her salon, she is also inspiring positive change within the hairdressing industry. Her story serves as a brilliant example for other business owners looking to embrace their values and passion, and still be able to grow a successful and profitable business. Claire McEvoy Resource Links:  Website: https://altahair.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/altahairstudio/https://www.greensaloncollective.com/https://www.hurhair.co.uk Resources Future-Proof your Business Webinar 18th April - sign up for my free interactive workshop https://www.iamlucyrennie.com - free downloadable resources, other episodes and more information about how to work with Lucy. Buy my book here Join me in my membership The Future-Proof Club here - The Future-Proof Club Episode 26- Are you really listening? https://www.iamlucyrennie.com/podcast/are-you-really-listening Episode 43 - Joining the Dots https://www.iamlucyrennie.com/insights/joining-the-dots-the-programme Come and join me and lots of other small business owners like you in my FREE Facebook group:CWP (Communicate with Purpose) Group | Facebook

    51 min
  2. 04/22/2024

    059 What's the point of marketing my business?

    In today's episode, I'm discussing the changing landscape of marketing and challenging some of the traditional approaches.  Sharing insights from my conversations with various business leaders and highlighting some common misconceptions about marketing.  Whether it's the MD of a successful engineering firm questioning the value of marketing or a frustrated business owner trying to manage multiple platforms, we’ll explore a fresh perspective, emphasising the importance of building and strengthening your brand to attract the right audience.  I’m urging businesses to look beyond traditional marketing methods and consider a more holistic approach that focuses on long-term sustainability and engagement with various stakeholders. Key Takeaways: Broaden Your Perspective: Move away from traditional marketing concepts and think holistically about your brand and its values.Know Your Audience: Understand who you're trying to attract and why they should choose your business.Internal Marketing: Engage your team as brand ambassadors, starting from the inside out.Focus on Retention: Think of your business as a bucket; focus on retaining customers rather than constantly filling the funnel.Test, Track, Tweak: Implement the four T's in your marketing strategy - test, track, tweak, and try again.Word of Mouth Marketing: Embrace and encourage word of mouth as a powerful and sustainable marketing tool.To wrap up, I encourage businesses to align their marketing efforts with their business goals and to be open to testing and tweaking their strategies for better results. Resources Future-Proof your Business Webinar 18th April - sign up for my free interactive workshop https://www.iamlucyrennie.com - free downloadable resources, other episodes and more information about how to work with Lucy. Buy my book here Join me in my membership The Future-Proof Club here - The Future-Proof Club Episode 26- Are you really listening? https://www.iamlucyrennie.com/podcast/are-you-really-listening Episode 43 - Joining the Dots https://www.iamlucyrennie.com/insights/joining-the-dots-the-programme Come and join me and lots of other small business owners like you in my FREE Facebook group:CWP (Communicate with Purpose) Group | Facebook

    25 min
  3. 04/08/2024

    057 Building trust: The key to future-proofing your business Pt 1

    If you’ve worked with me or you’ve read my book you’ll know that I believe that TRUST and GOODWILL is the essence of everything and the most effective and sustainable way to build and grow your business.  In this 2 part episode I take you through my 14 step checklist to build the trust factor in your business: Be real. People have different expectations and are looking for purpose, substance, provenance, and positive realism. Demonstrate your competence and ability through storytelling. What makes you credible? Making key information available to your stakeholders about why you are the right person / team / brand for the job.People do business with people. Who is / are the faces behind the brand? Share more of you, your story, the people working in your team and your customers. Be a force for good. Why not “Go the extra mile” - become that Great Place to Work - or the best apprenticeship provider or award winning brand. Review results and demonstrate and communicate the IMPACT you make. Lean manufacturing - Never sit still, always look to see how you can do things better.Social proof.  According to Robert Cialdini, who studied the principle of social proof in-depth in his book, Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion, “we view a behavior as more correct in a given situation to the degree that we see others performing it”. Share your key milestones and statistics.Show you care - take time to engage with your teams, your customers, your partners or other key stakeholders.Silence is never golden. This means sharing the good and the bad.Keep your promises - do what you say you’ll do. Embrace being perfectly imperfect. It’s how you deal with it and fix things that make the differenceJOY - love what you do - be yourself, share your passion and create a shitload of tummy flips.  Resources Future-Proof your Business Webinar 18th April - sign up for my free interactive workshop https://www.iamlucyrennie.com - free downloadable resources, other episodes and more information about how to work with Lucy. Buy my book here Join me in my membership The Future-Proof Club here - The Future-Proof Club Episode 26- Are you really listening? https://www.iamlucyrennie.com/podcast/are-you-really-listening Episode 43 - Joining the Dots https://www.iamlucyrennie.com/insights/joining-the-dots-the-programme Come and join me and lots of other small business owners like you in my FREE Facebook group:CWP (Communicate with Purpose) Group | Facebook

    36 min
  4. 03/25/2024

    056 Building Trust and Safety in the Workplace

    Today I want to talk to you about a topic that has been pivotal in my career and in my passion for all things communication, manufacturing and championing people in business. And that is Visible Felt Leadership. An incredibly important and valuable concept that you can embrace and use in your business to help you to show you care, change and strengthen your culture and ultimately future-proof your business. The key benefits of felt leadership  When you lead with safety you change the whole way of doing business and approach.It helps break down barriers and opens up two-way communications and constructive conversations.It creates trust within your business and with your key stakeholdersIt helps you to build a strong and engaged team.  Develops a “great” brand and builds credibility- to attract the right kind of people and long term customers who expect safety to be at a high standard.It demonstrates respect and support for your employeesIt is a great way of learning more the behind the senes from all parts of the business and ultimately improves your bottom line. Resources Future-Proof your Business Webinar 18th April - sign up for my free interactive workshop https://www.iamlucyrennie.com - free downloadable resources, other episodes and more information about how to work with Lucy. Buy my book here Join me in my membership The Future-Proof Club here - The Future-Proof Club Episode 26- Are you really listening? https://www.iamlucyrennie.com/podcast/are-you-really-listening Episode 43 - Joining the Dots https://www.iamlucyrennie.com/insights/joining-the-dots-the-programme Come and join me and lots of other small business owners like you in my FREE Facebook group:CWP (Communicate with Purpose) Group | Facebook

    40 min
  5. 03/11/2024

    055 The Magic of Effective Communication

    Welcome to this week’s episode of the Future-Proof your Business podcast where I’m exploring a topic that is fundamental to my work and teachings: the magic of Effective Communication.  I delve into my belief that everything comes down to the way you communicate and having the ability to put yourself in other people’s shoes and imagine what another person is thinking or feeling is the key to success. It can literally transform every single situation, improve relations, build trust and achieve an overall more positive outcome. Key Takeaways:  Communication in Leadership Clarity and direction, roles and responsibilities.Engaging and getting the buy-in from your team by sharing the vision and purpose behind it.Building stronger relationships and trust.Resolving conflicts and creating win-win scenarios.Self-awareness and understanding others Getting curious about your own behaviour and reactions.Putting yourself in others' shoes and see things from other perspectives.The importance of empathy and compassion.Identifying Key Stakeholders and their needs Mapping out and prioritising the key stakeholders for your businessGetting under the skin of each stakeholder categoryUnderstanding what is important to them and what they need from you.Mapping out your Communication Plan Tailoring communication to each stakeholders' needs.The importance of two-way communication Implementing a feedback loop Embracing the ability to adapt and change strategies.Scenario and contingency planning. Resources Future-Proof your Business Webinar 18th April - sign up for my free interactive workshop https://www.iamlucyrennie.com - free downloadable resources, other episodes and more information about how to work with Lucy. Buy my book here Join me in my membership The Future-Proof Club here - The Future-Proof Club Episode 26- Are you really listening? https://www.iamlucyrennie.com/podcast/are-you-really-listening Episode 43 - Joining the Dots https://www.iamlucyrennie.com/insights/joining-the-dots-the-programme Come and join me and lots of other small business owners like you in my FREE Facebook group:CWP (Communicate with Purpose) Group | Facebook

    37 min
  6. 03/04/2024

    054 How to overcome imposter syndrome with Jo Walley

    Welcome to this week's episode of the Future-Proof Your Business podcast. I'm Lucy Rennie, and I'm thrilled to share with you today's episode, part of my 'For the Love of Small Business' series. I'm joined by the incredible Jo Walley, a passionate advocate for helping people develop themselves and unlock their true potential.  Together, we delve into the intricacies of self-discovery, business navigation, and the power of embracing authenticity. We explore the societal conditioning that often leads us to downplay our achievements and hide our true selves and Jo shares invaluable insights into overcoming self-doubt, navigating imposter syndrome, and embracing vulnerability as a catalyst for growth. The key takeaways from this episode: Embracing your true self unlocks a world of opportunities and empowers you to lead fulfilling lives.By sharing our struggles and insecurities, we help to normalise being vulnerable and create spaces for genuine connection and growth.Modelling our behaviour and shifting the focus from us gives others permission to do the same.Recognising our achievements and owning our successes is key to overcoming self-doubt and overcoming Imposter Syndrome.Putting our well-being first isn't selfish; it's essential for building resilience and being there for others.And for this week’s challenge, Jo invites you to take some time out for you to reflect and plan and be intentional about what you’re doing in your business and life. Jo Walley Resource Links: Jo has invited you to join her for a workshop in the TLC as a guest, simply email jo@jowalley.co.uk and book your place. https://jowalley.co.uk/tlcgift/ Resources Future-Proof your Business Webinar 18th April - sign up for my free interactive workshop https://www.iamlucyrennie.com - free downloadable resources, other episodes and more information about how to work with Lucy. Buy my book here Join me in my membership The Future-Proof Club here - The Future-Proof Club Episode 26- Are you really listening? https://www.iamlucyrennie.com/podcast/are-you-really-listening Episode 43 - Joining the Dots https://www.iamlucyrennie.com/insights/joining-the-dots-the-programme Come and join me and lots of other small business owners like you in my FREE Facebook group:CWP (Communicate with Purpose) Group | Facebook

    43 min
  7. 02/26/2024

    053 Five Lessons Learned From My 9 Year Old Daughter

    In this week's episode of The Future-Proof your Business podcast I'm sharing the 5 lessons I've learned from my 9-year old daughter and how I believe that if we apply these 5 lessons to our business and life we can make great things happen. 1) Tap into what you love, into what you enjoy and remind yourself of where the joy factor is. 2) Determination and grit. Being accountable to yourself and keeping your promises. Only you can decide if you're going to keep going or give up and this can make the difference between success and failure. 3) Doing your own thing. Why it's important to own your voice and space and do things on your terms and in your own way. 4) Be scared and do it anyway. Facing your fear and doing the thing is the only way you're going to move forward and grow. and 5) Be the best cheerleader for others. It's a lonely world running a business and the best way to have fun and create success is to embrace collaborations, surround yourself with the best people and support them and their wins along the way. Come and join me for a complimentary month in my online membership The Future-Proof Club®️, get access to training, resources and live workshops and meet up with other amazing business owners who want to build brilliant businesses just like you. Resources Future-Proof your Business Webinar 18th April - sign up for my free interactive workshop https://www.iamlucyrennie.com - free downloadable resources, other episodes and more information about how to work with Lucy. Buy my book here Join me in my membership The Future-Proof Club here - The Future-Proof Club Episode 26- Are you really listening? https://www.iamlucyrennie.com/podcast/are-you-really-listening Episode 43 - Joining the Dots https://www.iamlucyrennie.com/insights/joining-the-dots-the-programme Come and join me and lots of other small business owners like you in my FREE Facebook group:CWP (Communicate with Purpose) Group | Facebook

    22 min

Trailer

About

Hello and welcome to the Future-Proof Your Business podcast with me Lucy Rennie.I’m a massive champion for small business and I’m on a mission to help you love what you do and build and grow your business in a way that works for you and feels good. I’m convinced that the best way to create a successful and sustainable business is to do it from the inside out, which means that it has to start with you, the business owner. In fact, I believe that business really is all about people, and if you want to future-proof your business and make an impact then you need to get really clear on why you do what you do, create the best experience and then build relationships and trust.In this podcast, I want to share with you as much of my knowledge, expertise and experience with you, as I can, as well as some behind the scenes stories and strategies from my business, and I’ll be having conversations with and learning from some amazing business owners and experts so I can give you everything you need to stay focused, on track and feel more in control on this rollercoaster ride that is building a sustainable business.