Zest for Business

Gareth Everson

Zest for Business is a show for small business owners. Episodes are short and packed with actionable advice. Hosted by Gareth Everson, marketing and sales systems expert, the podcast will help you with lead generation, marketing communications, sales funnels and CRM systems so that you can do more with what you've got, from where you're at now. Find us anywhere you get your podcasts or on YouTube, and be sure to hit follow or subscribe so you never miss an episode.

  1. Questions on Publishing Your Business Book with Carrie Birmingham

    29 DE JUL.

    Questions on Publishing Your Business Book with Carrie Birmingham

    📚 First-Time Author Interview: Essential Questions Before You Publish Your Business Book Thinking about writing your first business book? Before you dive in, there are crucial questions every aspiring author needs to ask. In this episode, I’m interviewed by Carrie Birmingham, a first-time author working on her upcoming book about co-founder conflict, who asked me all the tough questions about my journey writing “LEMONADE Plan.” Critical Questions We Explore: Is the massive investment of time and energy actually worth it? What benefits exist beyond obvious book sales (spoiler: the money isn’t in the book!) How do you maximise the authority and business benefits once published? Should you tell people what you’re working on or keep it secret? How do you navigate the overwhelming publishing process? What mistakes should you avoid in your first book journeyWhat You’ll Discover: Why writing a book is really about 3 different audiences (and yourself is #1) The power of building a proofreader network early in the process How to use AI tools like Claude as your “first reader” and editor Why book writing feels solo but is actually a team sport The real timeline and investment required (it’s different than you think) How to overcome imposter syndrome and get your message out there Whether you’re just considering your first book, halfway through writing, or ready to publish, this honest conversation reveals the realities, challenges, and unexpected benefits of becoming a first-time author. Carrie specialises in helping co-founders navigate conflict and is addressing a critical gap in the market with her upcoming book - perfect example of finding your unique angle as an author. 🎯 Chapter Timestamps: • 00:00 Introduction to the Journey of Writing a Book• 02:27 Understanding Co-Founder Conflict and Its Impact• 06:00 The Importance of Writing for Clarity and Growth• 08:11 The 3 Audiences for Your Book• 11:39 The Role of Blogging in Preparing for Book Writing• 14:45 Exploring the Investment in Writing a Book• 15:45 Benefits Beyond Book Sales• 20:01 Personal and Business Benefits of Writing a Business Book• 23:09 Maximising Authority in Business• 28:00 The Importance of Feedback and Sharing Ideas• 29:41 Using Claude AI as Your ‘First Reader’ Proofreader• 33:41 How to Make the Book Launch Actually Happen• 33:59 Navigating the Writing Process• 39:28 Authoring a Book Feels Like a Solo Activity But It’s a Team Game• 41:09 The Purpose Behind Writing a Book• 41:41 Wrap-Up: Book Writing as Part of Your JourneyConnect with Carrie Birmingham:Carrie Birmingham Consults - Specialising in complex workplace problems and co-founder conflict resolution:https://www.linkedin.com/in/carrie-birmingham/Get “LEMONADE Plan”:Get “LEMONADE Plan”:Available on Amazon - https://lemonadeplan.com/book**Tags:** business book writing, first time author, co-founder conflict, startup problems, business partnerships, author interview, book marketing, self publishing, business authority, entrepreneur advice, small business systems, conflict resolution, business relationships, writing process, book launch strategy, AI writing tools, Claude AI, business growth, startup advice, author journey​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

    44min
  2. Social Media Marketing and AI with Lexie Barker

    15 DE JUL.

    Social Media Marketing and AI with Lexie Barker

    Lexie Barker from Socials for Creatives shares her practical three-step AI Strategy Loop Framework that transforms artificial intelligence from another overwhelming tool into your strategic business partner. Learn how to align AI outputs with your business values whilst actually saving time.Key Topics:- Why most business owners approach AI wrong and waste time- Lexie's three-step AI Strategy Loop Framework for effective implementation- How to align AI outputs with your business values and audience- Practical examples of streamlining content creation systematically- The real difference between using AI as a tool versus strategic partnerGuest Information:Lexie Barker runs Socials for Creatives, a social media management agency specialising in creative and wellbeing businesses. She's developed the Aligned Intuition Programme, teaching business owners to use AI strategically rather than randomly. As a mum of four, Lexie understands the need for efficient systems that work with your lifestyle, not against it.Connect with Lexie:Website: socialsforcreatives.comInstagram: @socialsforcreativesLinkedIn/Facebook: IamlexiebarkerHost: Gareth Everson - Author of The LEMONADE Plan00:00 Introduction to AI in Business02:16 Lexi's Journey into Social Media Marketing04:33 Understanding AI's Role in Business04:38 The Client Problem06:22 Lexie's AI Strategy Loop Framework07:59 Aligning AI with Business Values10:29 Heart-Led Business and Profit13:26 Empowering Clients through Education15:53 Who Lexie works with18:33 Empowering Clients to Take Action21:51 Future Vision for AI in Business23:59 3 Factors In AI Adoption28:50 Contacting Lexie and Finding the Aligned Intuition Programme

    31min
  3. 27 DE MAR.

    Season 1 Finale: Systems-Building for Small Businesses Best Bits (Ep53)

    Is your marketing creating real impact, or just random noise?Could implementing one system change your entire business trajectory?What if you've been building your marketing the wrong way around? After 52 episodes exploring systematic business growth, host Gareth Everson and producer Rob Drummond reflect on the key insights from Season 1. Discover which episodes had the most impact, from building effective landing pages to overcoming the curse of expertise. Learn how the LEMONADE Plan framework evolved throughout the podcast journey and why working backwards from endorsements delivers better results than starting with lead generation. Things we cover in this episode: Why the implementation order matters (EDOALEMN vs LEMONADE)The standout episodes that created the most listener impactHow AI is transforming small business marketing capabilitiesThe evolution from SystemsWise to Zest for BusinessA preview of Season 2 and the new HeyPip AI marketing toolThis season finale episode provides both a reflection on past insights and a roadmap for what's coming next in May 2025 with Season 2. Perfect for small business owners looking to transform flat results into predictable growth. Timestamps: 00:00 Intro: SystemsWise Season 1 Wrap-Up Episode 01:36 Rob's Big Takeaway - Forks in the Road 02:44 The Landing Pages Series 07:17 All-In-One CRM: Your Best First Hire 08:24 Niching Your Small Business 10:44 The Problem Solver's Paradox: The Curse of Expertise 12:37 Gareth's Big Learning: Explaining Starting With The End In Mind 19:01 The Importance of Clarity in Business 21:57 The Five P's of Systems Implementation 24:24 Content Planning Strategies 27:59 The Role of AI in Business 34:27 The Evolving Role of AI in Copywriting 37:31 Introducing HeyPip: The AI Copywriting Assistant 40:46 The Importance of Momentum in Content Creation 43:01 Leveraging Past Content as Valuable Assets 45:40 Looking Ahead: The Future of the Podcast and AI Integration

    51min

Sobre

Zest for Business is a show for small business owners. Episodes are short and packed with actionable advice. Hosted by Gareth Everson, marketing and sales systems expert, the podcast will help you with lead generation, marketing communications, sales funnels and CRM systems so that you can do more with what you've got, from where you're at now. Find us anywhere you get your podcasts or on YouTube, and be sure to hit follow or subscribe so you never miss an episode.