The HoLT’s Survival Guide For Small Businesses

Lea🌈 Turner
The HoLT’s Survival Guide For Small Businesses

Not everyone starts a business to become the next Steven Bartlett or Gary Vee. Millions of us start our businesses to escape the 9-5 ties to the office, toxic bosses, threat of redundancy, and chasing pay rises. We want freedom, control of our own time, and to be able to choose who we work with, where we work from, and how much we work. But what’s it really like to start and run a small business? Lea Turner, Founder of The HoLT business community, digs deep with real small business owners from a variety of sectors, into why they chose to start their business, the surprises, challenges, and tough lessons they’ve learned along the way, without the glossy social media filter, to give real insight into the journeys they’ve been on to create a business and a life on their terms.

  1. The Perks of Being a Freelancer with Grace Hall

    1D AGO

    The Perks of Being a Freelancer with Grace Hall

    Becoming a business owner is not the only way to work for yourself and be successful. For some freelancing is the perfect blend of freedom and fulfillment. My guest in the episode, Grace Hall, has skipped traditional employment from the off, choosing the brave move to work for herself straight out of uni. And she has been an incredible success! 5 years into her freelancing career as a copywriter there have been lots of ups and downs. Grace shares the realities of working for herself, from client management, to pricing strategies, including her own particular “tax” she adds to jobs she knows will be tough. At times she has struggled with self-doubt but shares key ways freelancers or business owners can own that fact they are good at what they do. Grace is testament that you can choose your own happiness over societal pressures, so listen up to find out how she does it! “It’s not all about the money” – Grace You’ll hear about: How starting out as a freelancer can be daunting but rewarding. Freelancing offers flexibility and ownership that agency work may not. Staying true to your values is crucial in a competitive environment. It's okay to prioritise personal happiness over societal pressures to grow. 00:42 - An introduction to Grace and her work 01:55 - Straight from university to freelancing 07:28 - Realising "I'm good at this" 11:19 - Getting used to asking for testimonials 16:32 - The moments you want to chuck it all in 24:12 - Overcoming challenging clients 30:38 - Becoming an agency vs freelancing 33:31 - Keeping your head in the entrepreneurial world 38:58 - The impacts of AI on the market 41:08 - Messages from Grace's younger business self   Connect with Grace: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/grace-r-hall/ Crying Over Copy - https://cryingovercopy.com/   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

    48 min
  2. Dogs, Business and Personal Growth with Laura Pointer

    MAR 25

    Dogs, Business and Personal Growth with Laura Pointer

    Starting your business can be an immediate success story.   Not everyone goes through struggles to grow, or difficult years before the good times hit. In fact, the opposite was true for my guest in this episode, Laura Pointer.   Laura was made redundant at the start of the Covid pandemic, which forced her hand to start her own business to “un-f**k” companies ERP systems. Something she was immediately hugely successful at and always in demand.   It wasn’t until 4 years later in 2024 that the hard times hit. Laura shares how she got through the struggles and is coming out the other side.   Laura’s story is one of self-doubt, pricing struggles, and knowing that the power of effective communication in business is crucial. Beyond ERP systems Laura is a trained coach and huge dog lover, literally, the bigger the better! This love has led her down the path of also becoming a dog trainer.   This episode beautifully shows the complexities of life and business and how you can be more than 1 thing at the same time and love every part of the opportunities they can bring.   “You're worth more than enough”– Laura   You’ll hear about:   00:00 - Navigating Contract Negotiations 01:15 - Understanding ERP Systems 06:12 - Transitioning to Business Ownership 08:52 - The Rollercoaster of Business Success 10:39 - Facing Challenges in 2024 17:44 - Finding New Opportunities 22:07 - Staying Productive During Downtime 22:56 - Transforming Lives Through Dog Training 25:44 - Navigating Change Management in Business 28:26 - Overcoming Self-Doubt as a Business Owner 32:44 - Finding Your Worth and Pricing Your Services 35:58 - Understanding Dog Behavior and Training 39:31 - Dreaming Big: Future Aspirations and Goals 40:14 - Lessons Learned: Avoiding Undervaluation 43:17 - Building Trust in Professional Relationships   Connect with Laura:   LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-pointer/ Pivotal Project Management - https://pivotalprojectmanagement.co.uk/   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

    47 min
  3. Life and Business with Tourettes with Luke Manton

    MAR 18

    Life and Business with Tourettes with Luke Manton

    Imagine being 20, healthy and successful. You’re a manager, leading teams, you have 2 Honours degrees, everything is going well. Now imagine you suffer a brain injury that leaves you with Tourette’s syndrome. You can’t speak, you tic involuntarily, you swear, you whistle. Doctors tell you not to bother with work and just claim benefits from now on. This was what happened to my inspirational guest Luke Manton. His life was turned upside down when he developed Tourette’s syndrome. But he didn’t want to let others tell him he can’t. After some very dark times in his life he is now runs running his own highly successful VA agency, employing staff, and a TEDX speaker, because Tourette’s does not define him or stop him.   But he wouldn’t change a thing if he could go back…   So, what about you? Is there something you use to prove people wrong, to show the world you can? Or is there something currently holding you back that you need to let go of? Running a business is full of challenges that need to be overcome. Luke is the most incredible example of this that I know.   “I’d choose Tourette’s every time”– Luke   You’ll hear about:   00:00 - Embracing Change: The Journey with Tourette's 02:49 - From Job Rejections to Entrepreneurial Success 06:11 - Overcoming Discrimination: The Impact of Tourette's 08:59 - Building a Business: The Birth of Manson Executives 11:50 - The Power of Support: Finding Allies in Adversity 14:55 - Defying Expectations: Proving the Naysayers Wrong 18:01 - Activism and Advocacy: Raising Awareness for Tourette's 20:56 - Parenthood and Perseverance: The Journey to Adoption 23:45 - The Role of Social Media: Sharing the Story 27:01 - Looking Ahead: Future Aspirations and Goals 33:09 - Overcoming Self-Doubt and Embracing Acceptance 37:30 - The Power of Mindset and Resilience 40:33 - Transforming Challenges into Opportunities 46:33 - Promoting Understanding and Kindness in Society   Connect with Luke:   LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lukemantonme/ Tik Tok - https://www.tiktok.com/@ticcedtok Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/lukemanton92/?hl=en   Manton Executives:   Website - https://www.mantonexecutives.com/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/mantonexecutives/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mantonexecutives/?hl=en Tik Tok - https://www.tiktok.com/@mantonexecutives   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

    53 min
  4. Get visible without fear with Dani Wallace

    MAR 11

    Get visible without fear with Dani Wallace

    One of the biggest fears of any business owner is putting yourself out there. Whether it’s on socials or public speaking you must overcome the fear. Your business needs you to. That’s exactly what the incredible Dani Wallace, my guest in this episode, supports business owners to do. Embrace your uniqueness, overcome the fear and share your greatness with the world. Dani believes we all have gifts that we need to share. We are here to serve others and there is nothing wrong with making money doing so. We delve into the themes of self-sabotage, community building, and the challenges we all face in overcoming self-doubt.   You can do it.   You can embrace who you are and become the beautiful, wonderful business owner you have the potential to be, and share that with the world.   “It’s about creating connection and serving people”– Dani   You’ll hear about:   00:00 - The Importance of Visibility and Connection 03:04 - Building Community and Safe Spaces 05:58 - Overcoming Visibility Challenges 08:57 - The Role of Ego in Business 12:10 - Navigating Public Speaking Fears 18:13 - Creating Safety in Visibility 24:13 - Finding Authenticity in Business 32:28 - Overcoming Self-Sabotage 37:19 - Finding Your Community 41:59 - Embracing Your Weirdness 43:50 - Understanding Introversion and Extroversion 48:53 - Identifying Your Unique Value 56:41 - The Importance of Overcoming Fear   Connect with Dani:   LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamthequeenbee/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thequeenbeedani/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/thequeenbeedani Iatqb Website - https://www.iatqb.com/   Get tickets to The BIG Festoon - https://linktr.ee/thebigfestoon   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

    1h 2m
  5. Hard Work: The True Path to Success with Chris James

    MAR 4

    Hard Work: The True Path to Success with Chris James

    Start your own business they say….   Work your own hours, be your own boss, live your best life.   But the reality is not that easy. You have to graft, and you have to graft hard.   Chris James, Founder of Content to Clients is my guest in this episode, and he tells it like it is. You have to work hard, you have to be resilient and sometimes you just have to trust that you can do it.   Chris left his job in a call centre, supported by his loved ones, to build his own business, something he says is central to his success.   Since then, he has helped countless business owners hit big money months, but they all had to put in some serious effort to get there. He shares his journey of business growth over the past three years, and how he has ended up working with an all-female team.   Chris tells it like it is, so get ready to find out what it’s really like to run your own business and get prepared to take some risks.   “This shit isn’t for everyone”– Chris   You’ll hear about:   00:00 – Building a business is not for everyone 01:05 - An introduction to Chris and his work 02:50 - Chris's expectations of working for himself 04:58 - Why Chris outsourced quickly 11:06 - How support at home changed Chris's life 14:53 - How has Content to Clients evolved? 19:21 - Chris on his history with LinkedIn 24:42 - The growth of Chris's business 30:46 - Chris on having an all-female team 37:34 - Chris's advice to his younger self   Connect with Chris:   LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisjamesonline/ Chris James’ Website - https://www.chris-james.co/ Content to Clients - https://www.chris-james.co/c2clp Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/chrisjamesonline/?hl=en YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@ChrisJamesOnline   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/  LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/theholt Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theholtcommunity/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theholtcommunity 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

    48 min
  6. Losing it All: Every Business Owner’s Worst Fear with Taq Shah

    FEB 25

    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

    56 min
  7. Take Your Business from Beige to Brilliant with Michelle Hartley

    12/03/2024

    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

    48 min
  8. The Emotional Journey of Entrepreneurship with Kate Hughes

    11/26/2024

    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

    45 min

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5
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About

Not everyone starts a business to become the next Steven Bartlett or Gary Vee. Millions of us start our businesses to escape the 9-5 ties to the office, toxic bosses, threat of redundancy, and chasing pay rises. We want freedom, control of our own time, and to be able to choose who we work with, where we work from, and how much we work. But what’s it really like to start and run a small business? Lea Turner, Founder of The HoLT business community, digs deep with real small business owners from a variety of sectors, into why they chose to start their business, the surprises, challenges, and tough lessons they’ve learned along the way, without the glossy social media filter, to give real insight into the journeys they’ve been on to create a business and a life on their terms.

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