Today on the podcast, I'm chatting with Kerry Tottingham, co-founder of the social enterprise A Brilliant Thing. Kerry runs A Brilliant Thing with her sisters, focusing on ‘Healing Centred Design' – a fascinating framework they've developed that blends systemic approaches, creative coaching, and trauma-informed practice to help people and organisations create positive change. Despite this being a relatively abstract concept I thought I’d struggle to understand, Kerry explained the concept beautifully and I know you’ll enjoy the chat as much as I did!

Kerry shares her journey and insights into how Healing Centred Design principles, and even complementary physical products, can benefit individuals and communities.

  Key Takeaways
 * Healing Centred Design: It's about blending systemic thinking, creative coaching, and trauma-informed practice, shifting the focus from trauma to healing, and equipping people with design tools to create better systems and adapt to change.
 * Adding Products to Services: Creating a physical product (like coaching cards) can solve internal needs (collecting resources), enhance the client experience (changing the environment, offering tangible tools), and act as an invitation into your world and methodology.
 * Product Strategy: You don't need a full product business. Products can be used strategically within a service business for launches, as bonuses, or exclusive offers, without necessarily requiring constant sales and shipping if that doesn't suit your model.
 * Diversification & Innovation: Offering both services and products, or diversifying income streams and experiences in general, can lead to cross-pollination of ideas, innovation ('Collide and Align' principle), and resilience. It allows you to meet people where they are, offering different levels of engagement and investment.
 * The Power of Safety & Collaboration: Building strong, trusting relationships, whether with co-founders (like Kerry and her sisters) or collaborators, creates the necessary safety for creativity, risk-taking, and navigating challenges.

  Episode Highlights
 * 02:41: The concept of Healing Centred Design.
 * 08:49: The Brilliant Box coaching cards.
 * 12:10: How the idea for the physical product emerged from an internal need.
 * 18:16: Considering how different types of products (bite-size cards vs. in-depth book) cater to different needs and learning styles.
 * 20:55: The 'Collide and Align' principle – intentionally seeking diverse ideas for innovation.

  About the Guest

Adding Tangible Magic: Products for Your Service Business with Kerry Tottingham

 

Today on the podcast, I am chatting to Rich Webster, who is a designer, entrepreneur, mentor, and consultant. He helps other creative entrepreneurs work less, and I've personally been a fan of his work and podcast for a few years now. We're talking all about how to work less, but as you'll hear, we dive into so much more, from focusing your business to the real impact of mental clutter. I really hope you enjoy this one!

  Key Takeaways
 * The 1% Brain Power Myth: Rich explained that the difference between dedicating 1% of your brainpower to a task versus 0% isn't just 1% – it feels more like 100%. Letting go of lingering business responsibilities, even small ones, can free up an enormous amount of mental space.
 * Diversification as Distraction: Contrary to popular advice, Rich argues that diversification can often be a distraction, especially for solopreneurs. Narrowing your focus to the one or two things that provide the highest leverage can be far more effective for growth.
 * Expert vs. Marketing Business: When looking to grow, solopreneurs often burn out trying to excel at both high-level client fulfilment and extensive marketing. Rich suggests choosing a path: either an "expert business" (scaling with price by becoming a sought-after specialist) or a "marketing business" (scaling with volume through products that don't require your direct time for fulfilment).
 * Systemise Your "Non-Genius" Work: Identify your highest leverage tasks (for Rich, it's thinking and writing) and systemise everything else. This involves creating standard operating procedures, templates, and delegating, allowing you to spend more time in your zone of genius.
 * The "One In, One Out" Rule for Your Time: Inspired by a minimalist philosophy for the home, Rich suggests that if you bring a new commitment or task (like starting Morning Pages) into your life, you should consciously remove something else to make space for it.

    Episode Highlights
 * 01:00: Rich shares his powerful origin story, touching on his journey from addiction to becoming an entrepreneur and how that shapes his perspective.
 * 09:00: The surprising mental cost of keeping even seemingly small business commitments active; that final leap to 0% makes a huge difference.
 * 11:00: Rich presents his compelling argument that "diversification is distraction" and why focusing your efforts is often the smarter move for sustainable growth.
 * 17:00: An exploration of the two distinct business models solopreneurs can adopt to avoid burnout: the "expert business" scaling with price, or the "marketing business" scaling with volume.
 * 46:00: Applying a minimalist household rule to your business and time: if you decide to add a new activity or commitment, what will you remove to make space for it?

  About the Guest

Rich Webster is a designer, entrepreneur, mentor, and consultant who helps creative entrepreneurs work less and achieve more.

 * Instagram: @RichWebbs [https://www.instagram.com/richwebz/]
 * Website: richwebster.co [https://www.richwebster.co/]

  Mentioned in the episode
 * Chris Do (Rich's mentor) [https://www.thefutur.com/people/chris-do]
 * Work Less, Earn More [https://howtoworkless.com] (Rich Webster's program)
 * The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron  [https://juliacameronlive.com/books-by-julia/]

 

I would love to hear what you think of this episode, so please do let me know on Instagram where I'm @‌lizmmosley [https://www.instagram.com/lizmmosley/] or @‌buildingyourbrandpodcast [https://www.instagram.com/buildingyourbrandpodcast/] and I hope you enjoy the episode!

This e

Build Your Brand by Working Less with Rich Webster

If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

In this episode, I'm absolutely thrilled to chat with Sarah Holmes, the brilliant owner of two physical shops in Scotland, Pencil Me In and Seasgair. Sarah has done an incredible job of not only marketing her shops to become must-visit destinations but also cultivating a strong personal brand alongside them.

We delve into her journey from a childhood dream of being a shopkeeper to running multiple successful retail businesses, her strategies for online and offline growth, the importance of community, and how she's navigated the ups and downs of retail.

If you're interested in what it truly takes to build a brand around physical products and create a loyal customer base, this episode is packed with insights!

Key Takeaways:

 * Authenticity Builds Loyalty: Showing up as your genuine self, sharing your opinions, and letting customers get to know the person behind the brand is crucial for building a strong, loyal community.
 * Identify & Fill Market Gaps: Sarah’s success with her second shop, C Scare, and her custom pencil business stemmed from spotting a need and strategically filling it, rather than just following passion alone.
 * The Power of In-Person Networking: Especially in smaller towns or more rural areas, joining local business groups and actively networking can be invaluable for building support, gaining customers, and fostering word-of-mouth referrals.
 * Consistency is Key in Retail: Maintaining regular opening hours and consistently stocking products that your customers are looking for are fundamental to building trust and keeping people coming back. Coupled with this is the need for relentless marketing.
 * Flexibility Can Fuel Growth: For Sarah's custom pencil business, offering low minimum orders and a high level of customer service for wholesale clients has been a significant factor in its growth.

 

Episode Highlights:

 * 01:10: Sarah talks about her lifelong dream of being a shopkeeper, a passion that started with a childhood post office set!
 * 08:30: The origin story of Pencil Me In's famous personalised pencils – from outsourcing to buying a foiling machine just two weeks after opening in Elgin and teaching herself the craft.
 * 18:45: Sarah shares how she started using Instagram Stories to connect on a more p

The Art of Retail: Sarah Holmes on Passion, Pencils, and Personal Branding

Welcome to another episode of Building Your Brand!

Today, I'm thrilled to be chatting with the incredible Kira Matthews. Kira is a mindset and confidence coach who truly embodies the power of self-belief. She specialises in helping creators, founders, and freelancers unlock their most confident selves to achieve those big, bucket-list dreams. In this conversation, we dive into Kira's journey into coaching, the many lessons she's picked up along the way, and her invaluable insights on overcoming self-doubt and imposter syndrome.

If you've ever found yourself hesitating or watching from the sidelines while others chase opportunities you dream of, this episode is packed with inspiration for you.

  Key Takeaways:
 * Confidence is an Inside Job: True confidence isn't about ticking off external achievements or meeting societal expectations. It's an emotion generated internally by our thoughts. We need to shift from chasing external validation to cultivating confident thoughts.
 * Uncover Your Inner Dialogue: To build confidence, you first need to understand the thoughts currently running the show. Kira suggests a powerful exercise: take 10 minutes to write down all your thoughts about a specific topic (like your business or your appearance) to reveal the often subconscious and sometimes critical narratives at play.
 * Reframe Rejection: Rejection is an inevitable part of putting yourself out there, especially in business. Instead of viewing it as a personal failure, see it as valuable feedback and an opportunity to learn and refine your approach. Often, a 'no' provides crucial information that can lead to a 'yes' down the line.
 * The Power of Connection: Your ability to communicate and build relationships is paramount. Many goals involve other people, and knowing how to bring them on board with your vision is more critical than waiting for your website or skills to be 'perfect'.
 * Embrace Imperfect Action for Faster Growth: Waiting for perfection can lead to stagnation. Taking action, even if it's imperfect and involves making mistakes, is the quickest way to learn, adapt, and ultimately achieve your goals. It's about failing fast and learning faster.

  Episode Highlights:
 * 02:41: Kira shares how her early days in fashion styling, dealing with logistics like lost customs packages and coordinating with major brands, unexpectedly taught her invaluable communication and hustle skills.
 * 08:51: Kira explains that confidence is an emotion we generate internally through our thoughts, challenging the common belief that it comes from external achievements or validation.
 * 10:38: Kira offers a practical 10-minute journaling e

The Confidence Blueprint: Kira Matthews on Turning Self-Doubt into Your Superpower

Ever felt like PR is a mysterious world reserved for big brands with even bigger budgets? In this episode, I'm thrilled to chat with Pippa Goulden, founder of The PR Set, who is on a mission to make PR accessible and achievable for small business owners like us.

Pippa shares her wealth of experience, breaking down exactly what PR is (and isn't!), and offers practical, actionable advice on how we can start leveraging its power to build our brands and reach our ideal audiences.

Get ready to take notes, because this episode is packed with insights you'll want to implement straight away!

 

Key Takeaways
 * PR is more than just press: While media coverage is a part of PR, it's fundamentally about getting other people to talk about your business. This could be through podcast interviews, collaborations, speaking opportunities, or even networking.
 * Start with your network and what feels comfortable: You don't need to aim for major national press from day one. Begin by exploring opportunities within your existing network and with activities that align with your comfort zone.
 * Consistency and momentum are key: PR is often a slow burn; it's about building momentum over time. Don't get discouraged if you don't see huge results immediately; keep putting one foot in front of the other.
 * Storytelling is powerful, but not the only way: Sharing your founder story or other compelling narratives can be very effective in PR, but it's not a prerequisite. Focus on your expertise and what value you can offer to the end reader or listener.
 * Pitching effectively means being concise, relevant, and confident: When reaching out for PR opportunities, keep your pitch short, tailor it to the specific person or publication, and clearly articulate the value you bring to their audience.

 

Episode Highlights

 * 02:41: How PR sits within the broader marketing landscape
 * 04:00: Beyond just press coverage
 * 11:00: The role of storytelling in PR
 * 20:00: The importance of persistence and not expecting overnight success with PR.
 * 24:00: Top tips for crafting a compelling and effective pitch.

  About the Guest

Pippa Goulden is the founder of The PR Set, an organisation dedicated t

Get Noticed: Pippa Goulden on Making PR Work for You

Have you ever thought about collaborating with other brands as part of your business and brand? It's definitely something I've been exploring and today on the podcast, I'm chatting to Phoebe Sherman, who I actually met through working with Adobe.

In this episode, Phoebe shares her wealth of experience working with a variety of brands, how it has fitted into her business, and her top tips for finding collaborations, building relationships, and working successfully with brands. If you've been thinking about brand partnerships, or are just curious about how they work, I really hope you enjoy this episode!

Key Takeaways

 * Having multiple revenue streams can help your business navigate uncertainty and changes in consumer behaviour.
 * Brand partnerships can be a significant revenue stream and you don't need a million followers or a service-based business to pursue them.
 * Be prepared to pitch to brands, follow up multiple times (initial email and two follow-ups), and don't be afraid to negotiate your rates, especially regarding usage rights for your content.
 * Finding brands to partner with involves understanding your audience, paying attention to the ads you see, and researching who to contact within a company (marketing manager, social media manager, PR email).
 * It's important to align yourself with brands that share your values, but also be aware that this can be complicated and may change over time; trusting your intuition and being willing to say no to opportunities that aren't the right fit is key.

Episode Highlights

 * 00:01:07 - Phoebe shares the origin story of Girl Gang Craft and its evolution.
 * 00:05:05 - Discussing the challenges of letting go of aspects of the business that are no longer working.
 * 00:08:46 - Phoebe reveals the significant revenue generated from brand deals and her future goals.
 * 00:12:58 - Practical advice on how to find and pitch to potential brand partners.
 * 00:21:54 - Tips and insights on negotiating fees and understanding usage rights in brand collaborations.

About the Guest

You can find Phoebe on Instagram at 

Pitching, Negotiating & Landing Brand Collaborations with Phoebe Sherman

In this episode, I chat with Teresa Ferreira, founder of Ferrgood Studio, about the often-buzzwordy topic of sustainability in branding. Teresa, a brand designer herself, shares practical insights and steps businesses can take to build more sustainable and impactful brands. We discuss moving beyond the pressure of perfection and focusing instead on making consistent, small steps in the right direction. If you've been wondering how to integrate sustainability into your small business authentically, this episode offers valuable guidance.

Key Takeaways

 * Progress Over Perfection: Sustainability is a journey, not a destination requiring perfection. Focus on making incremental, 1% improvements rather than getting stuck in an all-or-nothing mindset.
 * Pillars of Sustainable Branding: Truly sustainable brands are built on authenticity (living your story transparently), consistency (aligning actions with values across all touchpoints), and measurable impact (tracking the positive effect you have).
 * Practical Design Choices: Sustainability can be woven into design through tangible actions like choosing eco-friendly printers and materials, opting for green web hosting, implementing dark mode on websites to save energy, and selecting digital platforms conscious of their energy use.
 * Intentionality is Key: Be mindful and intentional about resource use, whether it's adopting AI tools thoughtfully or avoiding wasteful trends (like collecting endless tote bags). Aim to outweigh any negative impact with positive actions.
 * Communicate Authentically: Don't be afraid to talk about your sustainability efforts, even if they aren't perfect. Be transparent about your journey, admit where you can improve, and own up to mistakes – this builds trust and connection.

Episode Highlights

 * 04:18: Embracing the "1% better" philosophy (inspired by James Clear) instead of aiming for unattainable perfection.
 * 06:05: The three core values Teresa builds into her studio and client work: authenticity, consistency, and impact.
 * 21:10: Using AI intentionally for efficiency, not letting it replace human creativity or using it trivially.
 * 27:20: How to handle potential criticism when discussing sustainability efforts: focus on authenticity and transparency.
 * 33:55: Using core brand values as a filter for opportunities, allowing for nuance rather than rigid blacklists.

About the Guest: Teresa Ferreira

Teresa Ferreira runs Ferrgood Studio, crafting designs and brands for businesses aiming to create a positive impact.

 * Website: ferrgoodstudio.com [http://ferrgoodstudio.com/]
 * Instagram: @FerrgoodStudio [https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.instagram.com/ferrgoodstudio/] 
 * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.c [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ferreirateresa/]

Building Sustainable Brands with Teresa Ferreira

In this episode I chat with Nicky Borowiec about her journey from in-house creative roles to establishing her own business as a design and brand consultant specialising in the publishing industry. We delve into the advantages of being a sole creative when pitching against larger agencies, and we explore valuable insights into the pitching process, client communication, and pricing strategies.

Key Takeaways:

 * Being a sole trader can be a superpower, offering cost-effectiveness, specialised knowledge, and a more personalised client experience compared to larger agencies.

 * Transitioning from a freelancer to a consultant mindset can significantly impact business growth and client interactions by shifting the focus from seeking approval to providing expert guidance.

 * Automation and systemisation are crucial for streamlining business operations, saving time on administrative tasks, and allowing more focus on creative work.

Episode Highlights:

 * 00:01:00: Nicky discusses her 17-year career in creative roles in publishing, including marketing design, book cover design, and managing design teams.

 * 00:07:00: Nicky shares her experience of pitching against bigger agencies and how being a sole trader can be a strength.

 * 00:12:00: We explore strategies for pricing work, respecting your value, and charging your worth.

 * 00:25:00: Nicky provides insights into automating business processes to save time and improve efficiency.

 * 00:33:00: We discuss the use of AI tools to streamline business operations.

About the Guest:

Website [https://nickyborowiec.com/] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/nbdesignbrand] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicky-borowiec-86316945]



Mentioned in the Episode:

 * Alison Jones (Website) [https://alisonjones.com]
 * Alison Jones (Episode) [https://buildingyourbrand.net/episode/alison-jones/]
 * Katie Chappell (Website) [https://www.katiechappell.com]
 * Katie Chappell (Episode) [https://buildingyourbrand.net/episode/katie-chappell/]
 * Hannah’s book [https://www.amazon.co.uk/Best-Days-Ever-10-minute-marketing/dp/1788605314]
 * Adobe Express (aff link) [https://www.adobe.com/express/pricing?clickref=1011lAx7g2et&mv=affiliate&mv2=pz&as_camptype=&as_channel=affiliate&as_source=partnerize&as_campaign=lizmmosley]
 * British Library mentoring course [https://www.scaleupinstitute.org.uk/programmes/get-ready-for-business-growth/]

I would love to hear what you think of this episode, so please do let me know on Instagram where I'm @‌lizmmosley [https://www.instagram.com/lizmmosley/] or @‌buildingyourbrandpodcast [https://www.instagram.com/buildingyourbrandpodcast/], and I

Small but Mighty: Nicky Borowiec on Competing with Agencies and Winning

There's something about writing a book that seems so glamorous, so I'm always keen to hear from people who've actually done it and can give me an honest review of what it's like.

So in this episode, I chat with previous guest, Alice Benham, about her experience of writing her bestselling book The Digital Marketing Handbook. We delve into the ins and outs of the book-writing process, the strategic reasons behind writing a book for your business and the impact it can have. Alice was super honest about the experience, including the challenges and legal issues she faced.

If you've ever considered writing a book for your business, this episode is a must-listen!

Key Takeaways:

 * Writing a book can be a strategic move for business owners, helping to elevate their brand and establish them as thought leaders.

 * The book-writing process can be challenging and time-consuming, with unexpected hurdles such as editing, design and legal issues.

 * Launching a book requires a different skill set than writing one, and it's important to have a strategy in place to maximise its impact.

 * It is important to set your expectations, it might take over your life for up to two years.

Episode Highlights:

 * 03:31 The Book Deal Journey

 * 11:15 Editing Challenges and Lessons

 * 19:30 Legal Issues and High-Level Problems

 * 

The Honest Truth About Writing a Business Book with Alice Benham

Have you ever considered how your desk affects your productivity? Or if the background of your Zoom chats could be tweaked to reflect your brand? In this episode I chat with interior designer and podcast host Becca Mizzi-Harris about the impact physical spaces have on people's perceptions of a brand. 

We explore how to create spaces that truly reflect a brand's values and intentions and Becca provides really helpful tips about how brands can use using design elements like colour, furniture, and layout to evoke specific feelings and enhance brand identity. 

I'm already excited to have a desclutter and perhaps get a neon logo too ;) 

Key Takeaways:

 * The design of a physical space should align with the brand's values and desired customer experience.

 * Colour plays a crucial role in creating the right atmosphere, but it's essential to consider factors like the building's orientation .

 * Furniture choices, including style, fabrics, and finishes, contribute to the overall feel and should complement the brand's image .

 * It's important to consider the practical use of the space and how it can be set up to support daily tasks and activities .

 * Attention to detail is crucial; small elements can significantly impact how people perceive and experience a space .

Episode Highlights: 

 * 00:06:00 - How furniture choices reflect brand identity .

 * 00:07:30 - The importance of brand guidelines in the design process <!---

Designing Spaces That Reflect Your Brand with Becca Mizzi-Harris

Graphic Designer Liz Mosley wants all you small business owners to build
businesses that you LOVE and feel confident about promoting. Through her decade
of branding and design experience and with the help of her guests, she shares
top tips to take the fear out of selling and building your brand. Produced by:
Lucy Lucraft (Instagram @lucylucraft Cover illustration: Matt Joyce (Instagram
@mattjoyce_illustrator)

Liz Mosley

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